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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: youwho on Wednesday 29 May 24 10:53 BST (UK)

Title: OBE awarded 1943 - RAF
Post by: youwho on Wednesday 29 May 24 10:53 BST (UK)
Hello Folks
My friend has found that her grandfather was awarded an OBE in 1943 while on active service with the RAF medical branch.
He served with distinction throughout the war.

 She would love to know what he did to gain this award.
Does anyone know if and where any records might be found to give her this information.
Many thanks
youwho
Title: Re: OBE awarded 1943 - RAF
Post by: Jebber on Wednesday 29 May 24 11:00 BST (UK)
Try the National Archives, they do hold citations for some military personnel but not all. I haven’t found my uncle’s which was just after the end of the war, but I have found my husband’s in the  1980s.
Title: Re: OBE awarded 1943 - RAF
Post by: youwho on Wednesday 29 May 24 11:06 BST (UK)
Thank you
I will have a look now, I never thought of the National Archives, don't know why
youwho
Title: Re: OBE awarded 1943 - RAF
Post by: Ashtone on Wednesday 29 May 24 13:56 BST (UK)
It'll probably be mentioned in a newspaper report, as well.

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/
Title: Re: OBE awarded 1943 - RAF
Post by: Jebber on Wednesday 29 May 24 14:42 BST (UK)
It'll probably be mentioned in a newspaper report, as well.

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/

Unfortunately unlikely to attract details in war time.  It would be published  in the Gazette, but that  only states the name and the actual award, no other information.
Title: Re: OBE awarded 1943 - RAF
Post by: Ashtone on Wednesday 29 May 24 14:57 BST (UK)
Actually I found at least one newspaper mention of one RAF personnel receiving an OBE in 1943.

EXAMPLE
Title: Re: OBE awarded 1943 - RAF
Post by: Jebber on Wednesday 29 May 24 15:56 BST (UK)
That was lucky,  it’s rather hit and miss and depends if the circumstances attract a local paper.
Title: Re: OBE awarded 1943 - RAF
Post by: youwho on Wednesday 29 May 24 16:03 BST (UK)
I don't think my friend know where he was in 1943 as he was serving with the RAF, he may not have given his medal until after the war had ended, He lived in Wales after the war, she has a newspaper cutting regarding he death with a lot of information, but not what he was awarded the OBE for unfortunately.
Title: Re: OBE awarded 1943 - RAF
Post by: Ashtone on Wednesday 29 May 24 16:11 BST (UK)
Just search using his name. Hopefully you'll get some suitable results to work with.
Title: Re: OBE awarded 1943 - RAF
Post by: Jebber on Wednesday 29 May 24 16:13 BST (UK)
It wouldn’t be where he was serving, it would have been wherever his wife, or if unmarried, where his parents and family were living. If you get the date the award was published in the Gazette, you could then try the local paper.