By registering with our site you will have full instant access to:
268,000 posts on every subject imaginable contributed by 1000's of members worldwide.
25000 photos and videos mainly relating to the British Merchant Navy.
Members experienced in research to help you find out about friends and relatives who served.
The camaraderie of 1000's of ex Merchant Seamen who use the site for recreation & nostalgia.
Here we are all equal whether ex Deck Boy or Commodore of the Fleet.
A wealth of experience and expertise from all departments spanning 70+ years.
It is simple to register and membership is absolutely free.
N.B. If you are going to be requesting help from one of the forums with finding historical details of a relative
please include as much information as possible to help members assist you. We certainly need full names,
date and place of birth / death where possible plus any other details you have such as discharge book numbers etc.
Please post all questions onto the appropriate forum
-
10th August 2020, 02:57 AM
#1
At last
It has been announced today that after some intervention by the Australian Prime Minister the Victoria Cross has been posthumously awarded to the young Tasmanian Terry for his heroic efforts in WW2.
Happy daze John in Oz.
Life is too short to blend in.
John Strange R737787
World Traveller
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
10th August 2020, 10:42 PM
#2
Re: At last
Yes at last , and what a shame that it had to take so long for this to happen.
I am sure there would be many others too that well deserve to be awarded this sort of Medal for what they did during the War Years, but sadly many have been overlooked or just lost as the saying goes "In the Crowd"
More investigations should be launched into such cases, and dug up so as many can receive their just rewards for what the did for their Countries and mates!
With Respect
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teddy_Sheean
Senior Site Moderator-Member and Friend of this Website
R697530
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
10th August 2020, 11:53 PM
#3
Re: At last
A lot of medals handed out in war scenarios are a part of the protocol of the system. And I have heard of story’s from my relatives that after certain battles with the usual casualties that word would come from high that X number of certain types of Medal would be awarded. It was left to that divisional commander to recommend who received , and in a lot of cases it was put to the men themselves who deserved and they finished up drawing straws for. The fact is that those probably most deserving were dead. I have mixed feelings about medals war is fought on the theory that the strongest will prevail and is fought in anger and self preservation , so courage is always debatable. JS.
Last edited by j.sabourn; 10th August 2020 at 11:56 PM.
R575129
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
11th August 2020, 06:40 AM
#4
Re: At last
When I see some march in the parades one has to wonder how they got so many medals.
Saw one man in the Anzac day parade a couple of years ago with so many he must have been struggling to stay upright with the weight..
Happy daze John in Oz.
Life is too short to blend in.
John Strange R737787
World Traveller
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
11th August 2020, 07:03 AM
#5
Re: At last
They are mostly campaign ribbons and good conduct medals john. The good conduct ones. For the navy was I beleive 10 years of undetected crime. The Oz mn ones are 15 years of undetected crime of which I have three.
Campaign ribbons as we all know by now were issued to all who served in that theatre of conflict. They look pretty and show to others who know what they are , what a good boy you were. Would certInly lighten up an off white boiler suit. Cheers JS..
Last edited by j.sabourn; 11th August 2020 at 07:06 AM.
Reason: Spelling
R575129
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
12th August 2020, 12:50 PM
#6
Re: At last
This is a fantastic result for Teddy and his family and friends who have pleaded his case for so long. Tonight I heard, the Queen has approved it. I only heard about it in the last few years after reading a book about HMAS Armidale. The situation she was put in by those in charge and so sunk was also a tragedy. There is a memorial to Teddy in Ulverstone, Tasmania which was already erected by those who cared.
My father served as Asdic officer on board the same Bathurst Class corvettes / minesweepers also built for the Royal Indian Navy.
I cannot believe the application for a VC was knocked back for so long. A young Ordinary Seaman who took it upon himself after Abandon Ship was ordered, to go back to the Oerlikon when he saw his mates being strafed by the ba$$@#d Japs in the lifeboats......unbelievable!!!
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
13th August 2020, 01:47 AM
#7
Re: At last
Hi John.
I didn't see this post and posted the same sorry.
I believe tha young Teddy was one of the bravest acts that I have read about, being only eighteen years old. I can imagine the puffed up twits in the upper echelon of the Australian Navy saying, " Can't have that old chap he's still wet behind the ears."
I believe that there was something discovered in the Jap military museum, that helped with the result, maybe that one planes was shot down from under the sea?
As I said in my other post I always go and stand in front of the plaque that commemorates young Teddy that is in our R.S.L. every time I go in there.
Des
Lest We Forget
Last edited by Des Taff Jenkins; 13th August 2020 at 01:48 AM.
R510868
Lest We Forget
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
13th August 2020, 06:20 AM
#8
Re: At last
Here in Melbourne at the Shrine of Remembrance there is a gallery full of medals.
Most donated by family members of those who now have passed on.
It is quite a sight to see as there are well over 2,000 of them.
Happy daze John in Oz.
Life is too short to blend in.
John Strange R737787
World Traveller
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
13th August 2020, 06:38 AM
#9
Re: At last
I am not a studier of medals , but wasn’t the Iron Cross 1st. 2nd. Or 3rd. Class one of Germany’s top awards. You never see any of the axis medals broadcast like others. Is this because they were supposedly on the loosing side ?
Bravery is not only conclusive to one side of an argument , but brave people are not only of one side. The family’s and compatriots of all those who received awards for whatever should not be tied up with political agenda. The French Award the Cross of Lorraine or the Legion D” Honouer or whatever, seems to curry favour with most, even though France was never fully committed to the Allied cause. JWS.
Last edited by j.sabourn; 13th August 2020 at 06:47 AM.
R575129
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
19th August 2020, 02:14 PM
#10
Re: At last
I agree. Soldiers, sailors and airmen serve because "Yours is not to reason why, yours is but to do and die".
The politics of the war dictate who is right or wrong and hopefully right wins in the end.
This I believe what happened in WW2. However I was saddened to see when visiting Normandy that at the German Cemetery, the French would not allow the Germans to bury their dead as can be seen in say the American Cemetery. They were allowed to bury in mass at a central "mound" and the other graves each contain parts of two bodies.....2 skulls, one each arm etc...... terrible!
-
Post Thanks / Like
Tags for this Thread
Posting Permissions
- You may not post new threads
- You may not post replies
- You may not post attachments
- You may not edit your posts
-
Forum Rules