Martin Blanchfield BEM

[Deasy]

Thanks Evan, yeah he was really young, about sixteen we reckon. All three brothers were involved. William was a pilot with the RFC, survived the war and became a US air mail pilot. Michael was stateside and came to France with the US corps of engineers. Speaking to my 90 year old aunt over Xmas, she told me they couldn't wait to leave home and this gave them the perfect opportunity.

The other interesting thing about Martin is he joined the Irish Free State Army in 1922. So he fit the Irish civil war in between the 2 world wars. Not sure what he got up to in that one.

Thanks

[Deasy]

Hi Des, yes that's my problem. I've a gap between October 1939 and June 1944. I can verify he was on a ship (british statesman) that was definitely involved in the arctic convoys and document that he was awarded the BEM for his actions on that ship. But I still can't document that he was on that ship (or any other ship for that matter) while they were involved in the arctic convoys.

The last arctic convoy the british statesman was involved in seems to have been in February 1944. Not a great deal is coming up when I do the searches on the National Archives. I take comfort from the fact that some people suggest that that doesn't mean the record isn't there. It makes no sense when you consider we can document he was at D-Day and was medaled just after it.

All the best

[j.sabourn]

Deasy... Think I may have put this up before but in case I didn't and you have no knowledge of the BEM. the official version is " The British Empire Medal is associated with the Grand Order of The British Empire and for those who already hold the medal, several bars may be attached. Since December 1957 medals awarded for acts of Gallantry, as opposed to meritorious service, have been distinguished by the addition of an emblem composed of two silver oak leaves". As the BEM comes under the Order of the British Empire in which all records of such are kept at the Grand Chancellory in London. you might get some info. there, I have been told however they are very loathe to give out even to family. However on Death they are supposed to be informed, the medals are not returnable, it is just for their records. JS

[Deasy]

Hi Hugh, thanks for pointing me in the direction of this photo. We hadn't seen it previously. It determines he was on ships well into the 50's.

[Deasy]

Thanks for that, just a guess from family lore I'd say it was meritorious service as opposed to gallantry, regardless of whether one thinks sailing tankers of benzene into war zones is or isn't gallant. My Dad thinks his ship was picked not for any extraordinary reason, they were just very "involved".

[Richard Quartermaine]

Deasy, My Dad's sister Lily married Flight Lieutenant (I believe he was) William Burr of the Royal flying Corps. I stayed with them when I first shipped to England. Uncle Bill gave me a weighted message sac of the type that he used to throw out messages after reconnaissance over enemy lines in WW1. I still have it and will scan it later and put it on line. Uncle Bill later became a flight instructor in the RFC.
Richard

[Deasy]

Hi richard, thanks for that. My great uncle william blanchfield did something similar. He flew dispatches for a while, before ending the war in a two seater bomber. Left the service as acting major and moved to the US. He was killed in a crash in 1924.

[Hugh]

I've a gap between October 1939 and June 1944.
Not a great deal is coming up when I do the searches on the National Archives. I take comfort from the fact that some people suggest that that doesn't mean the record isn't there. It makes no sense when you consider we can document he was at D-Day and was medaled just after it.
All the best

See my previous post #11, remember that not all files can be found by doing online searches of The National Archives databases. You need BT 382/140. this file is best obtained by a visit to Kew or via a researcher. The file lists up to 60 other names so will never be available down to individual level online - at least for the forseeable but it will answer most of your questions. The Kew research services are too expensive but if you can't go to Kew I can point you to a reliable researcher who will not rip you off.

Regards
Hugh

[Deasy]

Hi Hugh, I'm heading in that direction. With the pointers you've given me I've contacted Kew and requested a quote to search the relevant indexes. Have a feeling I may need an independent researcher though.

I know some of the seamens records under those indexes were lost in the 60s. It might take a visit to Kew or an independent researcher to go through the crew agreements as you say.

The reality is he may not have served between 1939-1944, although I doubt that. He didnt seem like the type to hang about much. And I still harken back to my grandmother who told my Dad he was on the 'Murmansk run'.

Since I started this a few things (good and bad) have come to light. He wasn't actually wounded at the Somme as I've found out he joined up in late 1917. He served on merchant ships in both wars, I found his name on crew lists from early 1917 (that was news), as well as the list you found from the 20's and 30's. The family rumour that he served in the Irish Free State army has been documented, I found his enlistment record from 1922. And we have that new photo from 1952 thanks to you.

So the last piece to this is those crew agreements and whether I can track him down between October 1939 and June 1944. I'll see what Kew come back with but I've a feeling I'll be asking you for that researchers name if that's OK. Thanks again.

[Hugh]

No worries Deasy, just send me a private message if reequired. Hopefully you can pick up the CRS 10 when you visit and it will tell you what you need. Then you can decide if you need to check any further records.

Regards
Hugh