Missing Medals

Missing WW2 Medals NX27147 J.C PARSONS I am searching for my great uncle’s lost WW2 medals. James Charles Parsons was born on the 26 September 1916 in Picton NSW and grew up in Bankstown NSW. James enlisted into the Australian army on the 24th June 1940 and completed his training with the 20th Infantry training battalion in Wallgrove NSW and was then posted to the 2/30th Infantry battalion AIF. The battalion was raised & trained in Tamworth NSW before leaving on the ship Johan Van Oldenbarnevelt for Singapore to fight the advancing Japanese. During the war James was promoted to the rank for Corporal and worked in the regimental aid post as a medic. James tended to the sick and wounded of the 2/30th battalion during intense fighting against the Japanese including major battles the 2/30th BN fought at Gemencheh, Gemas and Ayer Hitam, and on Singapore Island. Then on the 15th February 1942 (the fall of Singapore), all Commonwealth forces were either killed or captured as Lieutenant General Arthur Percival, the British commander in Singapore, called for a ceasefire and made the difficult decision to surrender. My great uncle James spent the rest of the war as a POW as did the whole 8th division in such camps as Changi Gaol, Thomson Road, Mount Pleasant, Caldecott Hill, Bukit Timah & River Valley Road until his release on the 13/9/1945 when he started his long trip home. During this time, his wife Jean Agnes Parsons was left to fight her own battles not knowing his fate. They only had less then two years of married life together before he left for war. Also on the home front left not knowing his fate was my grandmother Eileen and his brothers Reggie and Charlie. Charlie also served at the 101st Australian general hospital in Katherine during the war and his other sister Annie and parents Catherine & Reginald (my great grandparents). After the war ended and James returned to his Blue Mountains home in Katoomba NSW with wife Jean, life wasn’t the same. After over 3 yrs as a POW he suffered poor heath from the conditions of the POW camps. Sadly, on the 16th November 1966 my great uncle James (Jimmy) died leaving behind his loving wife and family. Jean never remarried as her love for James was still as strong as when they married. Then 31 yrs later in 1997, Jean & James were finally together again. Their final resting place is at the Katoomba Cemetery with a stunning view of the mountains. If any one knows the location of these medals could you please either contact me or the website as our family would like to have them back. We enjoy a proud military background in our family and take great pride in our family members who have served this great country. I don’t have an exact date the medals were lost but think it was some time after Jean past away in 1997. Ray Grima 0402126580

I am searching for the full entitlement of honours and awards of Sydney Allan MATCHETT which were awarded in accordance with his service during the Great War. This includes his Cross of Sacrific, British War Medal, Victory Medal and Memorial Plaque (also colloquially known as a Dead Man's Penny) Sydney Allan MATCHETT served with the 26th (New Brunswick) Battalaion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. I am sorry to say that he was killed in action on the 21st of April, 1918. Son of Allan and Martha Matchett, of New Brunswick. According to the CWGC records (Commonwealth War Graves Commission) Sydney Allan MATCHETT lies buried at the BELLACOURT MILITARY CEMETERY, RIVIERE. I have information which indicates that the plaque was sold by a Montreal dealer (Mont Royal Medals) in the early 2000's.

I am searching for the Military Medal of Private H. FITZPATRICK. He was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory medal (as well as the Military Medal) however my family is in possession of this trio and it is only the M.M. which is missing. Any assistance in helping us to reunite his full medal entitlement would be very much appreciated.

I am searching for my grandfather's First World War medals (1914-1915 Star, British War Medal & Victory Medal). His name was Cecil McDonald MANN and the First World War Embarkation Roll indicates that he boarded HMAT Rangatira (A22) on the 25th of September, 1914 at Port Brisbane. At this time, he was allocated to the 3 FAB (Field Artillery Brigade). Cecil McDonald MANN served on Gallipoli and was wounded in action with a gun shot wound(GSW - arm) on the 21st of August, 1915. He transferred to the 1st Divisional Signal Company on the 7th of September, 1916 in France. He was wounded again whilst in France and Belgium but survived the war. He embarked for return to Australia on the 24th of September, 1918. Apparently his medals were sent on to Murwillumbah, his home town, while he was in Sydney after the war. Any assistance in helping my family to recover these missing war medals would be greatly appreciated.

