South African Medal Group for WW2

[sabertasche]

Hi all, I just picked up this medal group to a South African soldier. As you all know these are named. I was wondering is anyone can help me out re basic military service? The medals are all named: 213870 A.E. LEWIS.

Thanks in advance,

Greg

[sabertasche]

NO ONE OUT THERE?????

[Para82nd]

If your curious what the medals are, L to R 1939-1945 Star, Africa Star, Defense Medal, War Medal, South African Service Medal.

He definatly served in Africa, during WWII as a South African.

Oh, and pleas be patient my freind, there are plenty of talented and insightful people here, you don't have to rush them!

[LuftMike]

I'm no medals expert, I'm an RAF guy, but That's a nice bar! I've never seen the South African service medal before, very interesting!

[Adam H]

There seem to be rather a lot of South African groups on offer these days.

A bit out of my area, but as I understand the South African archives recently made it more difficult to get copies of service records. That said, I believe there are some competent researchers there, that are able to get some information copied and sent to you.

An interesting bit of anecdotal info. During WWII the South Africans had an institutionalized racist numbering system for their soldiers. Prefixes denoted the ethnic extraction of the soldier. For example "C" was for coloured soldiers (usually mixed blood), "M" for Malay/South Asians, "N" (if memory serves me) for "Native" ie. Black South Africans. The lack of a prefix, as in this example, denotes the soldier was of caucasian ethnicity.

Cheers,

Adam

[Para82nd]

There seem to be rather a lot of South African groups on offer these days.

A bit out of my area, but as I understand the South African archives recently made it more difficult to get copies of service records. That said, I believe there are some competent researchers there, that are able to get some information copied and sent to you.

An interesting bit of anecdotal info. During WWII the South Africans had an institutionalized racist numbering system for their soldiers. Prefixes denoted the ethnic extraction of the soldier. For example "C" was for coloured soldiers (usually mixed blood), "M" for Malay/South Asians, "N" (if memory serves me) for "Native" ie. Black South Africans. The lack of a prefix, as in this example, denotes the soldier was of caucasian ethnicity.

Cheers,

Adam

Thats really intresting! Made me take adouble take on my group, mine must have been a Caucasian fella.