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Good morning, I have a photo of my grandfather who served in Malta during WW2 and one of his medals that I can't identify. Is there anyone who would be able to assist me with any information regarding the insignias on his uniform and this medal? I can email a picture if anyone wouldn't mind taking the time to have a look. I have no information about his service and am anxious to have some information. I have contacted the MOD but have not heard back as of yet.

Thanks so much!

Sue Nelson
Toronto, Canada

Hi Sue,
Go ahead and send it to my e-mail address and I'll have a look.My father served in North Africa during WWII and I have his medals so I may be able to find a match.Have you tried contacting his Regimental Association?I also had an Uncle in WWII who upon demob joined the RCMP where he spent the rest of his working life until retiring to Nipigon Ontario.

Hi Sue Can you post the picture then the gang can put their thinking hats on

I am curious about the hat insignia, the crest on the chevrons and whatever else the uniform can tell you. I believe he might have been Artillery. On the medal that I can't identify, there is engraving on the back with a number (possibly service number??) and 'BDR' then his name.

I can post the pictures of the medal separately.

I know nothing of the military, British or otherwise so please forgive my naiveté if it seems pretty basic to all of you

Much thanks.

Sue Nelson

The cap badge is for the Royal Malta Artillery,they manned most of the anti-aircraft weaponry in the seige of Malta during WW2.Hope this helps.

owdun

The BDR is a rank,Bombardier so grandpa was a long distance sniper.The medal I haven't seen before but I'm sure one of the"Old and Bold"will recall it.(No Offense Frank )Have a look here.
http://www.killifish.f9.co.uk/Malta%20WWII/RMA.htm

Thanks to those that replied. I'll post a pic of the medal.

On the back is a number (service number?), the initials BDR which has already been confirmed is his rank and his name.

Thanks again.

Could be some form of sports medal,can't find any trace of WW2 war medals with that ribbon.

Ok, just to cover my bottom before all the WWII specialists blow my head of and stuff it full of dust covered archives; I am no expert in this field, these are just some of my humble suggestion, hopefully helping Goldguitargirl towards the facts from what I know from todays army

The symbol over his rank on the right arm is the Hammer and Tongs badge. basically meaning he was a tradesman as well! Possibly a metalsmith, blacksmith, or a vehicle mechanic. Not sure how he would have got it, possibly through a detachment to another unit where he learnt a trade. I think... that you can only wear them if you are class 2, 3 or Artificer level in your trade (basically a bog standard pass of the trade course would be a class 1, and artificer is the all knowing master ) so he may have served some time in another regiment before transferring? I'm not sure about WWII, but that is what the hammer and tongs mean in todays Army.

The badge above his stripes, again on his right arm, looks to be a TRF (Tactical recognition flash), basically identifying him as a soldier of the royal artillery when he's dressed in full battle gear, as he would have swapped in his beret (with its cap badge) for a tin lid. In this case it's just sewn on for ceremonial reasons, unless that was standard dress for the battlefield back then.

The medal could have been awarded for winning and important army tug of war match! I know it sounds obsurd but that's all I can guess at, given the picture and the fact that tug of war is a huge thing in the army and was even bigger back then

Hope this helps!

Hmm, very interesting. He had a trade when he came to Canada (worked as a carpenter building furniture) but not sure how that would have related to the war but I don't know much about the military.

Thanks for everyone's input!!

Sue

try and see if there is a Regimental Museum of the unit your father was with and try to contact them