I am searching for the First World War medals of my great grandfather, Alfred George Harry REED who served during the Great War. He was the son of George Reed born 1840 in Cheriton Fitzpaine, Devon. The missing medals are the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and the Territorial Force War Medal. He originally enlisted in 1908 in the Devon (Fortress) Royal Engineers Territorial Force as a volunteer sapper and served until the outbreak of war in 1914. His original service number was 28. Territorial Force volunteers signed up to serve only in the UK and after the outbreak of war many resigned to serve overseas for the duration of war only. His new attestation in 1920 shows that he served in France from 26 June 1915 until 8 May 1919 and held the rank of Acting 2nd Corporal (Lance Corporal). He was transferred to Z force reserve 24 Feb 1919 whilst still in France. No information is available about his return to the UK. His army number for the war period was 514008. On 12 July 1920 AGH enlisted in the 43rd (The Wessex) Division of Signals, Royal Corps of Signals Territorial Force. His number was 2554166 and he held the rank of Corporal when he left before departure to Australia. Any assistance in helping me to find these medals would be greatly appreciated.

I am searching for the missing war medals of my relative, A.E. REED who was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star, 1939-1945 War Medal and the 1939-1945 Australia Service Medal for service during the Second World War. I have not seen these medals for some time and any assistance given to my family to recover these medals would be greatly appreciated.

I am searching for the missing war medals of my father-in-law and grandfather to my children, Private Cecil John GATES who served with the 1st Light Horse Regiment, AIF during the Great War. The medals consist of the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Gallipoli Star and Efficiency Medal. I have not seen them since I was a young boy, however I believe that they were stored in a blue, cloth covered box. Apart from the missing war medals, there were a number of photographs of my grandfather and these are the only photos which we had of him. My family believes that the box may have been accidentilly sold during an estate sale, many years ago. In particular, my grandmother is desperate to get these medals back and is upset that they have left our family. Whilst I understand that these type of things are now very collectable and sought after, we would very much appreciate the oppertunity to purchase them back and can assure you that we are genuine. Any assistance in helping us to recover these missing war medals is greatly appreciated.

I am searching for the Boer War medal and First World War medals of my grandfather, Thomas James BYRNE. The have gone missing from the family & would dearly love to be reunited with my grandfathers medals. The medal set consists of the QSA (Queen's South Africa Medal) and the World War One trio (1914-1915 Star, British War Medal + Victory Medal). My grandfather served with the 3rd West Australian Bushmen Contingent during the Boer war and his service number was 109. The QSA should have the 5 bars:- Rhodesia,Orange Free state, Transvaal, Cape Colony and South Africa 1901. Thomas James BYRNE later served with the 10th Australian Light Horse Regiment with the very low service number of 27. He was in action at Gallipoli and was WIA (wounded in action) at The Nek on the 7th August 1915, and returned to Australia. Any assistance to help me find these missing war medals would be greatly appreciated. I have listed the medals under both his Boer War service number and his First World War service number.

I am searching for the Boer War medal and First World War medals of my grandfather, Thomas James BYRNE. The have gone missing from the family & would dearly love to be reunited with my grandfathers medals. The medal set consists of the QSA (Queen's South Africa Medal) and the World War One trio (1914-1915 Star, British War Medal + Victory Medal). My grandfather served with the 3rd West Australian Bushmen Contingent during the Boer war and his service number was 109. His QSA should have the 5 bars:- Rhodesia,Orange Free state, Transvaal, Cape Colony and South Africa 1901. Thomas James BYRNE later served with the 10th Australian Light Horse Regiment with the very low service number of 27. He was in action at Gallipoli and was WIA (wounded in action) at The Nek on the 7th August 1915, and returned to Australia. Any assistance to help me find these missing war medals would be greatly appreciated. I have listed the medals under both his Boer War service number and his First World War service number.

I am searching for my missing General Service Medal which was inscribed 24017685 Pte. R.H. HENDERSON. A & SH. Included on the medal ribbon were two bars (MALAY PENINSULA & BORNEO). I lost the medal some time between 1966 and 1968 whilst serving in the British Army and would be very appreciative if anybody has any knowledge of the whereabouts of my missing medal. I last saw the medal in the Plymouth area, however it could be anywhere now. Beind an ex-serviceman, it would mean alot to me to have my medal returned.