RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: kwr on Sunday 31 December 23 11:39 GMT (UK)
-
Out of the blue I've just acquired (been given) two of his medals. Not being very bright I don't know what the letters on the edges stand for. They are as follows:-
BLR MKR. W.F.A.
Apparently he died in 1917 in West Derby Lancashire. I'm awaiting his death certificate. He's not a close relative but I'd still like to know and do some following up. Help please?
Ken
-
Here are some abbreviations:- BLRMKR -
https://cdn.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/records/abbreviations-in-world-war-one-medal-index-cards-rank.pdf
W.F.A could that be Western Front Association ?
Sandra
-
Out of the blue I've just acquired (been given) two of his medals. Not being very bright I don't know what the letters on the edges stand for. They are as follows:-
BLR MKR. W.F.A.
Apparently he died in 1917 in West Derby Lancashire. I'm awaiting his death certificate. He's not a close relative but I'd still like to know and do some following up. Help please?
Ken
Is it possible for you to post images of the two medals please?
-
One is the Victory medal (British version) and the other is the British War Medal so there are no clues on the front or back of either of the medals. The edges are exactly as I have decribed in my initial post including the full stops.
The abbreviations list was very useful - it seems he was a boilermaker hence BMK- the same profession as his father William Henry Taylor. However the WFA suggestion, although an interesting attempt, does not seem to be right. I looked up the Western Front Association and it wasn't set up until 1980.
However many thanks for the efforts so far.
Ken
-
In military terms W.F.A. should be Welsh Field Ambulance.
Civilian occupations weren't included on medals.
At a push Welsh Field Artillery.
The information on the rim should be name, rank, service number & unit.
This was compulsory.
Agree with AllanUK I would like to see them also.
-
As he was a Boiler Maker in civilian life, he could have served in the Merchant Navy -- if he did, unfortunately the Mercantile Marine records from 1913 to 1919 were destroyed in 1969.
-
Thanks for the new comments.
I'll see what I can do re. photographing both sides of the two medals. I'm in my eighties so I'll try to recruit my son to do it. However whilst I do have A.E.Taylor in caps on the edges of both there is nothing else apart from those letters on the edges of the medals.
Regarding the possible merchant marine aspect it might be so but what a shame about the records being destroyed! He is aged 22 in 1911 according to the census so there might just be something on him before the war started.
I'm giving up for the evening now. Once again thank you for your input.
-
Thanks for the new comments.
I'll see what I can do re. photographing both sides of the two medals. I'm in my eighties so I'll try to recruit my son to do it. However whilst I do have A.E.Taylor in caps on the edges of both there is nothing else apart from those letters on the edges of the medals.
Regarding the possible merchant marine aspect it might be so but what a shame about the records being destroyed! He is aged 22 in 1911 according to the census so there might just be something on him before the war started.
I'm giving up for the evening now. Once again thank you for your input.
Hello,
If your son can post images of the two medals, can he also post images of the rim that shows BLR MKR WFA -- the images could possibly assist in trying to assist you.
Thank you.
-
I'll ask him to try photographing the rims but it could be difficult and as I have said, there is absolutely nothing else on them apart from the name and the several capital letters I posted initially.
-
The reason why I ask (& I can't speak for AllanUK) is that if they are genuine BW & V medals the
information on the rim doesn't make sense.
I know medals were struck & awarded to men who served by their Companies & Guilds
& they may look very similar.
-
The reason why I ask (& I can't speak for AllanUK) is that if they are genuine BW & V medals the
information on the rim doesn't make sense.
I know medals were struck & awarded to men who served by their Companies & Guilds
& they may look very similar.
I agree Jim1 -- it would be of great benefit to see images of the rims.
-
Ken -- can you look at the rims again please to clarify the three letters after BLR MKR
Could WFA actually be MFA ??
-
Brilliant Alan! Absolutely right. M. is the correct letter. So Merchant maybe?
I took them over to my son last night and he pointed out that it was an M - his eyesight is better than mine. It means that you and Jim1 are very likely correct and that these are not "real" medals but versions of them.
He has promised to come over and post them for me bur he still works so I'm not sure quite when it will be. You will see them but perhaps not as quickly as I would like.
-
Good morning Ken,
With the assistance of a fellow WW1 enthusiast I think that your man has been identified as a Boilermaker that served on HMS Victorian, an armed merchant cruiser which regularly sailed out of Liverpool.
Looking at the Mercantile Marine Reserve (MMR) medal roll as held by the National Archives, we find that he was awarded the 1914/15 Star Medal in addition to the BWM and the VM medals. All medals were sent to his widow. The fact that he was awarded the 1914/15 Star means that he entered a 'Theatre of War' [at sea] sometime after November 1914.
The MFA stands for the Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary
I have attached an image (courtesy of the National Archives) that shows his entry in the MMR medal rolls. I have also shown below a link to HMS Victorian's ship's log -- although I can't find him mentioned by name, the log gives you an idea of what the ship was involved in during WW1.
https://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-WW1-08-HMS_Victorian.htm
-
Well done AllanUK. Good bit of sleuthing.
-
Wonderful Alan!
Not long after your reply - about five minutes, I was notified by the GRO that his death certificate was available. He died in 1917 in Bootle aged 29 of bronchopneumonia, leaving a wife and two small children. Death notified by my great grandad William Henry Taylor. One photo of him as a 7 yr. old survives.
Family History really has its moments doesn't it?
Ken
-
Well done AllanUK. Good bit of sleuthing.
A 'shout of thanks' must also go to a fellow WW1 enthusiast on another forum.
-
Family History really has its moments doesn't it?
Ken
It certainly does!!