The operation was undertaken by the royal navy and british commandos under the auspices of combined operations headquarters on 28 march 1942. Soldiers mentioned in dispatches are now available online on. Hi bb, as jerome says you may well find his mid listed in the gazette, london gazette home page its a bit of a black art searching it but if you have a service number you might just find him, though it seems far from all were listed, and any sort of citation is very unlikely. During ww1, reports from commandersinchief were published in the gazette, as the bearer of official war office and ministry of defence events. World war ii 19391945 honour your military ancestorsmilitary achievements with a replicacustom wwii mentioned in despatches certificate. Established in 1919, it was retrospective to august 1914. Stationery office it contains legal and government notices, including notices of military honors and awards. I have terrible trouble with gazette searches but know a few chaps that.
Royal navy medals mid, mentions in despatches, world war 1. But the wo did not lose his head, although it took him a little time to convince the german infantry commander that he was surrounded and that is only alternative was. He commenced his education at hurstleigh, a private school in tunbridge wells in 1902. Recommendations for promotion etc, as well as more formal mentions in dispatches. In world war ii he assumed command of the eight army from 1942 in the.
Posted to no 2 school of aviation at andover in december 1940, 42 otu, and then 1526 bat flight at thruxton on 11 th november 1941, fulfilling a range of training and instructing including considerable beam flying. Hi folks, i only learned last week from my 85 year old mother that both her brothers were mentioned in despatches during ww2. Records in the london gazette for soldiers mentioned in despatches, awarded medals, gallantry awards, promotions or special honours with forces war. It was not a common honour with, for example, only twentyfive out of 1,000 members of the royal newfoundland regiment in the first world war mentioned in despatches. In all, 141,082 mentions were recorded in the london gazette. The father in law was in the desert rats during wwii 1st batt royal tank regt and i found his medals the other day and he has the italy star amongst others and it has a mentioned in dispatches oak leaf.
For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty east of le cateau on the morning of 18th october 1918, when in the attack his platoon came unexpectedly under intense machinegun fire. But the wo did not lose his head, although it took him a little time to convince the german infantry commander that he was surrounded and that is only alternative was to capitulate. C mention in despatches canada london gazette cairns. Mentioned in despatches ww2 an example of mentioned in despatches ww2 can.
The award of the mm appeared in the london gazette, which is now online and searchable. Mentioned in despatches for distinguished services in the. Is there any way i can find more about these despatches, and more importantly, would i be eligible to get copies. Gazette world war 2 despatches, submitted by commandersinchief, by issue or. How to research an award of the military medal mm the. Troop sergeant major kenneth holmes was mentioned in despatches for good service whilst operating with the 21st army group in france. For great gallantry and inspiring example whilst a prisoner of war in german hands in norway and afterwards at sachsenhausen, near oranienburg, germany, 19421945. Mentioned in dispatches wwii citation army rumour service. Supplement to the london gazette of tuesday 22 june, 1943. Up to one half of londons population were away from their homes for some period of world war ii. London gazette or supplement surname forenames no rank date edition page other awards macdonald charles leslie capt tmaj 4. Mentioned in despatches 3 times london gazette london gazette 19th october 1916 page 10049 mesopotamia, london gazette 15th august 1918 page 8328 mesopotamia, london gazette 27th august 1918 page 9984 mesopotamia.
This jargon is often in the form of abbreviations and acronyms and can make reading military documents very difficult. For the first time online, leading british genealogy research website thegenealogist has released over 81,000 records of records of mentioned in dispatches from the first world war, linked to citations from the london gazette. Here are the gazettes associated with the 9th april 1917 despatch. In most cases only the mens name, rank, number, regimentunit and place of enlistment or residence appears. Naval despatches and awards, london gazette, aprjun 1915. West and east coasts to deter the german naval threat. Royal navy and naval history world war 2, 19391945. Mentioned in despatches soldiers and their units great.
World war 1 at sea royal navy despatches, gallantry awards and honours from the london gazette august 1914 to december 1920. Miniature medals mc 1914 star trio with mid oakleaf. The mention in despatches is the most junior form of recognition that was announced in the london gazette. Wwii mentioned in despatches headache armed forces. Army despatches with naval operations and mentions, part 2 of 3.
In a number of countries, a soldiers name must be mentioned in dispatches as a condition for receiving certain decorations. Forum mention in dispatches ww2 entry in the gazette. British field commanders despatches the long, long trail. For undaunted courage, skill and determination in carrying out the daring attack on the german battleship tirpitz on 3 april 1944. The united kingdom in the second world war despatches published in the london gazette. London gazette editions 2962330447 june 1916december 1917. Please choose from the two buttons whether you would like to see campaign medals or gallantry awards medals. Hardy, who was killed while gallantly leading the attack on german destroyers at narvik on april 10th was the son of the late j. Bakerfalkner, roy sydney, lieutenantcommandera mentioned in despatches royal navy no. Second world war abbreviations and acronyms researching ww2.
