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. The mention in despatches being sought is an award without a despatch. British ww1 gallantry and meritorious service awards. Please see our other items for more original ww1, ww2. Youre right when you say there doesnt appear to be a lot out there. The bren gun, which featured a cartridge slot on the top of the body, was a natural candidate for a highcapacity, springloaded magazine. Royal air force combat reports 19391945 the national. Johannes jacobus chris le roux was born in south africa in 1920. He was awarded mid mentioned in despatches as per london gazette 14 january 1944. Jim was born 17 march 1915 in haberfield, new south wales and enlisted in melbourne. The bren guns shown are the mark i, with the long silver barrel flash suppressor and the dial rear sight.
Number of squadrons, locations and aircraft equipment in western europe, africa, middle and far east. A second war mentioned in despatches oak leaf bronze, 8 mm x 22. His name is denis warburton and he was a flight engineer, i know their plane was called oscar and they flew 32 missions. Second world war most recommendations survive for the raf.
Second world war raf ancestors who do you think you are. I know there is a thread regarding how to obtain service records but i dont know if this will include these. For over a hundred years the royal air force has defended the skies of britain and projected britains power and influence around the world. I am charged to record his majestys high appreciation. Ubique and unique the story of the lincolnshire gunners bbc.
April 1945 in this final year of the war, germany and japan were defeated by a relentless tide of aircraft, tanks, ships, and men. He was a crew member on board vickers wellington bomber serial x3706 with code gtc. Gazette world war 2 despatches, submitted by commandersinchief, by issue. Flight lieutenant bob barckley, who has died aged 99, was shot down over france but managed to evade capture and escape to spain. Despatches during world war 2, submitted by commandersinchief, were published in the gazette from 1941 until 1951. This pilot skilfully manoeuvred his aircraft for 35 minutes when attacked by nine hostile fighters on 21st may 1940.
The issue or supplement number, title and date of publication are listed below. A great uncle of mine yeoman of signals frederick horace thorpe was on hms cleopatra during wwii and killed in action against the italians. There are a total of 70 ww2 british guns 1939 1945 in the military factory. Despite its separation by some two decades from the first world war of 19141918, world war 2 was an extension of the earlier conflict that saw an end to the agesold empires that once dominated the.
Search and download mentions in dispatches 19141920 as recorded on. Operation overlord operations of coastal command, royal air force, may to. Hm king george v, in whose name all honours and gallantry awards were granted click to enlarge 1 my thanks to the london gazette for placing all this information in the public domain 2 all naval, army and raf despatches are listed, even though some are headings only. The halifax was downed while returning from a bombing. Commissioned in the royal air force raf in december 1938, nettleton then served with nos. Apparently he pulled someone out of a burning tank then carried him to safety but its all a bit of a mystery.
Crisop, richard, corporal 988091, royal air force volunteer reserve mention in despatches awarded as per london gazette dated 1 october 1946. Your name appeared in the new years honours list as having been mentioned in despatches by the air officer commandinginchief bomber command. Only a short time ago he was mentioned in despatches mesopotamia, and was awarded the d. Number of squadrons, locations and aircraft equipment in britain, africa, middle and far east. Trouble is demntia has taken hold and he cant tell us what he got it for. Mentioned in despatches for distinguished services in the successful landing operations in sicily, the messina straits, salerno and normandy 3. Just an offthewall question from a colonial, who never tires of reading aboutwatching the amazing exploits of the raf. Why did so many, if not almost all british fightersbombers in that war have guns with only.
He was made pilot officer in february 1943, before being promoted from pilot officer to flying officer in august 1943. The reports cover action seen by the squadrons, wings and groups serving with fighter command, bomber command, coastal command and the fleet air arm. Hundreds of thousands of individual stories are behind the names of men and women mentioned in despatches including veterinary corps, medical corps, chaplains, as well as frontline soldiers. How an raf bomber shot down in ww2 was found thanks. While a prisoner of war in japanese hands, this airmans work was of immense value to the administration of the three prison camps in which he was. This plane was used as a light bomber and recon aircraft as well as carrying mail and despatches around southern wales. Japanese light tanks destroyed by australian antitank. A second war mentioned in despatches oak leaf a second war.
Search records of soldiers awards from the london gazette. Hi folks, i only learned last week from my 85 year old mother that both her brothers were mentioned in despatches during ww2. The british first world war victoria cross recipient john vereker, later field marshal viscount gort, was mentioned in despatches nine times, as was the canadian general sir arthur currie. The more boring of the two methods made up the vast bulk. Flight commander, 25 squadron raf church fenton 10.
Second world war in northern ireland county armagh part 2. In february 1942, ac2 scott became the first raf regiment gunner to be involved in the rescue of aircrew from a crashed aircraft, when he rescued the crew of an aircraft that had crashed near grantham, for which he was awarded a mention in despatches. For the first time online, leading british genealogy research website thegenealogist has released over 81,000 records of records of mentioned in dispatches from the first world war, linked to citations from the london gazette. The sixth and last of the world war two series of bracknell. Ww2 mentioned in despatches group to 2356315 dvr j t smith. Jun 09, 20 the infantry weapons that united kingdom used throughout the second world war. Smith royal engineers, was published in the london gazette on 22 march 1945, as mentioned in a despatch for distinguished service.
