Medals

[Jenjen]

My question is about medals my father might have been entitled to after coming out of the service. He was in the RAF and served several years in Rhodesia where he was an LAC. When he returned to the UK he was in Sir Solly Zuckermans bombing and analysis unit. I know he was in France when I was born in Jan 1945. He never saw any fighting service. Would he have been awarded any medals?
I know I can send for his service records and I may just do that but in the meantime if anyone can provide and answer I would be grateful.
Jen

[notanotherminer]

The 1939-45 War Medal was issued to anyone who served 28 days or more in the Armed forces during WWII. If he was in France in January 1945 as a member of the RAF I would have thought that he qualified.

[barbara lee]

Jen- my father was an RAF LAC, a telephonist. He didn't apply for his medals immediately after the war, but thought he'd do so for a bit of fun at the 50th anniversary in 1995. They came a couple of months later in a perfectly routine way, suggesting thet they had been sitting on a shelf for fifty years, just waiting for him to write. He had four, the 1939-1945 Star, the France-Germany Star, the Defence Medal and the War Medal, but like your Dad he didn't do any actual fighting.

The MoD's Medal FAQs says "Service veterans are entitled to receive medals, if they meet the qualifying criteria, in recognition of their service. If the serviceman is deceased, the immediate next of kin is entitled to receive any medals. In the first instance, the immediate next of kin will be the spouse. If also deceased, it will be the eldest child. If there was no marriage or no children, it could be a sibling or other relation. If a different family member wishes to receive the medals, written and signed permission must be given by the immediate next of kin."

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/De.../MedalFaqs.htm

[mfwebb]

My father was in the RAF but not in a combat role. He was a Corporal -- aircraft technician, and I have his Defence Medal and War medal which he gave to me some time before he died in 1983. I always assumed these were issued automatically but reading this post I get the impression he had to apply for them.

I also have his service record which I obtained last year -- cost me £30 as his next of kin and I had to prove my relationship with copies of his death certificate and my birth certificate. Well worth the money and I would recommend sending for it. Be aware though that, unlike Army service records, RAF service records are full of jargon and abbreviations and come with a four page list of the common abbreviations used. On its own, his service record provided me with little useful information except for dates. Even using the abbreviation list, I gleaned little useful information about where he served -- the abbreviations enabled me to identify the units he served in such as 19(P)AFU (19 Pilots Advanced Flying Unit) but not where it was based. I wrote off for further information and clarification and received a 2 page letter with all the information I requested and more besides. 19 Pilots Advanced Flying Unit, by the way, was based at RAF Dalcross Scotland which is now Inverness Airport. Don't be afraid to ask for further information.

All the best,

Malcolm Webb
Lincoln UK

[Jenjen]

Many thanks to all who for responded to my request. The additional information from Barbara and Rob has decided me that I will apply for his RAF record and for his medals. I hope they are still sitting on the shelf! I don't believe my dad ever applied for them but I can't be sure. He joined the local RAFA after the war and was very active. I do feel sure that he would have kept the medals and I would have found them. He saved lots of memorabilia from his war years; a photograph album of his time in Rhodesia, native carvings from Africa, a swastika flag! No medals.
Many thanks Jen