View Full Version : Medal on right breast
I was advised to move over this part of my thread to here. Attached is a picture of my Grandfather it would be about 1922-4 it was taken
with a little research I think I have identified the 3 on his left
British War Medal
Victory Medal
1914-15 Star
I have no idea what the medal is on his right though, I didn't think you were allowed to wear them there. As far as I know his father was not in the military......anyone any idea what it might be.
Thanks
Batstiger
20-09-2009, 10:51
I'm not sure about this but aren't medals such as a life saving medal allowed to be worn on the starboard side?
Bob.
Medals other than those awarded by the Queen can be worn on the right breast,,like you say Guz the life saving medal, but not on ceremonial occasions. On events like the ANZAC marches medals earned by fathers etc maybe worn as a mark of respect on the right
Very interesting, thanks guys. I'm gonna keep digging around, maybe sometime in the future I'll find out.
alanbenn
20-09-2009, 11:39
It maybe that the medal on his right is connected to his service with the RMLI and so worn seperately to his Naval issue medals.
Regards
Alan
Medals other than those awarded by the Queen can be worn on the right breast,,like you say Guz the life saving medal, but not on ceremonial occasions. On events like the ANZAC marches medals earned by fathers etc maybe worn as a mark of respect on the right
Or even Batstiger:D
It maybe that the medal on his right is connected to his service with the RMLI and so worn seperately to his Naval issue medals.
Regards
Alan
I hadn't thought of that, could well be.
tonclass
20-09-2009, 19:23
Reminds me of a story I heard a few years back of a British military type enquiring of his superiors if he could wear his Fathers medals. He was told he could wear them on his right breast for ceremonial occasions. When on Parade all hell broke loose, as it turned out the guys father was a re-patriated German soldier POW, and the bloke in question was proudly wearing his Dads Iron Cross !!
I could have sworn I read somewhere that it NOT allowed to wear medals on the stbd side for any reason even if a relatives as you had not earned them.
But from what I've read on this very interesting thread it's actually legal.
Can't thank everyone on this website enough, I've only been a member for a few days and I have been provided with so much information.
Reminds me of a story I heard a few years back of a British military type enquiring of his superiors if he could wear his Fathers medals. He was told he could wear them on his right breast for ceremonial occasions. When on Parade all hell broke loose, as it turned out the guys father was a re-patriated German soldier POW, and the bloke in question was proudly wearing his Dads Iron Cross !!
Nice tale, I can imaging the stiff upper lips getting a bit of a quiver on. We have a Turkish family in town one of the kids marches with his schoolmates every year proudly wearing his great grandfathers medals won at Gallipoli
Almost certainly the medal on his right breast is the Royal Humane Society Medal which is awarded for life saving. This medal is correctly worn on the right breast and I believe it may be worn by service personnel when in uniform. The medals are awarded for rescues or attempted rescues from drowning, dangerous cliffs and underground (mines etc). The medal is awarded in bronze and for higher levels of gallantry in silver. The bravest deed of life saving in a particular year is rewarded by the Stanhope Gold Medal. The medal is not given for saving lives from fire as other societies cover this area.
Information on what your grandfather did to earn the medal can be found. If you apply to the RHS then there is a cost but some information is usually available through thr internet. If you PM me his name I will attempt to find out about the award.
You are correct the other medals are (left to right)
1914-15 Star - British War Medal - Victory Medal
alanbenn
21-09-2009, 13:05
Odin, seaking originally posted a request about his grandfather on another thread, here's the link which gives details of his GF, name, DOB, Service number etc.
http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=56648&d=1253292532
Regards
Alan
PS. Knew you'd come up trumps with the medal:D
Thanks for that
Found him very easily and luckily we have the citation:
Kirby, H.V. Private RMLI. Case 36501
On the 29th December 1908, W.Cosway, in attempting to go on board his vessel at Sandwich, fell into the harbour, there being a five-knot tide and the weather cold and frosty. Kirby plunged in and succeeded in landing him, but he did not recover.
So Pte Kirby was awarded the Bronze Medal of the Royal Humane Society in 1909 for this attempt resuce. Note the medal reverse is different depending on whether the rescue was successful or not.
The above information was found on the Life Saving Awards Research Society (LSARS) website which lists many RHS awards - just google LSARS
OMG !!
Haven't been in the forum for a couple of days, checking this morning and I find this.
You guys ROCK, another piece of the puzzle resolved.
THANK YOU doesn't seem to cover it but it's greatly appreciated
Just to add to the small image I posted earlier, I have been sorting through some boxes and dug this out. Here is the bronze award of the RHS Medal that I have in my collection. The medal is named HENRY ANDREWS 20TH JANUARY 1871 (the date of the rescue). Andrews was a farm labourer and successfully rescued an old man from flood water at night.
The pictures show the Case, Obverse (front) and Reverse (back). The medal is well polished suggesting Henry Andrews must have regularly worn his medal with pride.
Thanks for posting that up Odin, I know my aunt the last surviving child of my grandfather will be very happy to hear all this about her father.
Wish I knew what happened to his medals, lost forever...shame.
John O'Callaghan
23-09-2009, 22:36
Hi All ! For Australian Defence Force members the wearing of medals other than those awarded by the 'Crown' is allowed subject to the medal/issuing authority being approved.As the proud 'owner' of a Royal Humane Society (Australia) Silver Medal I was frequently questioned at inspections about it.In fact I still get the occaisional suspicious question when wearing 'bling' on Anzac Day and other odd times.I believe similiar regulations apply throughout the Commonwealth.
Cheers John O'C.
John O'Callaghan
23-09-2009, 22:46
Wafu. Re the wearing of Iron Crosses and Turkish medals and similiar. For many years the bugler at Anzac Day parades at Cooktown in Queensland was a German who served in the Afrika Korps. I understand he fought at the Seige Of Tobruk. He was the only person in the town who could play a bugle.So the Last Post had an even more special meaning.
Cheers John O'C.
Just an update and to thank you all again guys, my aunt the only surviving family member from my grandfather of course it being her father has now received all the documents and information on his medals and service and is over the moon.
She asked me to thank all involved in assisting, my aunt doesn't have a computer as in her words.........."me and machines don't get on well" bless her heart.
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