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| MEDALS AND
RESEARCH |
Every medal tells a story.
Those awarded for gallantry are accompanied by Citations
that explain in detail what the recipient did. Further research
places this in context with the relevant battle and, as the
picture broadens other factors come into play.
But that is by no means all. Even campaign medals can reveal
a great deal, particularly when studied as a group, and
here is a fine example. |
Tank Museum photo No 6040/E/5 |
| The holder of this group was a Sergeant
H Moores. What makes it outstanding is his entitlement to
five campaign stars. Most serving soldiers might expect
three, there will be instances of four, but five in one group
is exceptional; what does it tell us?
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| Well first of all let us identify the
medals, starting from the left as usual. |
- This is the 1939-1945 Star
issued to all who served between 3 September 1939 and 2
September 1945;
the colours on the ribbon symbolize service on sea, land
and in the air.
- Next we have the Africa Star
with colours that symbolize sea, land and air and the desert.
To achieve this one had to serve in that theatre between
10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943.
- Then we have a classic, the Burma Star,
which covers the period 11 December 1941 to 2 September
1945,
the red and orange represent British Commonwealth forces
and the sun.
- After that the Italy Star,
the colours in this case representing those of Italy
while the eligible period is 11 June 1943 to 8 May 1945.
- And finally, in this galaxy we have the France and
Germany Star
with colours symbolic of Britain, France and the Netherlands,
indicating service from 6 June 1944 to 8 May 1945.
- Finally, on the end we have the War Medal
issued to all full-time service personnel with 28 or
more days service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September
1945;
the colours representing those of the Union Flag.
The Oak Leaf, attached to the ribbon, indicates that
Sergeant Moores had received a Mention in Despatches.
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The only other thing our records show concerning Sergeant Moores
is that he served in the Royal Tank Regiment. What we
do not know is which one?
The Burma Star should be the key to solving this, only 2nd
RTR served in Burma in addition to Africa and Italy. What
they did not do is serve in France and Germany in the period
covered by that Star. They were in France, briefly, in the summer
of 1940 but that would be covered by the 1939-1945 Star.
So what is the explanation?
The most obvious is that the good Sergeant, having served through
most of the war with 2nd RTR, was transferred at some stage
to a regiment that saw action in North West Europe. However
Moores is not listed as a recipient of a Mention in Despatches
in Second’s Out! the history of 2nd RTR. Of course that
could be an oversight. In the end it would be necessary to look
at Sergeant Moores’ service record but at present that
can only be released to his family. There is no reason to doubt
that, whatever it is, it will be an impressive record of war
service. |
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