MOD can reissue returned WW1 medals

[Dorsetapplecakes]

Hello,
I am researching my Grandfathers WW1 service. I have come across a document that shows the possibility that he was awarded medals. He was also 'mentioned despatches'.
The family have no idea as to wether he collected the medals that were awarded. I was hoping that someone may be able to tell by looking at the attached document?
Any help would be gratefully received as I don't really know where to start.
many thanks xx Im looking at    William Ernest KEELING

[MJW]

Hello,
I am researching my Grandfathers WW1 service. I have come across a document that shows the possibility that he was awarded medals. He was also 'mentioned despatches'.
The family have no idea as to wether he collected the medals that were awarded. I was hoping that someone may be able to tell by looking at the attached document?
Any help would be gratefully received as I don't really know where to start.
many thanks xx Im looking at    William Ernest KEELING

There's no indication here that his medals were returned so they were probably sent out and received by him. By comparison, the soldier listed above your grandfather had his medals returned - the notes mean Retd.(=Returned) under KR (Kings Regulation) 992 which I think covers medals returned because they could not be delivered or had mistakes in them. These medals were sent out from 1922 and many families had changed address.

It's probably worth getting his medal index card which might have more information.

Malcolm

[jim1]

Hello & welcome
As Malcolm says there's no return voucher mentioned so he received them.
His MID is listed in the London Gazette.
The RE Museum have their war diary, item 10:
https://www.re-museum.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Library-War-Diaries-WW1.pdf
I notice in June 1918 he also received the Meritorious Service Medal.
One anomaly he has the MC which was only awarded to Officers.

[Dorsetapplecakes]

Hi Malcom and jim,


Thank you SO much for taking the time to explain and to find these other documents.

My Grandfather was a postman before WW1 in Dorset and became a Despatch Rider during the great war. We have recently uncovered a huge array of letters and photographs which were taken to Australia by his daughter. There are lots and lots of personal letters that were sent to granny but also a huge array of photographs during training in Leighton Buzzard and also form France dated the summer 1916 (flanders/somme/ypres) .There are an awful lot of photographs with and of his fellow comrades. He has written names on them but we have no idea who they are......
The war diaries that you have mentioned at the RE museum ,would that give further indepth information as to who he served with and when and where they went?

There was a rumour in the family that some medals were given to a museum but again we have no idea if that is true or how to go about finding them....if he received the medals then it is possible the medals are out there somewhere ,how wonderful that would be to find them !!
I have attached a photo of him on his bike and  also after the war with granny , we think he is a sergeant at this point.

Thank you again xx

[Dorsetapplecakes]

William Ernest Keeling
Despatch Rider

[jim1]

Great photos.
Can you find any more with medal ribbons?

[MJW]

His medal index card shows he was also awarded the 1915 Star medal, and first "theatre of war" he served in was France from 31/7/15.

[Dorsetapplecakes]

WOW!! Thank you for finding this out !
I've just been looking through  the pictures but  I cant see any others with medal ribbon/bar visible. Most of the pictures are of him serving as a Corporal. The first pictures start in June 1915 in Leighton Buzzard so that makes sense that he went out on 31/7/15.
So am I right in believing that I am  looking for-
1915 Star
MC ?is this a military cross
Victory medal
British war medal
and x2 oak leaf 'mentioned in Despatches' 

So next port of call is to contact the RE museum archives and pick their brains ! I will try and find out what 'B' corp were up to when they went!! Thank you so much for all your help xxxI will report back soon xx

[jim1]

The MC is incorrect as this was only awarded to Officers, the minimum rank being Warrant Officer.
Other Ranks were awarded the MM.
I would ask about this anomaly when you contact them.
I would also send the photo of him with the Medal bar & see if they can ID them.
They're not Pip, Squeak & Wilfred as they were referred to as they hadn't yet been awarded when the picture was taken.
There's nothing mentioned in the London Gazette about any other award other than his MID & MSM.
War diaries seldom mention men by name but as he's been awarded he may get a mention & what he did to get them.
There will almost certainly be a charge for a copy which might be a bit expensive but even if you can find out who he was attached to & where they were stationed would be a good start.