 |
| The
1939 - 1945 War Medal |
![[image] The front of the 1939-45 War Medal](images/new-images/1939_45_warmedalfront.jpg)
Front |
![[image] The reverse of the 1939-45 War Medal](images/new-images/1939_45_warmedalreverse.jpg)
Reverse |
|
1939 - 1945 War Medal. The reverse shows a British lion
trampling on a fascist dragon. |
|
|
The 1939 - 1945 British
War Medal
was awarded to all service personnel who saw action during World
War Two.
Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant Kenneth Ward
of the 1st Royal Tank Regiment was awarded the medal at the
end of the war.
|
![[image] Karl Wurzburger/Kenneth Ward: then and now](images/new-images/karlwurzburger.jpg) |
Born Karl Wurzburger, a German Jew, Ward was evacuated
to England in August 1939, at the age of 16.
Two years later he received the news that his parents
and brother had all been killed in Lodz Concentration
Camp and he volunteered to join the British Army.
He had to choose an English name in case he was
ever taken prisoner, and decided upon Kenneth Ward
because it matched his initials. |
|
| Ward landed at Arromanches in
Normandy on 7 June 1944. He fought at Villiers Bocage, Caen,
and during the final battle at the Falaise Gap. Ward served
with the 7th Armoured Division until the end of the war. |
Normandy, summer 1944.
(Tank Muaseum
photo number 2995/E/5)
Ward served as a radio operator in a Sherman Firefly. |
![[image] Tank Muaseum photo number 2995/E/5](images/new-images/2995_e_5.jpg) |
|
|
Today, Ward's story features in a new medals exhibition at
The Tank Museum For Valour.
He recalls fondly the British sense of humour: Whilst in Normandy
his Yorkshire gunner would call out to the accompanying infantry…"Come
and have a look at our tame Jerry, penny a time."
|
|
| To view previous article(s)
in this series, click
here |
Numbered
photos can be bought from the
Tank Museum Shop
(please note down the number of the photos you are interested
in) |