Example of mentioned in despatches letter from the. Smith royal engineers, was published in the london gazette on 22 march 1945, as mentioned in a despatch for distinguished service. Both chaps are sadly no longer with us, but one of my uncles has got two children still alive whom i have no contact with. In the british armed forces, the despatch is published in the london gazette.
Before the war commenced, whilst a lance corporal with the 2nd bn. Bracelet, 193945 what was life like for children who were evacuated. Available to diamond subscribers of the site, each transcription is accompanied by a scan of the original handwritten record, as well as a link to the official citation as it appeared in the london gazette. I am charged to record his majestys high appreciation. Frederick morgan was born in paddock wood, kent on 5 february 1894, the eldest son among nine children of frederick beverley morgan, a timber importer, and his wife clare elizabeth nee horrocks.
While the german armoured attack was at its height on the afternoon of the 7th june, general weygand personally visited tenth army headquarters east of rouen and. Im helping a friend whos father was mentioned in despatches twice. Barr, lac john charles r9358 mention in despatches no. Caldwell, john birch, lieutenant e mention in despatches rcn hmcs athabaskan awarded as per canada gazette of 29 april 1944 and london gazette of 11 january 1944. For 19351990 see the online copies of wo 373, recommendations for military honours and awards. However, his bravery was mentioned in dispatches posthumously. He had been mentioned in despatches in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in successful combined operations against the enemy at vaagso and maaloy. North russia after the end of world war 1, john sherwoodkelly took command of the second battalion of the hampsire regiment in the north russian campaign in july 1919. Fonger, fl owen woodward, dfc j21918 mention in despatches lintononouse award effective 14 june 1945 as per london gazette of that date and afro 147845 dated 21 september 1945. Despatches during world war 2, submitted by commandersinchief, were published in the gazette from 1941 until 1951.
On 11 january 1918 the london gazette reported that john had been awarded the victoria cross which he received from king george on 23 january 1918 at buckingham palace. Mar 02, 2009 on arrival, however, he was met by a platoon of german infantry. The government encouraged parents to send their children away from london for their safety. Bowers, corporal winnifred stella raf waaf 2055795 mention in despatches station eastmoor awarded as per london gazette dated 14 june 1945.
Ww2 abbreviations and acronyms when you research a soldier who served in either the british or indian army during the second world war youll be confronted by a wide range of military jargon. This is the action rod received his mentioned in dispatches for. Soldiers of the british empire or the commonwealth of nations who are mentioned in despatches, but do not receive a medal for their action, are nonetheless. The issue or supplement number, title and date of publication are listed below. London was a main target for enemy bombing during world war ii. Compilation of despatches relating to air operations appearing as supplements to the london gazette. I went to innsworth in gloucestershire to be kitted up. I have found the relevant entry in the london gazette which just. As jerome says you may well find his mid listed in the gazette, london gazette home page its a bit of a black art searching it but if you have a service number you might just find him, though it seems far from all were listed, and any sort of citation is very unlikely.
After the second world war the relevant despatches for 193945 were published from 1947 onwards as supplements to the london gazette. Another click of a link takes us straight to the website of the london gazette so that. Soldiers mentioned in dispatches are now available online for the first time online, leading british genealogy research website thegenealogist has released over 81,000 records of records of mentioned in dispatches from the first world war, linked to citations from the london gazette. He was mentioned in dispatches which was announced in the london gazette dated 24th september 1941.
You can carry out both simple and advanced searches from one page. Many attached lists of men deemed worthy of a mention, though text explaining the precise reason why a particular individual was chosen is uncommon. British commandersinchief of a theatre of war or campaign were obliged to report their activities and achievements to the war office in the form of despatches, which were published in the gazette. This archive contains all london gazette editions from the war years 19141920, 19391948, and all london gazette honours and awards in the 20 th century. In doing this, they sustained a considerably greater casualty rate than almost every other branch of the armed services and. Over 81,000 records of servicemen and women mentioned in dispatches during the first world war have been added to. You may also notice other officers names who have featured in this website. Although put up for an obe, the war office suggested a mid because he has been a prisoner or sbo only a relatively short time. I have terrible trouble with gazette searches but know a few chaps that seem to know how to work it. The king has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the middle east during the period 1st may, 1942, to 22nd october,1942. While the despatch was addressed to the king and parliament, it was also published in the london gazette. The st nazaire raid or operation chariot was a british amphibious attack on the heavily defended normandie dry dock at st nazaire in german occupied france during the second world war. Military cross awarded london gazette 26th august 1918 page 9966 mesopotamia. This incident, no doubt, is the foundation of later stories how the rasc recaptured matruh.
