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WW1 medal identification

WW1 medal identification

Posted: 31 Jul 2015 9:34AM GMT
Classification: Military
Surnames: Bowden
Hello Everyone

I have a British War medal 1914-1918 and am trying to find which of the family it belonged to. The surname is on the rim is obvious but does anyone know what the other letters and numbers mean? This is what is on the rim. 58 17 D. A. F. B .Bowden. D. H. R.N.R.

Many thanks
Irene

Re: WW1 medal identification

Posted: 31 Jul 2015 3:46PM GMT
Classification: Query
No 5817DA F.B. Bowden DH RNR

No 5817 DA = his number [also seen as DA5817]; I think the D indicates his home port as Devonport, the A his 1st 5 year period of enlistment.
FB Bowden = Frederick Brice Bowden, his full name
DH = Deck Hand
R.N.R. = Royal Naval Reserve

According to his entry in ADM 171.120 the Roll of War Medals 1914-1920 Vol 37 RNR Ratings [surnames beginning] A – Cun., he qualified for the 1915 Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal.

For his Service Record Card See http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8513356

All members of the R.N.R. were also merchant seamen or fishermen (RNR[T]) RNR Trawler Section.

Re: WW1 medal identification

Posted: 31 Jul 2015 5:49PM GMT
Classification: Query
Wow! Thank you JeffH01. I never expected such a comprehensive answer. Thank you so much for your help.

Irene

Re: WW1 medal identification

Posted: 1 Aug 2015 5:27PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 1 Aug 2015 5:31PM GMT
Irene,
I am going to duplicate the info. that Jeff gave you ; but for only one reason. They have info that shows there might be a service record for Frederick under "UK royal Naval reserve records Index 1860-1955" ; but if you go there and look up his information. It will only give you the e-Mail address that Jeff has provided.

I just wanted to tell you that in case someone would tell you his service record is on Ancestry. It would save you a trip. It is evident something that Jeff is probably more aware of than I. They must not keep Naval Service records on Ancestry. They do list his birthday and where he was born in case you don't have that info. You don't have to answer this.

From the "For what its worth department".

God Bless and God Speed, Danny

Re: WW1 medal identification

Posted: 2 Aug 2015 9:27AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 2 Aug 2015 11:13AM GMT
This is his medal record, the letter S next to his entry = self and it means that the medals were issued to him..
Attachments:

Re: WW1 medal identification

Posted: 2 Aug 2015 10:37AM GMT
Classification: Query
Thank you so much everyone it's been so helpful. I now have all the info that seems to be available on this guy and I am now trying to place him in the family.

Irene

Re: WW1 medal identification

Posted: 2 Aug 2015 11:16AM GMT
Classification: Query
You might have a problem with that.

He was born in Porthleven in County Cornwall on 10th July 1896, so his birth should have been registered in the Helston Registration District of Cornwall.

Can't find any record of this man's birth or death, nor a record for him in the 1901 and 1911 censuses.

Your best clue might be,...how and when did his medal come into the family possession, and BTW, whatever you do, don't polish the medal.

Re: WW1 medal identification

Posted: 2 Aug 2015 12:14PM GMT
Classification: Query
Thanks. I have found a death which may well be him in Plymouth 1964. He was a merchant seaman prior to his war service so I expect he was at sea during census periods. I have the same problem with several members of the family.
I have no intention of cleaning the medal for fear of damaging it, but thanks for the reminder.

Irene

Re: WW1 medal identification

Posted: 3 Aug 2015 12:04AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Bowden
The death in Plymouth in County Devon in 1964 of Frederick B. Bowden aged 74 is Frederick Burns Bowden who was born in the Stoke Demerel area of Devon in 1890.

What was the source of your information about him having been a merchant seaman prior to his WW1 service. ?

The merchant seaman theory in relation to his apparent absence in the censuses is a good one, that had occurred to me as well, and I checked the available merchant seaman records, but I can't spot him in those either.

However, the merchant seaman theory doesn't explain why there is no obvious birth registration for him in the Helston Registration District in County Cornwall.

Not polishing medals can sometimes relate to possibly slightly damaging them, and it always relates to their sale value and to their provenance and authenticity in a sale context, but of course a sale of the medal obviously isn't relevant in this case.

Mainly though, and arguably most importantly, not polishing medals relates to their historical value and significance, any patina or signs of wear or damage on a medal reflect it's age and it's historical context, and relate indirectly to what a medal really represents, which is the experiences of the person to whom it was awarded and the historical events in which the person was involved.
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