Hi there Having just had my late father’s WW2 Medals refurbished, I’m needing some help to determine how he came to be awarded the Africa Star. He was in the R.A.M.C. from 1940 until 1945 and I can only ever recall him talking about being in the North West Europe theatre of operations between 6 September 1944 and 31 August 1945 (as a Nursing Orderly in 2218 POW Camp at Vilvoorde, Belgium, according to his records). I have copies of his military records which clearly indicate the award (attached) but there is no actual mention of him being there. I’ve also attached a ‘cobbled together’ front and reverse of a section of his records which clearly show ‘trooping’ through Liverpool between 12 October 1942 and 2 March 1943 (sorry the pages don’t quite line up and the quality isn’t all that good) and I know the medal was awarded to British and Commonwealth forces who served in North Africa between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943, so he fits the qualifying period. I’m hoping someone can shed light on my quest. Regards Chiad Fhear
If he was on trooping duty, he was aboard a ship. Probably one or more went to Africa, although he probably never left the ship. Just a guess.
This is the criteria for the Star- "The Africa Star was awarded for a minimum of one day's service in an operational area of North Africa between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943. The operational area includes the whole of the area between the Suez Canal and the Strait of Gibraltar, together with Malta, Abyssinia, Kenya, the Sudan, both Somalilands and Eritrea. Areas not bordering on the Mediterranean only qualified for the Africa Star between 10 June 1940 and 27 November 1941 inclusive." Africa Star - Wikipedia Could he have served on a hospital ship?? As Belasar said, he might have qualified without ever leaving the ship.
Hi I think I may have posted this twice, I.e. under a different heading, as I’ve found out that he was twice to Algeria in convoys MKS2 in 1942 and MKS8 in 1943. I think it was a RFA vessel and not a hospital ship Whether he actually had his toes in the sand I will never know now Regards Chiad Fhear
Hi again this is my ‘discovery’ Convoyweb (ConvoyWeb) shows: 3/12/42 Convoy MKS2 arriving Liverpool from Algiers 1/3/43 Convoy MKS8 arriving Liverpool from Bone (Algeria) I would think this almost confirms he was onboard one of the ships in these convoys and therefore entitled to the Africa Star. .. both dates tally with ‘trooping’ entries in his records: 3 December 1942 Disembarked Liverpool 2 March 1943 disembarked Liverpool Chiad Fhear
I have just discovered the error of my ways I also posted this on WW2Talk under RAMC Unit History My apologies if I wasted anyone's time. Chiad Fhear
