That's more ...

... like it - LOL! Caught an episode of Cash in the Attic on the TV today. Rarely watch daytime TV but hubby turned TV on and it was part way through the programme. It caught my attention straight away 'cos the 'expert' was talking about a set of WWI medals and yep, they were Pip, Squeak and Wilfred! Seems there's a few of these sets finding their way onto these antique programmes just lately and, having been disappointed with what I saw the last ones fetch, I decided to watch this programme to see what price these ones made at auction. What I didn't realise, until the actual auction was shown, was that there were 2 other medals with them - the ones my Dad has from WWII! There were differences between those on the TV and what we have with Grandad's and Dad's medals though. One of Grandad's medals has a ribbon missing and they're not mounted and Dad's are brand, spanking new as they were only claimed last year and not at the end of the war as they should have been. Anyway, the medals were put together as one lot for the auction and they raised ................. £300! Much better than the £40 I saw the last set of Pip, Squeak and Wilfred go for. Just goes to show you need to have them in the right place with the right bidders after them ..........

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What a ...

... disappointment! This morning I caught a glimpse of Bargain Hunt on the TV and one of the teams bought a set of WWI medals - the ones known as Pip, Squeak & Wilfred as earned by my paternal Grandad and mentioned in my blog last year. The team bought them from the dealer for £75 but when it came to auction they only fetched £40. OK, they'd obviously been cleaned and had new ribbons (no sign of the original ribbons) but surely they were worth more than that? The auctioneer said that the soldier's story was also important and in this particular case the soldier had started out as a Lance Corporal and ended up a Private - lol!! Perhaps it was that they didn't look 'right' but I've since found a set being sold on eBay for £52.50 and they're definitely not original as they're listed as 'accurate full size replicas'. I didn't expect Grandad's to be worth a lot in monetry value but thought they'd be worth more than £40! Perhaps they just weren't at the right auction. Anyway, it's made my mind up about whether to have his cleaned and ribbons replaced. Not going to as I like them the way they are. If I buy a 'replica' of the TFE medal to give his full complement then I may get new ribbons just to keep with them but not for any other reason. I've now found out which is which of the medals and Pip is the 1914-15 Star, Squeak is the British War Medal and Wilfred is the Victory Medal.

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The things you ...

... learn!!

Before Mum died I had started tracing my family tree (getting side-tracked along the way - lol!!) and had been progressing quite well - really well actually - and had invested in paid memberships to Ancestry and Genes Reunited. Then she died and I lost interest in continuing so, since April, I haven't done any more and effectively I've wasted 9 months of an annual membership (it runs out next week) and a good half of another. Anyway, I've recently had contact from somebody in the US, via Genes Reunited, who turns out to be a distant relative on Mum's side. Have to say it's jolted me into action again - well, a little bit at least and, while not feeling well, it's given me something to concentrate on and something to do when I've felt like it.

Way back in the blog are photo's of Pip, Squeak and Wilfred which were earnt by my paternal Grandad and I can now add a little more to his story 'cos I've found his WWI records! I knew he'd been a member of the Territorial Force (TA as it is nowadays) and had served his war years with them both in France and in Egypt but I've now found out that he enlisted in the TF some years before WWI. In fact, he was amongst the first to join the TF. The Territorial Force was formed on 1st April 1908 (it celebrated it's centenary last year - 2008) and he signed up on 15th June 1908 aged 17 years and 9months ................... except he wasn't! I know lads lied about their age to join up when they wanted to go away to war but I didn't realise that they lied to sign up anyway - doh!! Grandad was born 24th September 1892 which made him 15 years and 9 months old when he enlisted! They obviously, in those days, didn't need to supply proof of age by way of a birth certificate and their word was good enough. What sort of proof do they have to supply today I wonder. Can't see today's Army just taking your word for it....

