Medal Card/Discharge Document

[AndyC]

I've just found and downloaded my Great Uncle's medal/discharge card and I'm so chuffed about it. And to think I only joined this site this evening!

Anyway, I'm a bit confused with what it is I've found! I was expecting a medal card and actually found a card that has more details of his discharge than of any medals he was entitled to. He enlisted in to the Hampshire Regiment on 10/09/14 and was discharged on 18/08/16 with 'wounds'. The same cryptic reason was typed alongside, which I've just found out is Kings Reg's stating that the individual is 'unfit for futher duty'.

There's no mention of service numbers or what battalion he served in. I'd really like to find out to what battalion he was attached to as this will give me a good idea of where he was wounded.

The body of the form shows 'a) badge' and 'b) medal'. Does anyone know what this means?

Further down the card is another cryptic clue. Against 'action taken' there's handwritten a reference, 'List C/231'.

Sorry that this is all a bit jumbled but if there's anyone that can help I'd really appreciate it.

Best regards

Andy C

Again, does this mean anything to anyone?

[Geoffers]

[....Anyway, I'm a bit confused with what it is I've found! I was expecting a medal card and actually found a card that has more details of his discharge than of any medals he was entitled to]

The card basically records an entitlement to receive the war medals.

[He enlisted in to the Hampshire Regiment on 10/09/14 and was discharged on 18/08/16 with 'wounds'.....I'd really like to find out to what battalion he was attached to as this will give me a good idea of where he was wounded.]


The medal cards are just part of an index to the medal rolls and don't record the battalion, just the regiment, or corps. It should also note his rank and his regimental number. However, The National Archives (TNA) in Kew also have the medal rolls and these do show the battalion. You'll find the medal rolls in document class WO329.


[The body of the form shows 'a) badge' and 'b) medal'. Does anyone know what this means?]

The medal bit is what you'd expect - it refers to a medal to which he was entitled. The 'badge' refers to the Silver War Badge, awarded to those who were invalided out of the army. In case you still have your gt-uncle's effects and want to try and find it amongst them; look for a circular badge, 1.3 inches in diameter, bearing the words 'For King and Empire' and 'Services Rendered'. In the centre are the letters 'GRI' with the crown above it. Each badge bears a number on the reverse and has a pin so that it may be worn. There are rolls at TNA for the issue of these badges.

Geoffers
Charlbury, Oxfordshire

[Terry Waters-Marsh]

Geoffers,

I wonder if you might advise what I am looking at with my great-great-uncle's WW1 Medal Card please. |help| There are no notations against the printed medals on the card but M.S.M. is written underneath with I.V.A. 89 in the volume column, page 4, and 7.3.46 under 'Clasp'. Vincent was a Warrant Officer 1 in the 19th Hussars. Across the top of the card is written "M.S.M. (WITH ANNUITY)".

I do know Vincent also fought in the Boer War, being caught in the Seige of Ladysmith and that he was a Squadron Sergeant Major in the 19th Hussars at that time. His regiment had come over from India where it was based in September 1899. His (older) brother, (my great-grandfather) was also in the 19th Hussars (until his retirement due to malaria in 1925) and he never left India.

I assume Vincent was still in the 19th Hussars during WW1 although there is no mention of his receiving the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and/or the Territorial Force Medal which puzzles me. Any thoughts?

[Geoffers]

[I wonder if you might advise what I am looking at with my great-great-uncle's WW1 Medal Card please. |help| There are no notations against the printed medals on the card but M.S.M. is written underneath with I.V.A. 89 in the volume column, page 4, and 7.3.46 under 'Clasp'. Vincent was a Warrant Officer 1 in the 19th Hussars. Across the top of the card is written "M.S.M. (WITH ANNUITY)".]

The M.S.M is the Meritorious Service Medal, introduced in 1845 for meritorious conduct by Senior NCOs. The serviceman also received an annuity with the medal. I would assume that the numbers are references to the award of the medal

If you search the London Gazette online
http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/index.asp?webType=0
you might to find some more detail about the award
near the top of the screen you'll see a link 'archive' which leads to a search screen. I don't know if it includes the South African War.


[I assume Vincent was still in the 19th Hussars during WW1 although there is no mention of his receiving the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and/or the Territorial Force Medal which puzzles me. Any thoughts?]

No idea why you have a medal card and no mention of the war medals. The cards that I have seen list the medals with details of the roll and page. Does the card mention a theatre of war and date of entry there?

Geoffers
Charlbury, Oxfordshire

[AndyC]

Thank you very much for your help Geoffers. It's helped a great deal.

Best regards

Andy C