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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: 2twigs on Wednesday 28 January 15 14:42 GMT (UK)
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Hello
I'm posting in the hope that someone can provide some advice regarding researching my Grandads WW2 Royal Navy Service. This is particularly in regard to one query.
Background;
I have obtained a copy of his medal record card and his service history. I also have details regarding a mention in dispatches 04/05/43. I also have a scan of an original 'fabric' service document.
There is little family information available other than a memory of 'one, possibly two bars on the medals and two mentions in dispatches', although this information is vague. I understand the memory of the medal bar could relate to the leaf connected to the mention in Dispatches.
Query;
On the fabric document is written what looks like "Awarded D.S.M L Gazette" (see attachment). This is not noted on any other document I have. To date I have found no further details or records relating to this. Does anyone know how I may be able to find out further information?
I'm quite prepared to visit the National Archives but I'm not sure what record/s to look in once I get there.
Any help and ideas much appreciated. :)
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If you provide a name we can have a look for him in the London Gazette. His number would be helpful too.
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Hi there
Thank you for your reply and offer :) very much appreciated.
The record I'm seeking is for Thomas Harper C / SSX / 26972. From what I can gather he was on combined-ops for some time via Landing Craft Assault and served from 1938 to 1945.
The mention in Despatches that I have already located is not related to a DSM. This is the only record I can find when searching the L Gazette website (4th May 1943 - page 2006/07) " for bravery, endurance and devotion to duty in North African waters - Mention in Despatches"
I've now looked through ADM 171/164 on the National Archives record but I couldn't seem to see his name or number. It could be staring me in the face somewhere, argh.
Thanks again :)
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I have given a heads up to poster Hmac. regarding this post. If anyone can help you he's the man.
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I've now looked through ADM 171/164 on the National Archives record but I couldn't seem to see his name or number. It could be staring me in the face somewhere, argh.
Hello,
Did you visit Kew to look at ADM 171/64. You will not see anything from the Discovery Catalogue search engine online.
Honours and Awards is a big subject and you will find papers dispersed in various ADM files at Kew - namely ADM 1.
There only appears to be his Mention in Despatches gazetted I cannot find his DSM, that said, The London Gazette has a very poor search engine. I would suggest you check ADM 1 and ADM 171/64 from TNA or get hold of 'SEEDIE'S Roll of Naval Honours and Awards, 1939-1959'. The book is expensive and rare to find but may be available at larger libraries. You could also try 'The Distinguished Service Medal 1939-1946' by W.H Fevyer.
Regrds
Hugh
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There is no T Harper listed in The Distinguished Service Medal 1939-1946 by W.H Fevyer
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'SEEDIE'S Roll of Naval Honours and Awards, 1939-1959'. The book is expensive and rare to find but may be available at larger libraries.
Enter your post code for the nearest library
http://www.worldcat.org/title/seedies-roll-of-naval-honours-awards-1939-1959/oclc/41503840?referer=br&ht=edition
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You wasn't joking Hugh
http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=14940115354&searchurl=tn%3DRoll+of+Naval+Honours+and+Awards%2C+1939-1959%26sts%3Dt
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I know Drew - very expensive :'(. Seedie's is the bible for maritime wartime awards but, that said, like any piece of written work, there are mistakes and omissions. I have the MN version which I picked up by chance on eBay for a lot, lot less than that.
Regards
Hugh
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Thank you all so much for the help and replies. Huge thanks also for looking up in books which has saved me lots of time and money. :-*
Re looking at ADM 171/164, originally it was (still is) my intention to visit Kew.
On Friday I was pointed in this direction: http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C975134 (http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C975134)
and I searched through the pages here: http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C975134#imageViewerLink (http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C975134#imageViewerLink)
I’m quite prepared to have to visit Kew but having never been before I wanted to ensure I started looking in the right place once I got there. I take it ADM 1 is the place to start?
Thanks for the comment re L Gazette having a poor search engine, that’s reassuring given the frustrations I had with it. Superb top tip and link to the Seedie’s roll of Naval Honours and Awards. The easiest to reach copies for me are in London, shame there isn’t one in Portsmouth. So a trip to London it is.
Again I can’t thank you all enough :) :) :) , this info would have taken me many hours over many weeks to even get close to (if at all). It might be a few weeks before I can get to London but if and when I find out anything I’ll update here. The quest to confirm continues…
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I know Drew - very expensive :'(. Seedie's is the bible for maritime wartime awards but, that said, like any piece of written work, there are mistakes and omissions. I have the MN version which I picked up by chance on eBay for a lot, lot less than that.
Regards
Hugh
Does it just list the awards or does it contain the citations as well?
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I have not seen the RN version but the MN version gives very basic details such as LG date and a statement such as For services when the ship was torpedoed and sunk etc. The beauty of the book for me is that the LG does not name the ship that the award was given although it did at the beginning of the war and then censorship removed the ship names from the publication. So you can check the LG and find a name and even a citation but not know what ship was involved - unless you have Seedie's of course.
Regards
Hugh