Hello, everyone: I would like to ask for some help in identifying the owner of these medals. I would like to learn as much as possible but I am stuck right at the starting point! I know that World War II medals are a dead end without any paperwork or other provenance. Luckily, this soldier, received an Efficiency Medal with the Original Ribbon type, with two additional bars. The engraving is: SSM (WO 2) L.W. SAUNDERS I believe the inscription means: "Staff Sergeant-Major, Warrant Officer 2nd Class" (then his name, of course, L.W. Saunders" From what I see in "Medal Yearbook", this a scarce medal. Additionally, I have found that only 475 were awarded with the image of QEII. Perhaps there is a list somewhere of these recipients? I haven't had any luck. I use Ancestry and Fold3, maybe there is another place I should be looking? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Steve
Best bet is to try Fold3 to get a base to start. Once you find the years he served, Military branch of service etc: I'm willing to say we'll be able to help you flesh out much more. I can't open the picture but the awards should be readily available through a Google search : Military ribbons & medals. Welcome by the way.
Thanks, Biak, I mentioned that I used Fold3 with no luck. However, I tried again and using periods in his initials helped. I was on the wrong track. It seems he wasn't a Staff Sergeant-Major but listed under General Duties Branch (Air Gunners and Wireless Operators (Air)) as a Squadron Sergeant-Major. His Fold3 Search came up as L.W. but when linked to the record, it showed I.W. Found! Thank you for the welcome!
I think those medals are most likely British, the Crown maybe?. Someone else will know for sure. Try to our sister site WW2Talk.com also as it is more a European centric melting pot. Between the two sites I can almost guarantee we'll! be able to track 90% of what you're looking for. Good Luck.
Thank you, Biak, he was a Canadian. The Efficiency medal has a fixed suspender bar with "Canada" and there is a Canadian Forces Decoration on the miniature bar. Steve
Although finding as much as knowing for sure that he was RCAF serving in GB during WWII, I can't find anything else. I would love to learn his squadron, then I could find more information but that has proven an exhaustive search. As I am new to researching medals, I would like to know if anyone has any expertise that they could share? Thanks, Steve