Amongst his service records (all 40 odd pages of them) are the receipts he signed for all his medals, including the TFE (Territorial Force Efficiency medal) which I've not found. Seems odd that the other 3 have been found but not that one. I know I can get a copy but it won't have the pattina of the others so not sure whether to replace it or not. Will have to think on that one.

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2082*9 Pte Jupp RE

Well, here they are - all bright, shiny and new and not looking at all like they should do after 63 years but ........... he's thrilled!! They're now on show in his display cabinet, along with his Veteran's Badge.

Having seen these in their nice, new, shiny state and sparkling clean ribbons, I have decided to leave my Grandad's WWI medals exactly as they are - with the patina acquired by their 90 years of age. I may buy new ribbons and purchase the one medal I didn't find but only to complete the collection and so that the ribbons are there, if ever needed, in years to come. Oh yes, the crest on the boxes was the Royal Crest - lol!

I wish ...

... I'd taken my camera with me on my afternoon visit to Dad. In fact, I think I need to start taking it as matter of course. Postie had called since my morning visit and ................ he'd bought another packet! It was from the MOD (Ministry of Defence for non-UKers!) and it was .......... the medals I'd applied for on his behalf. The medals he should have had way back when but didn't think he was entitled to. It was the medals for his service through WWII - yessssssssssssss!! They are beautifully presented in boxes which have a crest on the top. Can't recall which crest but I'll check tomorrow when I do take my camera!! Once again Dad's face was a treat and I could have cried he looked so proud (OK, I admit it - I did, in the car on my way home - lol).

Here are the ones he's received - a photo of the 'real' ones will be posted as soon as I have them.
OK, so they're not campaign medals as he was never in battle but, he served from before the start of the war to past it's end so has every right to have them, wear them and display them.

Pip, Squeak & Wilfred

Well, that was what they were nicknamed but what, or who, on earth are they?

'They' are the medals I found amongst Mum's belongings and they've taken me and Dad on a bit of a journey over the past few days. They are the medals that my paternal Grandad earned from WWI - the 1914-18 Great War! Pip, Squeak & Wilfred are (and I can't say which was named which) the 1914-15 Star, The British War Medal 1914-19 and the Victory Medal. The last 2 were awarded to all those that served during that War and the first was awarded to those that saw action overseas between 1914 and the end of 1915. Although not particularly rare to hold all 3 it is rarer than holding the last 2, known as Mut & Jeff when held on their own - lol!!

Through a bit of research I've discovered that my Grandad's first theatre of war was in Egypt and then, talking to Dad, I found out that he went on to serve in Gallipoli, where he was injured. He wasn't seriously injured, however, and he went on to serve out the whole war, being disembodied* in August 1919. In 1920 he was awarded the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal which was, basically, a long service award. He was a member of the Territorial Force, Royal Engineers, Corporal (Acting Sergeant). Had to laugh when I found out what that meant - some things never change! It meant that he had all the authority of a Sergeant and was effectively, completely a Sergeant but .................... he got paid a Corporal's wage - lol!! As I said, some things never change.

L-R: Victory Medal, British War Medal 1914-1919, 1914-15 Star

The British War Medal is actually silver but this one has blackened with age and lost it's ribbon. I've found somewhere that will clean, re-ribbon and mount them, as well as supply a TFE medal, which I haven't found, although I've found the proof it was awarded. I don't know whether to keep them as is or to have them cleaned etc for future generations.

Grandad's Medal Index Cards

The one thing that has come out of this, because I asked Dad about his medals - which he hasn't got and doesn't think he was ever awarded any - is that he is talking about his war years (WWII). I always thought he didn't want to talk about them. Seems that's not the case and he's now told me several little anecdotes which he says he's never told anyone before - not even Mum. She never asked him about those years and he's never told ....... anyone ......... until now! How sad is that?

* Territorial Force members were the equivilant of the Territorial Army today and, as such, were part-time soldiers. They were called into full-time service (embodied) at the start of the war and on the date they were 'disembodied' they went back to part-time service.