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can anyone help identify.... thanks

can anyone help identify.... thanks

Posted: 28 Oct 2014 1:07AM GMT
Classification: Query
was wondering if anyone can identify what these medals are and what they are given out for?? they were my grandfather's from the 2nd war, he served in England, he was a Sapper
Military- Royal Canadian Engineer Service Branch B26044
1939-1st Co Pioneer BN
1943- Flame Thrower (Pet Warf)?? not sure what that means.
1943- Cdn Paratrooper BN
1944- RCEME Instructor Heavyduty EQPT
1945-RCEME SVG NoB 26044 Potenial Trained Militiaman National Survival..

also if anyone can identify what a lot of this means, would be a great help,, thanks
My grandfather was Alexander Begley
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Re: can anyone help identify.... thanks

Posted: 30 Oct 2014 2:22AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 30 Oct 2014 2:23AM GMT
The medals (left to right) are:

1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal & Clasp; War Medal 1939-45.

For details of the criteria for the award of each medal see http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/medals-decorations... (click on medal name to go to page with full picture (with ribbon) and more details of each)

As for the descriptions, I’ve made a stab below but I suggest you seek advice from the RCE Museum at http://www.cmemuseum.ca/

Royal Canadian Engineer Service Branch B26044
I think the Service Branch looked after equipment repair & maintenance, including 1st line repairs in the field and I assume B26044 was his service number.

1939-1st Co Pioneer BN

1st Company Pioneer Battalion? I expect that should read, 1st Company [of] 1st Pioneer Battalion, but I suspect the battalion designation may have been omitted in original records until after a 2nd Pioneer Battalion was formed.

The 1st Pioneer Battalion was part of the VII Corps Troops Engineers in England see http://www.orbat.com/site/uk_orbats/files/6/RE%20World%20War... and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Corps_%28World_War_II%...
There’s also a short section in the introduction to an R.E. Brigade on page 30 of the Encyclopedia (sic) of the R.C.E. in WWII: Part One: The Field Units (Google Books) that briefly explains the idea of pioneer battalions at Corps level was dropped in favour of having them at Brigade level instead.

1943- Flame Thrower (Pet Warf)?? not sure what that means.

There were several types of flame throwers in use by the Canadian army during WWII, including vehicle mounted ones. I assume Pet = Petroleum; that is one for the museum.

1943- Cdn Paratrooper BN

Canadian Paratrooper Battalion, as he was already in England, I’m assuming that is the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Canadian_Parachute_Battalio... and Google that title for more.

1944- RCEME Instructor Heavyduty EQPT

RCEME = Royal Canadian Electrical & Mechanical Engineers, Heavy-duty Equipment would be armoured vehicles and specialist heavy equipment. Like the British REME their roll was maintenance, recovery & repair of equipment in the field and in workshops. He obviously became an instructor; that could have been in the UK or back in Canada. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corps_of_Royal_Canadian_Electri... for some background and Google for the title + ww2 for more

1945-RCEME SVG No B 26044 Potenial Trained Militiaman National Survival..
“Potential?”

I assume that is related to being placed in the Reserves (Militia) linked to Civil Defence activities associated with nuclear attack.
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