The reports cover action seen by the squadrons, wings and groups serving with. An raf bomber command squadron commander was a wing commander, and in path finder force pff, where ranks were one higher than regular bomber command, a group captain. This reflects the number of men in the unit and the various levels of responsibility. Public record office air 25025 has recommendation for a military medal. How to research a mention in despatches the long, long trail.
It was and is an honour granted with a symbol usually an oak leaf appended to a campaign ribbon without a specific medal of its own. Hi, im helping a friend whos father was mentioned in despatches twice. However, it was decided during the great war that an oak leaf emblem could be worn with the ribbon of the victory medal, denoting the mention. I have his certificate and have been trying to find what he did to receive this honour. Mentioned in despatches world war two page 1 rootschat.
My fatherinlaw was mentioned in despatches after the bombing of biggin hill during the battle of britain. Commandersinchief in the field submitted periodical lists of officers and soldiers who were mentioned in despatches. The mention in despatches is the most junior form of recognition that was announced in the london gazette. Nov 05, 2014 the following announcement was written by the folks at. Post 1920, for the issue of a kings commendation for brave conduct or a mention in despatches, a bronze emblem of a single oak leaf was worn on the appropriate. 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. In 1931 the award was extended to royal air force personnel for gallantry on the. Example of mentioned in despatches letter from the secretary. We have no idea what this was for but would like to find out. Mentioned in despatches bernard newman my grandfather was mentioned in despatches in ww1, i have the certificate but was wondering if it is possible to get a look at the actual mention i know its not aviation related apart from the fact that his ww2 french legion du honeur is signed by dassault. Where would i find the information and what they said about him.
Wwii mentioned in despatches headache armed forces page 1. Operation overlord operations of coastal command, royal air force, may to. Recommendations are also available for the military medal, meritorious service medal and in some cases mentions in despatches. For those where a citation was published in the london gazette the original is often much more detailed.
Search records of soldiers awards from the london gazette. Reading my great uncles obituary which i found the other day it was reported recalled in 1939 he served in the raf as sergeant instructor. These records are royal air force combat reports written during the second world war. Gazette world war 2 despatches, submitted by commandersinchief, by issue. Am researching my fiancees grandfather george john william smith who served in the royal engineers. 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. My maternal grand father was mentioned in despatches. Settle was a leading aircraftman in the raf, and was commissioned as an acting pilot officer in december 1942. Mentioned in despatches ww2 an example of mentioned in despatches ww2 can be found in millions like us. Lieutenant sparrow and corporal reddie, both of the new south wales infantry, were mentioned in despatches sent by lieutenant general sir g. Ww1 mentioned in despatches oak leaf medal ribbon mention mid. A ww2 mentioned in despatches medal group awarded to flying officer harry settle raf.
British commandersinchief of a theatre of war or campaign were obliged to report their activities and achievements to the war office. Recommendations for military honours and awards 19351990 the. Oct 17, 2005 am researching my fiancees grandfather george john william smith who served in the royal engineers. How to research a mention in despatches the long, long. They are the official reports which pilots or air gunners filed after they had encountered enemy aircraft on operational flights. Yes i noticed that but i was just explaining the term accountant branch. Oct 24, 2017 if your name appeared in these lists you were said to have been mentioned in despatches. Clarke, robert, flight sergeant 1002829, royal air force no.
Queens commendation for valuable svc mid mentioned. She has the letters which accompanied the oak leaves, but i cant find the gazette entries for the dates either. Hi folks, i only learned last week from my 85 year old mother that both her brothers were mentioned in despatches during ww2. Ww2 era radial engine wreck recovered in manipur, india. Overview history 2 pages of the mentioned in despatches. An officer in the royal navy, macgregor was appointed commander of the destroyer arun in 1914 and was mentioned 3 times in despatches 30194, 30900 posthumously. Atkin, royal navy, who won a mention for his gallant services at dunkirk and afterwards served in submarines during the cold war. Only a few recommendations for mentions in despatches and the most honourable order of the bath have survived. A valuable research tool for family history, genealogy, medal collectors and professional australian ww2 researchers. He was killed in action along with 10 other crew at kuso bay at the battle of imbros, january 1918, when in command of hms monitor 28. In world war ii he assumed command of the eight army from 1942 in the. Mar 02, 2009 does anyone know how i can get a coy of the mid citation for my grandfather, from wwii.
