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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: jmp on Sunday 10 July 05 01:32 BST (UK)
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I wonder if anyone can tell me if it is possible to find the original record that led to someone being "mentioned in dispatches"? I have a relative who was in the RAF and apparently was mentioned twice during WW2, and I would like to find out what this related to.
Similar applies to the issue of medals during this time. I know that he won the DSO, DFC and bar, but again he was very reticent during his lifetime. Is there anyway of finding the details?
Any information would be extremely helpful
Thank you
Jackie :D
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Hi Jackie
Some gallantry/meritous awards are mentioned in the London Gazette. Search their archive:
http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/ww2.asp?webType=0
Casalguidi
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Hi Jackie!
The armed forces have War Diaries and they tell daily events of the action - this site may give you some pointers of where to look!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A3045467
Annie
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Thank you both Casalguidi and Annie I have already tried the gazette on line but will now try the bbc link of which I was unaware.
Best wishes Jackie
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Jackie
Have you tried the Great War Forum?
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/
Might be worth a try!! they do WW2 too!!
Annie
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Thanks Annie - no didn't know about that one either, will certainly give it a try.
Best wishes
Jackie
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Jackie,
my understanding of the "Mention In Despatches" is that unless it was awarded for gallantry it will have no citation. There are specific times (and more usually in non commissioned ranks) when the award is granted (only in the face of the enemy), and will have some sort of citation. (Usually, the soldier was being put forward for the Military Medal but was not recommeded at the medals committee)
More generally (Commissioned Ranks) it was awarded for meritorius service (Not in the face of the enemy) and carries no citation.
I think you can apply to the medal office for copies of the award (MID)
His DSO and DFC* will carry citations.
Hope it helps
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Thank you very much Judy, this certainly helps clarify matters.
Best wishes
Jackie
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The DSO and DFC and bar should have citations, these will be in the National Archives. The Mention In Despatches is a low-level award, merely means that his name was included in a list of men as having done good service. The DSO and DFC are much higher awards. What was his name?
Steve
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Thanks Steve,
His name was Robert Hortop Phillips and served with the RAF including the Pathfinder force at one stage.
Best wishes
Jackie
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Here is a start, if I have time I will look up his DFC citations when I can.
25 July 1941
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
GENERAL DUTIES BRANCH.
The undermentioned are granted commissions for the duration of hostilities: -
As Flying Officers on Probation.
Leading Aircraftsman
1377713 Robert Hortop PHILLIPS (100093).
29 Dec. 1942
Distinguished Flying Cross.
Flying Officer Robert Hortop PHILLIPS (100093)
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 15 Squadron.
Air Ministry, 14th January, 1944.
The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the publication of
the names of the following personnel who have been mentioned in despatches
by Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief:-
Flight Lieutenant
R. H. PHILLIPS, D.F.C. (100093) R.A.F.V.R.
14 Nov. 1944
Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross.
Flight Lieutenants.
Robert Horton PHILLIPS, D.F.C. (100093),
R.A.F.V.R., 571 Sqn.
13 March 1945
Distinguished Service Order
Flight Lieutenant Roberts Hortop PHILLIPS, D.F.C. (100093), R.A.F.V.R., 7 Sqn.
This officer is an outstanding captain who has completed more than ninety operational missions. One night in January, 1945, he piloted an aircraft in an attack against Munich. The operation called for a high degree of skill and resolution. In spite of considerable fire which was directed at his aircraft, Flight Lieutenant Phillips made two runs over the target to ensure accuracy. His fearlessness, skill and devotion were well illustrated on this notable sortie.
Steve
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Oh Brilliant Steve,
You are a complete star!!!!!.
You may probably have guessed but he was in fact my father and whilst my mother has the medals we have never had any real knowledge of what he was given them for. My Mum being well into her 80's now gets a little confused at times so I get different answers each time. My Dad unfortunately passed away in the early 1980's well before I was interested in this game.
Many many many thanks again.
Jackie.
P.s. How did you find them?
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I know my way around the Gazettes etc.
p.s. You might be shocked at how valuable those medals are, take good care of them and put them on your insurance for about £4000 (I'm not joking)
Steve
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Ooh Thanks Steve for the warning - I certainly hadn't realised that!!!
I would be really grateful, if and when you get the time, and can find anything else re the DFC but your help anyway has been fantastic.