Hi bb, as jerome says you may well find his mid listed in the gazette, london gazette home page its a bit of a black art searching it but if you have a service number you might just find him, though it seems far from all were listed, and any sort of citation is very unlikely. Regiment sqns 27002850 royal air force organisational. This officer, flying a spitfire, was compelled to bale out in northern france on 23rd july 1941. Officer commanding, raf station, honeybourne, worcs. A ww2 mentioned in despatches medal group awarded to flying officer harry settle raf. Wilfred ronald maitland dfc was a member of the royal air force serving with 156 squadron. Japanese light tanks destroyed by australian antitank guns during the battle of muar, january 1942. In 1940, the luftwaffe had much better tactics, developed from their combat experience in the spanish civil war.
In february 1950, hugo retired from the royal air force and moved to east africa, where he settled with his wife and children. Did the raf or the luftwaffe have better tactics in ww2. Mentioned in dispatches navy net royal navy community. If they show a bronze oak leaf affixed to the ribbon of the victory medal, then the man had been mentioned in despatches. A guide to british awards for gallantry or meritorious service in ww1. Flag images indicative of country of origin and not necessarily the primary operator. British military gallantry medals the national archives. Soldiers mentioned in dispatches are now available online for the first time online, leading british genealogy research website thegenealogist has released over 81,000 records of records of mentioned in dispatches from the first world war, linked to citations from the london gazette. There are only 4 on the list because i didnt want to use weapons like the vickers that was mounted on top of a jeep. In summary, those made for service with 211 squadron raf in world war ii were as follows. Eligible personnel include all army, navy and air force personnel including personnel of the reserve forces, territorial. How to research a mention in despatches the long, long.
The german invasion of poland in september of 1939 forced the small arms industry to reach all new levels of production, particularly in the soviet union and the united states, and millions of arms were produced during the span of the war. Mar 16, 2017 the wreckage of an raf bomber shot down during world war two has been discovered thanks to a german soldiers photos of the crash site. Aug 15, 2019 aircrafts and bases of the royal air force at the beginning of world war ii in september 1939. 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. Recommendations are also available for the military medal, meritorious service medal and in some cases mentions in despatches.
Fo robert marshall smith j36983 rcaf mentioned in despatches 626 squadron deceased award effective june 1946 as per london gazette of that date and afro 72646 dated 26 july 1946. B flight commander, 151 squadron raf martlesham heath despatches 15. Oct 17, 2005 by the kings order the name of sergeant g. Is there any way i can find more about these despatches, and more importantly, would i be eligible to get copies. 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.
Distinguished service order dso awarded to commissioned officers for meritorious or distinguished service during wartime, typically in actual combat, serving under fire. Most famous, perhaps, for the epic defence of the battle of britain and bomber commands long assault on germany, units of the raf fought in all theatres of the war. Raf c type leather flying helmet fighter bomber command wwii pilot crew. Ug dexter, peter grenfell, po 41680, royal air force no. Air officer commanding, raf palestine and transjordan. In spite of air, artillery and tank support, all were beaten. Mentioned in dispatches wwii citation army rumour service. Kings african rifles dcm, see the colonial gazettes for the colonies of east africa. My dad was based at raf skipton on swale during ww2 and was in 424 squadron. Air chief marshal sir douglas lowe, who has died aged 95, was a wartime bomber pilot who later had a significant influence on raf operational capabilities. The spirit of the raf in the first months of war is captured exquisitely in this photograph of one of the thennew fighters beating up a car on the. Now held at the national archives in series air 50, they include commonwealth, united states army air force and allied units based in the united kingdom during the second world war.
The bronze oak leaf emblem on the victory medal ribbon when worn on a bar. Soldiers mentioned in dispatches are now available online on. Their cities were devastated by fleets of bombers, their armies were encircled and then annihilated, and their merchant and. The mention in despatches is the most junior form of recognition that was announced in the london gazette. Sergeant herbert irwin was awarded the british empire medal. A pair of bren guns with pan magazines are mounted on a simple frame for airfield defence. My interest is on a member of the rasc in ww2 and i cant find anything at all. Welsh air force aircraft welsh history post glyndwr. When you research a soldier who served in either the british or indian army during the second world war youll be confronted by a. This is an original ww2 medal mentioned in despatches oak leaf for sale.
Not all mentions appear in this way in the medal index cards or rolls. Personnel who served in the british army prior to or after the first world war or. Today the raf is engaged in 15 missions on 4 continents in 22 countries. Flight commander, 1453 flight raf wittering despatches 06. The range of reasons for awarding a mention in despatches was immense. Nov 05, 2014 the following announcement was written by the folks at. Vol 15 no 1 june 2010 south african military history society. 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. Air chief marshal sir wilfrid rhodes freeman, 1st baronet, gcb, dso, mc, raf 18 july 1888 15 may 1953 was one of the most important influences on the rearmament of the royal air force raf in the years up to and including the second world war. Settle was a leading aircraftman in the raf, and was commissioned as an acting pilot officer in december 1942.
