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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: brainstrain on Thursday 03 March 11 20:20 GMT (UK)

Title: Medal engraving
Post by: brainstrain on Thursday 03 March 11 20:20 GMT (UK)

Hi
My grandfathers WW1 medals are engraved round the edge as follows: 
196676 . 3 . A . M. X.XXXX . R . A . F .
Can anyone tell me what the 3 . A . M. means.  I assume the RAF means Royal Airforce or was is RFC at that time?
Any thoughts please.
Thank you.
Jim

Title: Re: Medal engraving
Post by: gortonboy on Thursday 03 March 11 20:42 GMT (UK)

hi,,can you tell us his name,,and when and where born,,,we may be able to find his medal card,which could help to solve your query ;)

Title: Re: Medal engraving
Post by: km1971 on Thursday 03 March 11 20:49 GMT (UK)

Hi Jim

3AM stands for Air Mechanic: 3rd Class I believe.

http://www.britairforce.com/raf_ranks_1.htm

He had to be nice to everybody.

Ken

Title: Re: Medal engraving
Post by: brainstrain on Friday 04 March 11 20:54 GMT (UK)

Hi
Thank you for your replies.
Aircraft Mechanic fits in well with his skills.  He always mended things, had a bench and tools at home.  I always thought he was in the army.  In 1914 the RFC, I believe, was a branch of the army and that ties in nicely too.  It would be nice to know what he did at the end of WW1 whether he left immediately of carried on working on aircraft for the, now, RAF.  Maybe I'll find out one day.
Thanks again
Jim

Title: Re: Medal engraving
Post by: gortonboy on Friday 04 March 11 21:13 GMT (UK)

Quote from: gortonboy on Thursday 03 March 11 20:42 GMT (UK)

hi,,can you tell us his name,,and when and where born,,,we may be able to find his medal card,which could help to solve your query ;)

Title: Re: Medal engraving
Post by: brainstrain on Saturday 05 March 11 12:59 GMT (UK)

Hi gortonboy
The best info I have is: 
Name James Arthur Bloor
Born in Ashford, Kent
D.o.B is 1880
I also believe he fought in the Boer war in Africa.  Does anyone know how I can find info on that?
Many thanks to you all.
Jim

Title: Re: Medal engraving
Post by: km1971 on Saturday 05 March 11 13:42 GMT (UK)

Hi Jim

Regarding Boer War service, you should look for a set of service papers on Findmypast. You could also look in the pre-WW1 medal files on Ancestry - although most of these only give initials, and he may not have used his middle name.

If he was in the Militia and went with his unit you can also wait for FindMyPast to put these records online 'by September'. Finally you can check the local newspapers as he may have been mentioned.

Ken

Title: Re: Medal engraving
Post by: gortonboy on Saturday 05 March 11 14:02 GMT (UK)

Quote from: brainstrain on Saturday 05 March 11 12:59 GMT (UK)

Hi gortonboy
The best info I have is: 
Name James Arthur Bloor
Born in Ashford, Kent
D.o.B is 1880
I also believe he fought in the Boer war in Africa.  Does anyone know how I can find info on that?
Many thanks to you all.
Jim

hi,,you say "best info you have"   is his name not engraved on the rim of the medals also?  ;)