The following announcement was written by the folks at. He had the africa star, france and germany star and italy star as well as the usual ones. Lance sergeant leonard coupe died during an operation against german forces in the wadis near the anzio beachhead. The example of the mentioned in despatches letter from the secretary of state for war from world war one reads. Great fire of london 1666 issue 85 first awards of the victoria cross 1857 issue 21971 battle of trafalgar 1805 issue 15858 simple or advanced searching on one page.
In january 1942, as i expected to be called up, i volunteered to join the w. The following despatch has been received by the secretary of state for war from fieldmarshal sir douglas haig, g. Example of mentioned in despatches letter from the secretary. To the left is a copy of the london gazette honours and awards supplement of 19th june 1945. Mentioned in despatches synonyms, mentioned in despatches pronunciation, mentioned in despatches translation, english dictionary definition of mentioned in despatches. Thanks to mark bailey for his painstaking work to compile a list of members of 17th battalion who were mentioned in despatches and entitled to wear the oak leaf emblem on their victory medal. Primary documents sir douglas haigs despatches as british commanderinchief, 191619 when douglas haig was appointed commanderinchief of the british armies operating in france and flanders in december 1915 succeeding sir john french he was expected to follow in the tradition of his predecessors with the periodical submittal of despatches from the front, each detailing the progress. British military gallantry medals the national archives. B dated 7th february 1919 for gallant and distinguished services in the field. The example of the mentioned in despatches letter from the secretary of state for war from world war. In britain, since 1993, the decoration is a single silver oak leaf. The number is the issue number of the london gazette in which the despatch was published.
Mentioned in dispatches navy net royal navy community. Wwii mentioned in despatches headache read 7751 times spook. Recipients would wear a bronze oak leaf attached to their medal ribbon and it was announced in the london gazette. Dudley dixon also received an award, his second bar to his dsc. Sister miss e, smithies was mentioned in a despatch from lieutenant general sir w. The london gazette is an official newspaper of record for the united kingdom, published by h. Though not a medal, for actions during ww1, soldiers were entitled to receive a certificate and wear a decoration of a spray of oak leaves in bronze instigated in. Search and download mentions in dispatches 19141920 as recorded on medal index cards wo 37224. Search records of soldiers awards from the london gazette. Mentioned in despatches definition of mentioned in.
World war 2 officially started on september 1, 1939, after germany invaded poland, and it continued until 1945 when both japan and germany surrendered. The canadian armed forces still use the bronze oak leaf device. A soldier mentioned in dispatches or despatches mid is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldiers gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy. In all, 141,082 mentions were recorded in the london gazette between 1914 and 1920. Search by multiple criteria to find exactly what you are looking for. Prior to this change, even if the soldier was mentioned in dispatches more than once, only a single such decoration was worn. These despatches were written by the commanders concerned during the war and then published later in the british government newspaper of record, the london gazette. From 1920 to 1993, the device consisted of a single bronze oak leaf, worn on the ribbon of the appropriate campaign medal, including the war medal for a mention during the second world war. The wwi hero who charged the enemy trenches, captured 6. Nov 05, 2014 the following announcement was written by the folks at.
Ww1 reports from commandersinchief were published in the gazette, as the bearer of official war. Relevant sections were later published in the commonwealth gazette in australia. In several occasions also persons were mentioned in these despatches without them having received a decoration for the mentioned action. Merchant seamen crewed the ships of the british merchant navy which kept the united kingdom supplied with raw materials, arms, ammunition, fuel, food and all of the necessities of a nation at war throughout world war ii literally enabling the country to defend itself. George smith left, ordnance artificer, 191643, hms charybdis. The despatches reproduced here, introduced and annotated by professor bennett, cover events with a huge bearing on the outcome of the war, such as the convoys in the mediterranean and to russia, major. Mention in despatches awarded as per london gazette dated 28 december 1945. Campaign medals you can find more information on a specific medal or award by clicking on its link below. Activities and achievements of the war were detailed, with individuals mentioned in despatches mid. The citation, in the london gazette, 9 october 1945, read. May 1945 he took the german surrender at luneburg heath in north germany. The citation in the london gazette on the 6th of january 1919 read. Supplement to the london gazette of tuesday 22 june, 1943 thursday, 24th june, 1943 war office, 24th june, 1943. In each case the decoration is pinned or sewn diagonally on to the appropriate campaign medal ribbon.
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