In need of some help please

[Doc Vernon]

Hi to all.
Its not often i ask for help here, but need to this time round.

I have a Medal issued to my late Uncle , however he has passed on (very sad occasion) and unfortunately cannot find any Paperwork for this Medal.

I am not sure on this but a while back before his passing he had asked me how he could apply for the Suez Canal Zone Medal, which i think he did, but this Medal is not that, as i recall the Suez Medal has a Sphinx ON IT.

So possibly there was some other medal issued as well for that period of the Suez. ??

Any help would be appreciated, and PLEASE do not reply with any other info or stories of your own, i just want replies relating to this Medal. (Actually it is a Service Cross)

Thank You

Screenshot 2025-06-25 075442.jpg

[j.sabourn]

Vernon re your enquiry re service medal, if he was an Australian Citiizen and a merchant seafarer he would be entitled to the Australia Merchant Service Cross for every 15 years service . If any seaman living in Australia wants to claim this the address is in Tasmania, it was issued to me 3 times , the first time the medal itself
and the other two bars or clasps to go on medal The medal itself are 3 white vertical stripes one red , and two dark blue , the cross is St. George’s with a V in the end of each leg , gold in colour and the centre of the cross a crown. It is recognised by the Australian government as genuine and issued for good service with their blessing I believe. However you have to be an Australian. Citizen to receive , there was no cost 25 years ago , just a copy of one’s discharge book to prove who you are and seatime. JS…
The medal for the MN medal as you know the vertical stripes are red white and green to represent the navigation lights and a dark blue background the appendage is round and silver with MN and an Anchor on which is totally different which I also have. The two medals are totally different . Cheers JS…

[Doc Vernon]

Ah!! Thank you JS, mystery now solved , i went to do a search and came across the Cross, but was an Australian site, thus my confusion. As my late Uncle Dusty was of course in the British Merchant Navy, but did become an Aussie Citizen later when he left the Merchant Navy. So that explanation you give would be spot on.

The 15 Yera Service is also correct as he was at Sea for a very long time, thus the gold Leaf

I do appreciate your input here and will move this post to my Question so they are together.
Many Thanks again JS
Vernon

[j.sabourn]

The gold leaf represents another 15 years service Vernon it is a bar or what they call a clasp. Originally the medal was designed for Australian flag ships , but as I pointed out to them , “ I see no ships “ , however being an Australian medal the citizenship still applies. There should be an accompanying piece of paper to go with it to prove ownership , and comes boxed in full size, miniature, and ribbon. I have two clasps which represents 45 years service another 10 years at sea and it would have been three clasps, weighing the pros and cons . I chose to retire officially at 65. Too many youngsters waiting to jump into one’s shoes and got fed up with being asked when was I going to retire. Cheers JS

[Doc Vernon]

All sorted now thanks Heaps JS, as said really appreciate the help!

As this is now done , i am closing this Thread.

Cheers