were soldiers buried with medals?

[RossGillbanks]

Hi all,

bit stuck with some medals which I have been trying to find for a few years now.
I have tried auctions and ebay with no avail so my question is... was it common when someone passed for them to be buried with their medals? The gentleman didn't have children and they weren't passed down any other avenues of the family.

The medals are;
British War Medal
Victory Medal
bearing the inscription:
331033 R.G. GILLBANKS - RAMC Corps

[Neale1961]

I can see that his medals were reissued in October 1923. [ I can’t read it clearly)
i think they may have been sent to a Miss A Gillbanks, 19 Lillyville Rd SW16.
That might be his sister Agnes, as that is her address in 1918 electoral roll.

Someone will come along to add to this.

[RossGillbanks]

I can see that his medals were reissued in October 1923. [ I can’t read it clearly)
i think they may have been sent to a Miss A Gillbanks, Lillyville Rd SW16.

Someone will come along to add to this.

Yes that's his sister who passed in 1928, she also never had children. I am unsure as to what commonly took place with medals (sold off, buried with the soldier, melted down?). I have his brothers Iraq revolt gsm which was reissued to me from the MOD and would love to finally locate these ww1 medals.

[ALAMO2008]

Several of his Burnt Attestation papers when he Re Enlisted in 1919 and went over in 1920 to Germany
He named his Brother James as his Next of Kin in Fulham
Ralph George died September Quarter 1956
His Death Certificate would State who was the Informant of the Desth Registration and their Address
It is highly unlikely they put the Medals in the Coffin
Not ever heard of being buried with Medals before.
So unlikely here in answer to your original question.

[RossGillbanks]

Several of his Burnt Attestation papers when he Re Enlisted in 1919 and went over in 1920 to Germany
He named his Brother James as his Next of Kin in Fulham
Ralph George died September Quarter 1956
His Death Certificate would State who was the Informant of the Desth Registration and their Address
It is highly unlikely they put the Medals in the Coffin
Not ever heard of being buried with Medals before.
So unlikely here in answer to your original question.

Thank you for your reply, James is my direct ancestor. I have his GSM from Iraq. James passed before Ralph so he wouldn't have been the informant, also Agnes (listed on the medal card) passed before Ralph also.
I know the question regarding having medals in his coffin may have seemed strange, but I am clutching at straws, I have been in contact with every living person I can find and none of them have Ralph's medals (most didn't even know a relation to the family)...

I did get James' 1920 gsm Iraq revolt medal reissued by the MOD, but Ralph's was re-issued previously as per the MIC, what would a likely scenario be for medals? Although I have been looking for these medals for some time, I never really took into account what would/could commonly happen with medals when people passed

[ALAMO2008]

Ralph George Gillbanks GRO Death Index = September Quarter 1956 Surrey Mid East  Vol 5g page 215 aged 61
I found James Benjamin died age 40  Surrey West in March Quarter 1941
But Ralph was One of 13 Children to Benjamin and Mary Ann
The Informant on Ralph's Death Certificate is Most Likely his Widow Dora
He Married Dora Billett (born 26 Aug 1894) in December Quarter 1937 they had No Children
Dora Gillbanks died aged 78 in June Quarter 1972 Merton District  Vol 5d page 881
Get her Death Certificate to see who was Informant of her Death
They probably cleared her House and Ralph's Medals which she had 1937 to 1972

[RossGillbanks]

Ralph George Gillbanks GRO Death Index = September Quarter 1956 Surrey Mid East  Vol 5g page 215 aged 61
I found James Benjamin died age 40  Surrey West in March Quarter 1941
But Ralph was One of 13 Children to Benjamin and Mary Ann
The Informant on Ralph's Death Certificate is Most Likely his Widow Dora
He Married Dora Billett (born 26 Aug 1894) in December Quarter 1937 they had No Children
Dora Gillbanks died aged 78 in June Quarter 1972 Merton District  Vol 5d page 881
Get her Death Certificate to see who was Informant of her Death
They probably cleared her House and Ralph's Medals which she had 1937 to 1972

Thank you again for the detailed response! I will try and speak to someone on the Billet side which might be able to provide some information, I dont have anyone I know personally but seen a few trees on Ancestry so will try and make contact via there. If not I am unsure where else to turn?

[ALAMO2008]

Ralph was Registered on GRO Birth Index as = Relf George Gilbanks  -
December Quarter 1894
Fulham District
Vol 1a page 260
Mother's Maiden Name = Bond
Mary Ann Bond

Father Benjamin Gillbanks married September Quarter1877 Hampstead District Volume 1a page 1239
Widow Mary Ann Jobling nee Bond

In 1919 Ralph Enlisted again into Duke of Cambridges Own (Middlesex) Regt

[BumbleB]

Forgive me for this, but I do not quite understand why you are SO SO desperate to find his original medals.  Yes, I agree that it would be very nice to have them. 

My grandfather died in WW1, leaving a widow and only daughter.  When my parents died, I, as the only child, inherited everything.  In a box of jewellery I found one broken medal - he was awarded two (British War medal and Victory medal).  Rather than just throw it away, my instinct was to have the broken medal repaired and refurbished, and I then found that I could buy a replica medal for the missing item, which I did, along with a replica WW1 Memorial Scroll.  I am more than happy with that solution.