Reasons for receiving Military Medal

[christinamary]

My grandfather received the Military Medal for bravery in 1918. My mother (now aged 82) would love to know what he did to get this honour. I have quite a lot of information about him but the original citation he would have received has been lost. He never talked about it. My research so far on-line suggests it may be difficult to find out the reason. Can anyone help?
He was James Fraser, d.o.b. 25.07.1899, born in Inverness, Scotland. He joined up in 1916 with the 6th battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders. He was a Private, his number was S/25208. He earned his Military Medal apparently on 9.04.1918. From my research on-line it appears this could have been the battle of Estaires. He survived and was taken prisoner of war until the end of the war. I have found the announcement of his MM in the London Gazette 7.10.1918 but this gives no information of what he did.
I have read about the Morayshire Roll of Honour but this seems to be a rare document (£600 to buy on Amazon!!) and I wonder whether this would give any information about him personally. I have also seen a reference to '6th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders Campaign Reminiscences' by Capt R t Peel & Capt A H MacDonald. Also 'The Spirit of the Troops is Excellent: 6th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders in the Great War' by Derek Bird. Would these be useful? I don't want to go to the expense of buying books unnecessarily.
Is it likely my grandfather would have appeared in a newspaper report in Scotland at the time and if so which newspaper would have covered Inverness?   
I hope someone has a bright idea about what I can do! 

[mmm45]

With the citation lost I would first try the Unit War Diary to see if there is anything listed....sometimes you may strike lucky...they are at Kew but maybe online(not all are)
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displayyour-options.asp?requestthis=WO+95%2F2867&linkback=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Enationalarchives%2Egov%2Euk%2Fcatalogue%2FDisplayCatalogueDetails%2Easp%3FCATID%3D5637201%26CATLN%3D6%26FullDetails%3DTrue&CATID=5637201&CATLN=6&FullDetails=True&UserType=0


The next place for MM reasons ive found are local papers of the time and maybe try Regimental Museums

The Roll of the MM is in production at the moment and is due to be out in 2013 the author has researched thousands of WW1 MM recipients and located a lot of citations etc.

Hope this gives you some idea

Ady

[IMBER]

There's a member named nwr who will carry out free searches in the Morayshire Roll of Honour.

[christinamary]

Thank you for both replies. I will follow up the leads. I didn't realsie there might be war diaries that exist but aren't on line. If it comes to it, I will have to be patient till 2013 with fingers crossed!

Re: Moray Roll of Honour, I will ask for a trace and hope something is there.

Thanks. 

[mmm45]

Just looking at the Great War Medal Collectors Companion it states that MM Gazetted 7/10/1918 covers the period April/May until 1st week of June awards are mainly for minor actions and Trench Raids not major battles.
You can order War Diaries on the link i posted they will send by mail unsure of cost though Id order from March to July 1918 to ensure you get the dates covered


Ady

[msr]

I was about to post a request for guidance when I saw this one.

My grandmother's younger brother was killed in 1918 and from the National Roll I found this information:

'He was awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous bravery in rescuing his wounded officer under heavy shell-fire, but was unhappily killed in action on the Somme on March 21st, 1918.'

I shall now try the same avenue that christinamary is trying, but if anyone has other suggestions I am all ears   

Su

[mmm45]

Su
Can you post details on here we may be able to come up with other info.

Ady

[msr]

Hi Ady

Just caught your message before leaving for the night.

Information courtesy of National Rolls 1914-1918
lSHUFFLEBOTTOM,  S,  (M.M.), Pte. 7th East Lancashire Regiment

He joined in November 1917 and in the following April was drafted to the Western Front, where he fought in the Battles of Arras, Messines, Ypres, Passchendale, Lens and Cambrai.

He was awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous bravery in rescuing his wounded officer under heavy shell-fire, but was unhappily killed in action on the Somme on March 21st, 1918.

He was also entitled to the General Service and Victory Medals.

"Great deeds cannot die"

6 Jackson Square, Patricroft.                      Z6857

[mmm45]

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30476/supplements/842

Heres Samuels Gazette entry...He was in the 2/5th East Lancs Regiment

Deployed March 1917 to France...
His MM Card is down as S Shufflebotham he was also numbered 5189 (pre 1917 number)

Possibly a Passchendaele award( Oct 1917)?

Ady