Soldiers mentioned in dispatches are now available online. Royal air force combat reports 19391945 the national archives. Worth a mention australian army mentioned in despatches ww2. Used, queens commendation for valuable svc mid men. In a number of countries, a soldiers name must be mentioned in dispatches as a condition for receiving certain decorations. Sep, 2011 anyone know where i can find the actual citation for a mention in dispatches wwii if such thing exists.
The recipients of honours are displayed here as they were styled before their mention. Jan 12, 2014 hi i wonder if you can help me please. The mention in despatches being sought is an award without a despatch. Being near the end of world war ii, it included a great many military personnel who were mentioned in dispatches. The issue or supplement number, title and date of publication are listed below. He was credited with 22 aerial victories, four shared victories, six probables, one shared probable and 11 enemy aircraft damaged. My grandfather refused to talk about his experiences in the war but my father says that he was twice mentioned in despatches. Soldiers mentioned in dispatches are now available online on.
The despatches were usually published in the london gazette, so a mention equated to a public commendation. Does anyone know if there tends to be more information in the squadron records as to why he got this mention. This is an original ww1 medal mentioned in despatches oak leaf for sale. H lewis raf mentioned in dispatches leaf at the best online prices at ebay. A very small number of recommendations for honours and awards might not be found under a search by the name. He never talked about his war service to his daughter sadly. A member of the armed forces mentioned in dispatches or despatches, mid is one whose. The commandersinchief of each theatre of war infrequently submitted a despatch to the war office, outlining the events since the previous despatch and listing those men who had been nominated as worthy of a mention.
Research army records, military service, war records. Award of a mention ranked below mc or mm and could be for gallantry in action or for a wide range of services on and off the battlefield. Mentioned despatches for sale in uk view 58 bargains. Squadron leader william frederick quilliam raf ww2 which. Although generally regarded as the mid for world war ii and up until 1994, this commendation was actually awarded from 20 aug 1920 following the cessation of the issue of the previous design won during ww1. In the british armed forces, the despatch is published in the london gazette. There is the chance that there may be more than one squadron leader with the same name or this might be the same officer who ceased flying and transferred to the accountant branch.
Mentioned in despatches royal air force acting air marshal. Womens lives in war and peace 19391949 which was honoured to sister lorna bradey of the qaimns for distinguished service. Mentioned in dispatches navy net royal navy community. Graham praised the camel corps and named these men as among those whom i would notice. Mentioned in despatches for distinguished services in the successful landing operations in sicily, the messina straits, salerno and normandy 3. During world war ii, pilots of the raf distinguished themselves in the battle of britain and conducted a strategic bombing campaign on germany. A member of the armed forces 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 his or her gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy is described.
He was made pilot officer in february 1943, before being promoted from pilot officer to flying officer in august 1943. Royal air force, youngest of the three british armed services, charged with the air defense of the united kingdom and the fulfillment of international defense commitments. Prior to 1979 only the victoria cross and george cross or a mention in despatches could be awarded posthumously. 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. Despatches during world war 2, submitted by commandersinchief, were published in the gazette from 1941 until 1951. Mentioned in despatches bernard newman pprune forums. A member of the armed forces 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 his or her gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy is described in some countries, a service members name must be mentioned in dispatches as a condition for receiving certain decorations. Mentioned in dispatches wwii citation army rumour service. Raf rank structure varied according to the branch of the command. Short, that is, of getting his full service records from the national archives there may be some family politics with his second wife that make access difficult. 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. Wwii mentioned in despatches headache armed forces. 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. This and the victoria cross were the only forms of recognition for gallantry or distinguished service in action that could be made posthumously.
245 269 1082 1179 1330 780 1272 889 401 1275 1558 603 1183 1158 475 1170 281 1013 717 1529 110 1339 172 853 479 1039 234 136 1081 1115 359 1421 692 1256 310 1375 317 872 516