Thank you very much
Best wishes
Jackie
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Hi,
Try the general queries message board at:
www.rafcommands.com
Hugh Halliday, one of the researchers that use that board has a lot of information with regards to awards and is also compiling information with regard to DSOs. He would no doubt be interested to hear from you, especially if you have biographical info on your relative and possibly photographs. All the researcghers that use that board are very helpful and I'm sure that you will get the information you are looking for.
Regards,
Ann
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Hi Ann
He would no doubt be interested to hear from you, especially if you have biographical info on your relative and possibly photographs
Perhaps he would like to come and join in the discussion on this thread as continued discussion might be of interest to others on here who have already participated in the thread ???
Casalguidi
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If you can find out who actually made the dispatches there is a chance that if it was an officer of some note the actual dispatches may have been preserved or even published.
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Hi,
I can try to direct Hugh this way, but he tends to lurk on the RAF Commands site, however, I can post any reply here if needed.
As far as Mention in Dispatches documentation goes, recommendations for awards are in the Air Ministry files (should be in AIR2) which are held at the National Archives at Kew. I have gond through some of them for Hugh and others , however, the best chance of info is from the RAF Commands site first as there are a lot of good researchers that use that site who may well have any recommendations on file and also have other useful background information.
I'm not likely to get to Kew in the near future otherwise I would be happy to go and look, but as I've already said, someone may already have all the info necessary to hand.
Best of luck,
Ann
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Thank you Ann very much for that. It is a site I was unaware of. I will certainly try and contact hugh to see if anything I have would be of interest to him
Best wishes
Jackie
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Jackie,
I posted for you on the RAF COmmands site as Hugh has appeared with some postings so I grabbed him whilst I could. If you e mail/send me a personal message I will send you Hugh's e mail address. My mail is:
sadler.aAT virgin.net, replacing the AT with the obvious. Here's what he has replied:
' The following represents all I know at the moment about Phillips, and I will welcome any more (including biographical notes) that might be added:
PHILLIPS, Robert Horton, F/O (100093, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve) - No.15 Squadron - Distinguished Flying Cross - awarded as per London Gazette dated 29 December 1942. Air Ministry Bulletin 8793 has citation.
"Flying Officer Phillips has taken part in many operational sorties when his aircraft has been heavily engaged by enemy defences and badly damaged but this has never deterred him from his efforts to locate and bomb the target. On one occasion when his aircraft was attacked and damaged by a night fighter, his skilful evasive tactics enabled his rear gunner to destroy the enemy fighter. At all times this officer's courage and devotion to duty have been of a high order."
PHILLIPS, Robert Horton, F/L, DFC (100093, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve) - No.571 Squadron - Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross - awarded as per London Gazette dated 14 November 1944. Following text from Flight, 4 January 1945.
"Flight Lieutenant Phillips has displayed qualities of captaincy and leadership of the highest order. Undeterred by most difficult and hazardous circumstances, he has consistently set a fine example to all by his high courage and determination."
PHILLIPS, Robert Horton, F/L, DFC (100093, Royal Air Force) - No.7 Squadron - Distinguished Service Order - awarded as per London Gazette dated 13 March 1945.
"This officer is an outstanding captain who has completed more than 90 operational missions. One night in January 1945 he piloted an aircraft in an attack against Munich. The operation called for a high degree of skill and resolution. In spite of considerable fire which was directed at his aircraft, Flight Lieutenant Phillips made two runs over the target to ensure accuracy. His fearlessness, skill and devotion to duty were well illustrated on this notable sortie."
Hope that helps you.
Regards,
Ann
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Thank you Ann for all your efforts. You are a star!!
I have sent you a personal message but just wanted to post publically as well to thank you for what will be lovely news for my mother who is in her late 80's. She will be over the moon to read the citations
Thank you again for all your help
Best wishes
Jackie :D
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Hi Jackie,
Thank Hugh not me as he is the one with the information to hand. I was certain that he would have something as he is researching aerial DSOs.
All the best,
Ann
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Wow Steve and Ann!
You (and Hugh) really came up trumps!
Well done
kind regards, Arranroots ;)
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Yes Arranroots, I am really thrilled as you can imagine. Its my mothers 89th birthday on Sunday and I am going to give her a copy of this because as you can appreciate it will mean so much to her.
Best wishes and thanks to all that helped
Jackie :D