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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: helenmb on Wednesday 30 January 19 17:27 GMT (UK)
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I hope this is the right place to post this request. I have recently discovered that an ancestor was awarded the MBE possibly in the 1940's. Is there any way I can find out exactly when and what the award was given for? He was in the Royal Army Pay Corp during the Second World War so I am wondering if the award is related to that in some way. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks. Helen
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The London Gazette is probably the best source for awards. Whether it would say why the award was given - I'm not sure.
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Maybe a local newspaper will mention them and why they were awarded it.
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Have a look on the National Archives Discovery, if the award was during his military service you may be lucky and find the citation. They are not all there but I have found several while have been unable to find others.
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The most you are likely to find is something like '....for services to [whatever]...'
As Rosie has said you might find something in a local newspaper.
My late father was awarded the MBE in the 1985 New Years Honours. The letter from the Prime Minister's office didn't even contain any citation at all, it simply said that the Prime Minister 'had it in mind' to submit his name to The Queen, etc.
When the awards were published his simply said 'for services to conservation'.
Here are a couple of threads with similar enquiries to yours
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=630505.msg4783606#msg4783606
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=628857.msg4768735#msg4768735
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My late husband was awarded an MBE in 1984, I downloaded his full, very detailed citation from the National Archives. Unfortunately he never saw it himself as it only came up in searches after his death.
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Many thanks everyone for all the helpful advice. I have tried the Gazette but no luck there I am afraid! I don't know where he was living at the time, possibly in London though so I will try any local papers next. Interesting information about awards of which I had no idea so I have learnt quite a lot but not found exactly what I was hoping for! Helen