Beyond rifles and submachine guns were pistols revolver and semiautomatic types, hand grenades, mortars. Browne croomes, 18951899 was in the cricket and football elevens. Sep, 2011 mentioned in dispatches but nothing as to exactly what he did. The 60th field regiment, royal artillery, was a territorial army unit. Mentioned in despatches fsgt ca lambert 702156 f 2e fsgt s teague 359212 cwf flt dl flint eo sic. I went to innsworth in gloucestershire to be kitted up. Briefing for the crew of a heavy stirling bomber of the raf bomber command. Wwii mentioned in despatches headache armed forces page 1. Ww2 mentioned in despatches oak leaf medal ribbon clasp. A member of the armed forces mentioned in dispatches or despatches, mid is one whose. Mentioned in despatches navy net royal navy community.
Despite technological advances since the close of world war 1, world war 2 made use of weapons from the past while incorporating allnew designs. Records in the london gazette for soldiers mentioned in despatches, awarded medals, gallantry awards, promotions or special honours with forces war. Their fighters were using a rotte leader plus wingman, and a schwarm of 4 airplanes which could fly together in fingerfour formatio. In some countries, a service members name must be mentioned in dispatches.
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. Jim died 3 september 1971, gleniris, victoria 4 kenneth mcdonald simpson. Grace, you have a memo which gives the details of what your grandad did. Ive asked my friend for copies of any documents she has for her fathers war service in the hope that might help. 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. No dl flint is shown in any air force list of officers from 1943 to 1945, one da flint being the only likely match among those mentioned in despatches. In january 1942, as i expected to be called up, i volunteered to join the w.
Raf career having joined the royal flying corps in 1914, he saw active service during the first world war as officer commanding no. He joined the royal air force after the outbreak of the second world war and was posted to 73 squadron in france. The photo above indicates how the ammunition differs in size and power, with three famous cartridges used by the raf during world war 2 the. Flight lieutenant bob barckley, second world war flying. Is it possible to find out what was written, or what happened some, somehow. We have no idea what this was for but would like to find out. Entries are listed below in alphanumeric order 1toz. Until 1943, the recipient must have previously been mentioned in despatches. Mentioned in despatches originally a mention in despatches was the means of brining an individuals gallantry or good services to the notice of a higher authority and the names were generally embodied in a commanderinchiefs despatch report on a particular battle or action or listed at the end of such a. I understand that members of the rasc were often attached to other units and that could make it difficult to find out why he was mentioned in despatches.
My grandfather refused to talk about his experiences in the war but my father says that he was twice mentioned in despatches. The royal air force raf tried various patterns of gun harmonisation, with the convergence area taking the form of a rectangle or a circle. Gallantry medal or award, official announcements and, where noted, officially. When the royal air force was formed on 1st april 1918 it was decided that recipients. Raf skipton on swale in the second world war 19391945 the. He took part in a daylight attack on brest on 24 july 1941 and in a series of other bombing raids and was mentioned in despatches. British army, 18541990 the majority of medal records are held in wo and. How to research a mention in despatches the long, long trail. Raf honeybourne in the second world war 19391945 the. 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.
The 1st of september 2019 is the wartime memories projects 20th birthday. While a prisoner of war in japanese hands, this airmans work was of immense value to the administration of the three prison camps in which he was confined. We were a major part of the humanitarian response to the devastation the uks biggest military. Soldiers mentioned in dispatches are now available online. When war broke out there was one battery of 18pounder guns at the depot in augusta street,grimsbynumber 239and another. Mentioned in despatches national museum of the royal new.
He was credited with 22 aerial victories, four shared victories, six probables, one shared probable and 11 enemy aircraft damaged. Second world war abbreviations and acronyms researching ww2. Ad, artillery depot or air defence or armoured division or air despatch. The australian general gordon bennett was mentioned in despatches a total of eight times during the first world war, as was field marshal sir john dill. There are no citations for awards of the military medal or mentions in despatches. From the militia he joined the manchester regiment, and served in the south african war medal, with 3 clasps. Does anyone know how i can get a coy of the mid citation for my grandfather, from wwii. Miniature british empire medal military gvi full size original mentioned in despatches certificate named sergeant h irwin royal air force as removed from a glazed frame, the mid certificate mounted on card. My dad is the only survivor of his crew, i think the rest of his crew were canadians. By july 1941 the strength of bomber command stood at 45 raf squadrons with a theoretical deployment of 1,000 aircraft. During world war ii, pilots of the raf distinguished themselves in the battle of britain and conducted a strategic bombing campaign on germany. I have terrible trouble with gazette searches but know a few chaps that seem to know how to work it.
Ww2 peoples war homepage archive list timeline about this site. Aircraft and bases of the royal air force in june 1942. Struggle for air supremacy over england won by the raf in sept. My friend just has the two letters which accompanied the two oak leaves, with no mention of why they had been awarded.