Speckled Jim Posted 13 June Share Posted 13 June Hello, I’d be grateful please for the latest/current view on the best publications to use when researching awards of the Military Medal. My particular interest is in tying back where possible the award to the actions in the relevant war diaries. Eg: Is there a reference work which ties back the London Gazette publication date or the MM schedule number back to particular battles or actions? Thanks very much for any guidance that can be given. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mancpal Posted 13 June Share Posted 13 June Forum member Ivor Anderson appears to be the MM specialist though I’m not sure how to alert him to your questions. Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRC Posted 13 June Share Posted 13 June @Ivor Anderson MM Cards can often be found using the MiC search facility in the National Archive online catalogue if you don't have access to Ancestry, (images) or FindMyPast (transcriptions). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/british-army-medal-index-cards-1914-1920/ Some have schedule details, others have London Gazette page and date and many have both (in my very limited experience!) May also be worthwhile using the search facility for the whole forum - a lot about individual MM awards has been posted over the years. Cheers, Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Anderson Posted 14 June Share Posted 14 June (edited) 13 hours ago, Speckled Jim said: My particular interest is in tying back where possible the award to the actions in the relevant war diaries. Eg: Is there a reference work which ties back the London Gazette publication date or the MM schedule number back to particular battles or actions? My initial research of a MM relies on the 'MM Project' books produced by Chris Bate & Howard Williamson. They saved the original MM index cards from being destroyed. They list each WW1 MM Gazette and along with the schedule number range and specific action/time period that it was awarded for. E.g. Searching the national archives website using just the MM recipient's surname and service number usually brings up the soldier's MM index card image link. Once you know when to look you can then begin searching in the relevant war diaries. Edited 14 June by Ivor Anderson Additional Info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speckled Jim Posted 14 June Author Share Posted 14 June Thanks everyone for their help ~ massively appreciated indeed. I must now go get copies of the ‘MM Project’ books. Looks like a ‘must have’ tool for MM research. Thanks and regards, Nick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlersChampagne Posted 16 June Share Posted 16 June Hi Nick, saw your post. Ivor is very kind. Howard and I have been working on this for a long time. If the MM isn't in a Gazette that contains retrospective awards, the schedule number is a very good indicator to when it might have been awarded. Howard put quite a lot about this in his Great War Collectors Companion and an article in the Orders and Medals Research Society journal. It is possible to tie down schedule numbers to quite tight date ranges and then its a question of looking in War Diaries and Newspapers for confirmation. We are going to produce and publish an updated and revised version of this in our next book. Kind regards Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speckled Jim Posted 16 June Author Share Posted 16 June Hi Chris, thanks very much for the additional information; that’s so much appreciated. If you have a ‘pre-orders’ reservation list going for your next book, please can you put me on it? So far my web searching for a copy of your excellent ‘Annotations Found On The Reverses Of MM Index Cards’ has not found an available copy. The great reviews and ‘empty shelves’ must mean it’s a very popular book indeed. I look forwards to being able to get a copy of the new publication. Regards, Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 16 June Share Posted 16 June On 14/06/2024 at 07:16, Ivor Anderson said: Searching the national archives website using just the MM recipient's surname and service number usually brings up the soldier's MM index card image link. Once you know when to look you can then begin searching in the relevant war diaries. Thanks Ivor, Is there an index anywhere of the schedule numbers, linked to the possible dates of action? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Anderson Posted 16 June Share Posted 16 June 1 minute ago, Dai Bach y Sowldiwr said: Is there an index anywhere of the schedule numbers, linked to the possible dates of action? There is a 5-6 page list near the start of the MM project books. It would be a breech of copyright for me to reproduce it here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 16 June Share Posted 16 June 21 minutes ago, Ivor Anderson said: There is a 5-6 page list near the start of the MM project books. It would be a breech of copyright for me to reproduce it here. Thanks Ivor. Totally understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John(txic) Posted 16 June Share Posted 16 June You may find this thread on the BMF to be of interest: only 921 pages (so far)... MILITARY MEDAL ROLL 1914-1919 - British Medal Forum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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