Medal description help WW1

[lucygrasshopper]

Hi - haven't been in the forum for some time, but I am back - this one is regarding the following described medals. A distant cousin in his 80s, living in UK, has described them as follows...further on.

I found Medal Cards for a HV Diacono, but that is Hector Vincent -. I bought the details on line. Not my Victor Hugo.

I found British Army records for his brothers, Arno (intact) and Otto whose records were partially burnt.

Victor Hugo Diacono (aka Hugo) was born in Ceylon and attended St Josephs in Dumfries, Scotland. The family had a place in Montpellier Gardens, Harrogate....apparently he left England and joined up in Ceylon ca 1917. According to a newspaper clipping (undated), titled “The Man who Broke the Bank of Persia” "He was soon fighting as a young subaltern in the Indian Army in Mesopotamia." He was, apparently a Paymaster.
He returned to England in 1921. Before WW2, he changed his name by Deed Poll to Victor Hugh Deacon.(aka Hugh)

If his papers were not destroyed (burnt) as I understand many were, the integral part of my enquiry is to find his first wife - she would be listed as next of kin.
The story is long an protraced, but not for here.
Below is all the information I can provide.

His medals are inscribed on the back and on the front
1. Silver.1914 19 and on the front GEORGIUS V BRITT. OMN.REX.ET IND .IMP. RIBBON : Blue /Black/White Stripe with Major Yellow Centre

2. Gold inscribed on Back THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILISATION 1914 1919. Ribbon of blended/merging colours Dark Blue/Green/Yellow/Pink.

3. Silver.The General Service Medal Overseas with IRAQ CLASP with same inscription on front as medal No. 1 Ribbon Dark Blue Sides with Green Centre.

4.1939 45 DEFENCE MEDAL (Civil Award for AIR RAID PRECAUTION
DUTIES)

IN ALL CASES 1.2. 3. ON THE EDGE OF EACH MEDAL THERE IS
PRINTED. Lt.V.H..DIACONO these are the official stamps of award,

I can't find him with his brothers...is it possible there is an Indian Army Register of some kind for the British Soldiers who signed up in Ceylon (and or India) that were not burnt?
Would the above medal be an indication of where to look - if not amongst the burnt documents?

Much obliged for any help
Lucy

[Alanh]

Burnt records only show other ranks who served up to 1921 and your details show he was a Leuitenant. His records would possibly be at the National Archives at Kew, and not available on-line see link http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/militaryhistory/army/step2.htm or failing that his record would still be with MOD see here http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/service_records.html

Alan

[Geoffers]

You'll find pictures of some of these medals on TNA's web-site (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/medals.asp)
They are the campaign medals awarded in large numbers to service personnel.

"He was soon fighting as a young subaltern

TNA has a file on Lt H V Diacono (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=903422&CATLN=6&Highlight=%2CDIACONO&accessmethod=0), you can order a copy for a reasonable fee.

I found Medal Cards for a HV Diacono, but that is Hector Vincent -. I bought the details on line. Not my Victor Hugo..........Victor Hugo Diacono (aka Hugo) was born in Ceylon

Do you have a record of his birth? - Baptism or birth certificate? - Or if not, what is your source for his full name and birthplace? Could he have just been known to family as Victor Hugo because of some interest in the author?

[lucygrasshopper]

Hi Geoffers. I already availed myself of these documents. The HV is Hector Vincent, a cousin of Victor Hugo.

My VH Diacono applied to Ceylon for a copy Birth Certificate and never received it. I do have the application form he filled in and signed. He is Victor Hugo Diacono. His son does not have the birth certificate, only the application form he filled in.

Victor Hugo as in the famous Author may have been behind his naming. Inside the family he was referred to as "Hugo" not Victor.

He was born in Ceylon. He was one of nine surviving children of William Frederick Diacono b. Alexandria Egypt 1862, William lived in Ceylon, but had business in Lancaster with the head office of his company at that time. It is obvious that he lived in Harrogate and educated his sons in Dumfries, in Scotland...he commuted between Harrogate and Lancaster - and shipping records show William going to Ceylon on several occasions. Family say he maintained a home in the UK while his sons were being educated.

