Mentioned in disptaches - Help needed

[KRoberts]

I am hoping that someone can help me trace something about my grandfather, Robert Evan Roberts, who served on HMS Racehorse during WW2.

When my grandmother passed away we found his medals from WW2 and noticed that one medal has what looks to be an oak leaf upon it. When this was shown to a local dealer in war memorabilia has stated that the oak leaf means he was "Mentioned in Dispatches".

So we take this to mean that he obviously did something but at this point in time we do not have a clue what is was that he did.

He did not like to talk about his time during the war but we do know that he was in Burma on HMS Racehorse.

Does anyone have a way to be able to find out what is was that he did to get himself mentioned in dispatches?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[suemalings]

I don't know anything really about medals, but on reading my little book "Badges and Emblems" it says under the Royal Navy Officers Cap Badge, that "Rank is indicated by Oak Leaves on the peak of the cap" On the Women's Officer's badge, the Oak Leaves are blue instead of gold. This wont help you in any way as it is related to cap badges, not medals. Have you seen the photograph on the web "On Board HMS Racehorse, Destroyer of the Eastern Fleet"?

[suemalings]

Found an entry in the London Gazette, However it looks like this Robert Evan Roberts was in the RAF not the RN:

ROYAL AIR FORCE
The King has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operation against the enemy: Cpl. Robert Evan Rogerts

Not exactly sure though, I think you will have to go through the pages.

[fullscott]

Not an uncommon name, but this MAY be him:

Supplement to the London Gazette, 23 March 1943 (page 1367-1368)
"ROYAL AIR FORCE REGIMENT.
To be Plt. Offs. on prob. (emergency). 23rd Jan. 1943:-
Cpls.
1109505 Robert Evan ROBERTS (137949)"
Source: Ancestry

So perhaps you can limit your search to 1943-1945.
It's just a long list of men & service numbers.
The bracketed number - 137949 - appears to be the Pilot Officer number.
1109505 may be his previous service number - not necessarily in the RAF.

And of course, this may not be your Robert Evan.

[simmo1]

Hi

HIs number 1109505 fits in this block -
Royal Artillery (Field, Coastal & Anti-Aircraft) 721001 - 1842000 and 11000001 - 11500000
There are two R E Roberts who attested in the Royal Artillery - one in 1938 and 1 in 1940.
You will need a subscription to see who is who and if the number matches.
Cant see a tracer card on Ancestry for him.

regards

robert

[suemalings]

Sorry that should have been Roberts in my post number 2.

[KRoberts]

Thanks for the help so far. I found the RAF version before but he definitely was RN.

[Pam Downes]

Try the newspapers local to where he/his parents lived. It's surprising what snippets can be found in the newspapers, especially regarding service personnel during the war8. Though you might have to scroll through a lot of records because of the common surname it is worth persevering.