Campaign medals

[alfred kenneth white]

Hi everyone, Im just wondering whether anyone has any knowledge of the criteria needed for obtaining campaign medals during the war. I ask this having been refused any even though serving during world war two, making seven round trips across the Atlantic during wartime. Ken White

[Hugh]

Hello Alfred and welcome,
So sad to see a wartime Merchant Navy R/O being refused - I take it that you have dealt with the medal office in Cardiff [Registry of Shipping and Seamen]

I presume that the reason for refusal is because there is no medal entitlement for you at Cardiff. This is not unusual as the records of many medal entitlements have not survived.

The medal office at Cardiff take the view simply that if there is a medal entitlement record for you they will issue that entitlement to you but if there is not then you will have to provide them with your records of service. The records you would need would be your seaman's pouch and your form CRS 10 which list your ships, then you will need the movement cards for those ships to prove the theatres of the war that you operated in.

This looks like your pouch held at Kew in piece BT 372/352/86. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/c...accessmethod=0

Your form CRS 10, if it has survived, will be held at Kew in piece BT 382/1924. This file will cost you £10 to get online under the Freedom of Information Act but you would have to give them proof of identity.

I am sorry that you should have to jump through these hoops to get medals that you are so entitled to and very much deserve - it could only happen in this country where officialdom reigns supreme above all else.

Glad to give you any information that you need - do not hesitate to ask.

Regards
Hugh

[Keith at Tregenna]

Nice to see a normal post and topic.

Must be honest the advice below may be dated and will double check and advise further.

Please continue to look in and liaise.

K.

Medal Entitlement

BT 395 records the medals claimed and issued, rather than the entitlement to medals, which is held at the Registry of Shipping and Seamen (RSS). Remember that these medals were not issued automatically, but had to be claimed. If you are enquiring about a seaman's entitlement you should begin by contacting the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen at:

Registry of Shipping and Seamen
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Anchor Court
Keen Road
Cardiff
CF24 5JW
TEL: 029 20448800
FAX: 029 20448820
registryofshipping&seamen@mcga.gov.uk

The RSS holds the most up-to-date records relating to the award of medals to merchant seamen during the World War Two. If they cannot find an entitlement listed and you would like to check whether there is one, they can advise you about the evidence they need. Have a look at the research guide Merchant Seamen: Medals and Honours in the Catalogue for more details and how to gather evidence. Please note that the medal papers retained by the RSS are no longer complete.

[happy daze john in oz]

I think this is very bad for all concerned that they will have to go to so much effort to gain something which is rightfult theirs. Again I wonder if it is only the M.N that has to suffer in such a manner. I applied to the British Army for my fathers records which I recieved after an 8 month wait and a 30 pound fee. But they then enclosed forms for me to apply for copies of his campaign medals.

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi Shipmates', I phone up that adress a few weeks ago to get my mates Laurie 85yrs medals , Like many who were at sea at wartime, he did not cliam them??? many reasons for this???? I was told only the person who served in the Merchant navy or a very close relative can get them I have all his paper discharges' and number but no way would they let me have them !!!!

[DeepSea]

It has always been the case that medals can only be awarded to the individual entitled or to direct next of kin.

Rules of entitlement:

At the conclusion of WWII an initial medal assessment was carried out and medal papers were raised including details of a seaman’s service. These were sent to ports to await the signature of the veteran, as to the accuracy of the information, and then returned to the RGSS. Medals were not automatically issued but had to be claimed by the veteran. These papers are still retained by the RSS but, due to the ravages of time and the process, are not now totally complete. This series contains Database of WW II Medals issued to Merchant Seamen 1946-2002 which is a record of medals claimed and issued. This gives details of the ribbons and medals issued to individual seamen for their service in WWII. It records each seaman’s name plus, usually, his discharge book number and date and place of birth as well as the medals, ribbons and clasps issued together with a reference to the medal papers file.

[Ray Buck]

Ken
Just a couple of the ships that sailed into the USA
Alfred K White aged 21 when signing on the “Empire Dickens” in Liverpool on the 19th February 1943 as 2nd R/O the ship arrived in New York on the 18th March 1943 having sailed from Liverpool on the 21st February 1943

Alfred K White aged 21 when signing on the ”Clausina” as 1st R/O on the 20th July 1943 in Liverpool the ship arrived in New York on the 7th August 1943 having sailed from Liverpool 23rd July 1943

Alfred Kenneth White aged 20 when signing on the “Norfolk” as “Wireless” on the 6th August 1942 in Hull the ship arrived in New York on the 6th December having sailed from Immingham
Ray

[alfred kenneth white]

Thank you fellow shipmates for your advice and information on this issue especially Ray for taking the time to research myself and yes thats me enlisted in that information. I am going to do my best battle through the bereauchracy to obtain the medals for services in the MN. Thanks once again, Ken

[Captain Kong]

Hi Ken, try the MERCHANT NAVY ASSOCIATION web site, they are very good at that.

[semiotically]

Hello everyone,

am grandson of Alfred Kenneth White

I requested the info from the National archives:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/c...ssmethod=0&j=1
Medium option: Paper copies
Colour option: Monochrome
1. Document Reference(s): BT 372/352/86
Instructions for Copying: All pages in this document will be copied.

It states 10 days to be processed, when I receive this which parts/ pages will we need out of everything?

I also emailed the Merchant Navy Association & 'Registry of Shipping & Seamen' as at the moment am still not sure of best way to make this happen. All the information posted was really good & would have nearly quoted everyone: so should we sit tight for the replies now or are there other organisations we need to contact, maybe in advance?

Thank you,

Oliver White