Victor Hugo - I have found his death notice as Victor Hugh Deacon. He changed his name by Deed Poll in 1938, I have the Deed Poll document.

So the name I have given and the initials are right. Victor Hugo Diacono.
Any more thoughts that may help?
Ta
Lucy

[lucygrasshopper]

Hello AlanH

I have not investigated these avenues, but will do so today.

Thank you for this information.
Ta
Lucy

[Geoffers]

Hi Geoffers. I already availed myself of these documents. The HV is Hector Vincent, a cousin of Victor Hugo.

Fair enough

My VH Diacono applied to Ceylon for a copy Birth Certificate and never received it. I do have the application form he filled in and signed. He is Victor Hugo Diacono. His son does not have the birth certificate, only the application form he filled in.

It might be useful for your research to try and obatin a copy of the certificate. Is this a British application form, or one issued in Sri Lanka (Ceylon)?

So the name I have given and the initials are right. Victor Hugo Diacono. Any more thoughts that may help?

You might try the London Gazette (http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/home.aspx?geotype=London)to see if any appointments/promotions are mentioned. As the dad was obviously fairly wealthy, he may be mentioned too. As the surname is quite unusual, you might try a search just using the surname.

[Alanh]

Lucy

Have found this entry in London Gazette http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/ViewPDF.aspx?pdf=32074&geotype=London&gpn=9698&type=ArchivedIssuePage&all=Victor%20Hugo%20Diacono&exact=&atleast=&similar= Bottom right had side of page.

Alan

[lucygrasshopper]

Hi Alanh - I wrote a lengthy reply - but a button obliterated it.

Apolgies for being so tardy in reply, but a recent demise in the family has had me and my thoughts elswhere.
Yes - I found the Gazette entry. Thank you. I found his Medal Card. From an enquriy in Ceylon (Sri Lanka), I got this information

Hugo Victor Diacono, IARO
Commissioned 15th January 1918
6th Class Supply & Transport Officer
Serving with 'F' Supply Depot Company from 5th June 1918.
Almost certainly left Indian Army no later than early 1922

This man must have had enlistment papers somewhere. Or do I have to concede they were destroyed in the WW2 bombings.

Currently - I am looking for his enlistment documents. He apparently was married in Ceylon and this is a mystery I had hope to solve...his wife would or should have been next of kin on his enlistment papers. He lived in England - didn't marry until 1962. I believe only after he was told his first wife had passed away in Ceylon...Catholic - no divorce.

Further. IARO Indian Army Reserve Officer....The word Reserve indicates that he must have signed up before he was called up.

Can anyone shed more light anywhere on Victor Hugo Diacono's WW1 record?

Look forward to more help.

Lucy

[leamington]

Papers to officers of the IARO are held at the British Library.

There is also a separate Indian Army List, where you could get the basics of his appointments and promotions.

[belfastblade]

Hi
Don't know if this is of interest. Mt great uncle would have been Victor Hugo's nephew. He was the eldest son of Irima Diacono who married Walter Douglas Garrett in Columbo in 1915. They had three children, William (my great uncle), Pamela and Alfred. Irima (Irma) died around 1930 from fever (possibly typhiod) and the children were brought to England to be brought up by their paternal grandmother.

Christine

[digger1234]

The lady Hugo married in Bangalore in 1918 was I am sure my grandmother.
I am slightly astonished to find this discussion on Hugo here...

[lucygrasshopper]

Hi Digger1234 - I have had contact with your brother in the USA and have emailed him.

Via that e-mail, I have given him my home Addy -

Astonished? Ummmm! The War has been over 90 years - I was hunting for War Records for Hugo initially, then other matters crept in. Eventually, with the help of a Diacono cousin in the UK, I was able to find the War Records via a private researcher familiar with the Indian Army.

The initial name I was given was Celine Spanon, or similiar. I moved mountains of documents trying to find her. Hugo was my grandmother's 1st cousin. So I am not a Spanion relation but a Diacono relation.

As with your brother, I am only too happy to correspond regarding Selina Spanion. I have Hugo's Marriage lines as well as a photograph of himself and Selina.

Hope to hear from you or James soon

Lucy