Efficiency Medal

[John F.]

Hello,

I picked up this Efficiency Medal belonging to a Gunner in the Royal Artillery and was hoping to find out more information on this person. Can someone please point me in the right direction to learn more about this individual? The medal is named to: 891088, GNR, H A H Campbell, RA.

Thanks,
John

[Adam H]

John,

You'll find that there usually isn't very much information to be gleaned on WWII era British Medals, due to the service files generally being inaccessible.

However, you might get lucky by searching on the London Gazette (gallantry/meritorious service is generally gazetted), the Commonwealth War Graves website (if he was a casualty). I don't have copies but other members might also have access to the rolls for POWs, which are also worth consulting.

Aside from that, and perhaps some other online digging, I'm afraid there's usually very little to be found at this time. Your cause is not helped by the fact that this man has a common surname, and is RA...making him more difficult to research.

These common medals abound on dealers' lists, and online sales/auctions and almost never have any research, unless one is lucky enough to obtain original documents, etc. that give some details of the man's service.

Cheers,

Adam

[yellow]

Prisoner of War:

POW No. 96190, held in Hohenstien camp.

[John F.]

...You'll find that there usually isn't very much information to be gleaned on WWII era British Medals, due to the service files generally being inaccessible.

Adam,

Sorry for the delay in my reply, I was dealing with a sick child all day yesterday. Thanks for the disheartening news. I did not know that about WWII British Medals? I'm guessing they are inaccessible for privacy issues since many WWII vets are still living. Do you know if this medal was awarded to Canadian Soldiers as well?

John

[John F.]

Prisoner of War: POW No. 96190, held in Hohenstien camp.

Hi Yellow,

Thanks for the reply! May I ask where you found that information for future reference?

Best,
John

[Adam H]

John,

Lucky score with the POW connection.

There are books, I think in 3 volumes, that have nominal rolls of the British (and Commonwealth too, I think) service memebers that were taken POW. This excludes Far East POWs of the Japanese. Yellow obviously has these books, lucky guy.

A version of this medal was indeed issued to Canadians 1930-1950ish (some later issues, but this was replaced by the Canadian Forces Decoration). However, the suspension for these reads "Canada" vs. "Territorial". There are also numerous other Commonwealth issues with distinctive suspensions.

Cheers

Adam

[yellow]

Adam is correct. That medal is a lucky first strike. There were thousands upon thousands of British captured in Europe, but you could buy hundreds of like medals to the Royal Artillery and never find another POW.

Value is about 75 - 85 pounds now I have researched the medal for you. A dealer would buy it for that and add the other medals, then charge over 100.

[Old Smelly]

Hi all
A friend of mone has some of the rolls for this medal and he's going to look through, probably won't get much info though except date of award and possibly branch (HAA, Field etc)
Lee

[John F.]

Hi Gents,

Thanks for all the replys and help. Hadn't had much luck in finding any addtional info on this chap.

Lee,

Looking forward to seeing if your mate can dig up any addtional data.

Best,
John

[Marc Sherriff]

Christian names are;

Hugh Alexander Henry.

[John F.]

Lucky score with the POW connection.

There are books, I think in 3 volumes, that have nominal rolls of the British (and Commonwealth too, I think) service memebers that were taken POW. This excludes Far East POWs of the Japanese.

Does anyone have the name of these book(s)?

I'm assuming that it is out of print and difficult at best to find.

John

[yellow]

These books give an alphabetical list of all 169,000 men and camp locations of in German occupied territories:

Prisoners of War British Army 1939-1945, By J.B.Hayward and son. ISBN No 0-903754-61-4

Prisoners of War Armies and other land forces of the British Empire 1939-1945, By J.B.Hayward and son. ISBN No 0-903754-63-0

Prisoners of War Naval and Airforces of Great Britain and the Empire 1939-1945, By J.B.Hayward and son. ISBN No 0-903754-62-2

There is currently the first book in the USA for sale on ABE for $125.

[John F.]

There is currently the first book in the USA for sale on ABE for $125.

Why did I have the feeling that it wasn't going to be cheap .

Thanks Yellow!

Best,
John

[yellow]

I think its pretty reasonable. You could easy spend on that on some WW2 cloth. If however your buying these books because you think no one has them and your going to be able to make money, think again. All the medal dealers have copies so its pointless running checks on their stock.

In the five years Ive owned these books Ive only ever found one example but that was to the Norfolks for Dunkirk, under the noses of the Spinks experts which made me chuckle. For a little numpty like me to beat the collective knowledge of Spinks, then again a TEM is chicken feed to them probably why they neglected it.

[John F.]

...For a little numpty like me to beat the collective knowledge of Spinks, then again a TEM is chicken feed to them probably why they neglected it.

That's great! Thanks for the reply!

Best,
John