This book provides indepth detail of each decoration, medal, and device and rankrate insignia of the u. Service histories of 1,000 royal navy warships in world war 2, including class information, by lieutenant commander geoffrey mason, rn rtd note. The first world war saw more vcs awarded than any other conflict. Uk, military campaign medal and award rolls, 17931949.
Royal naval volunteer reserve personnel of world war ii. Royal navy lieutenants passing certificates 16911902. A first war medal group to the royal navy 19141915 star 227883 j. Considering the aerial duds royal navy fighter pilots flew, especially in the early war years, it was an eyeopener to discover that 36 rn pilots made ace in world war ii. Hm king george v, in whose name all honours and gallantry awards were granted click to enlarge return to world war 1, 19141918 1 my thanks to the london gazette for placing all this information in the public domain. Welcome to the royal australian navys history web page. The royal navy expects to deploy just one carrier at a time and keep the second at home. The war medal 19391945 is a campaign medal which was instituted by the united kingdom. Royal navy commandos in world war ii in 1942 a group of commandos gathered for a class in inveraray, a small village in the highlands of scotland. Copies of all these books can be freely consulted from open shelves at the. The ships, men, and organization, 17931815 by brian lavery, the fortune of war by p. Royal navy aces of world war 2 aircraft of the aces.
World war 1 roll of honour of royal navy, royal marines and royal naval division men and women lost, 191418. The decline of the royal navy the maritime executive. The victory medal also called the inter allied victory medal is a bronze medal that was awarded to all who received the 1914 star or 191415 star. British military records genealogy familysearch wiki. Medals have been awarded to commemorate wars and battles throughout history. This is a list of royal navy ships and personnel lost during world war ii, from 3 september 1939. Throughout the war they lost three hundred and fifty major warships and over one thousand smaller ships. Looking at it i think they are just badly written ws. Eight medals were awarded to british merchant seamen who served in world war two and who met the qualifications for each medal.
Foreword by capt christopher page rn rtd, head, naval historical branch of the naval staff. The royal navy in the first world war war and security. The royal navy research archive aims to provide virtual museum, giving access to a range of web materials related to rn ships, establishments, units, and personnel, primarily from the start of world war one through into the 21st century. The result was harveys seminal book monuments to courage. Their instructor was a former assistant commissioner of the shanghai police named william fairbairn, and he surprised the commandos by giving each in turn a loaded revolver.
The war medal was issued to anyone who had 28 days of service in uniform, it was awarded along with any other service medals and to those who served but did not earn a campaign award. Here we have a world war 2 royal navy malta group for sale. A short history of the united states navy in the second world war. Military medal awarded to the allied armies by the british government during. Desert vcs extraordinary valour in the north african campaign in wwii. Jul 20, 2011 british world war two campaign medals 17 stars and service medals. How to identify world war ii ribbons and medals hubpages. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the united states based its rules of engagement at sea on the american understanding of the law of nations.
Here you will find an evergrowing account of the deeds of those who have served in australias multifarious naval forces from the passing of the colonial naval defence act 1865 to present day. The law of nations, or international law, as it relates to the sea had its roots in the writings of several 16th and 17thcentury theorists, beginning with the dutch writer hugo grotius, who rejected the claim of the spanish to dominion over the seas. World war 2, part of the new naval history book series in partnership with ib tauris, will be launched at the national museum of the royal navy, portsmouth on 30th august at 5. Complete guide to united states navy medals, badges and insignia. The last victoria cross of world war two 11 august 2015. Royal navyroyal marinesroyal naval air service medal. W ith britains involvement in ww2, her medalissuing policy reverted to norm, with the issuance of seventeen stars and service medals, including the prized air. British world war two campaign medals ww2 and aviation. World war 2 service histories by name and by type and class right the total of some 1060 ship names includes 22 ran, 41 rcn, 5 rin, 9 rnzn, 3 sanf, 2 dutch, 1 french, 7 greek, 10 norwegian, 6 polish and 14 russian, leaving 940 royal navy. The victoria cross vc is the highest and most prestigious award of the british honours system. England military records genealogy familysearch wiki.
These are the most common modern medals awarded to. Military records are potentially of great genealogical value and may provide. During world war i, foxglove and the other acaciaclass sloops were used almost exclusively for minesweeping duties until 1917, when the royal navy began to use them as convoy escorts, a task to which they were well suited. As some rn ships also served with other dominion and allied navies, the last figure is a minimum. The design is now being released in precious metal. The royal navy in world war ii is a comprehensive annotated bibliography of all monographs describing the role of british, dominion, and minor allied forces in the naval war against the axis.
Service details can also be engraved on the edge of the medal where applicable. The aircraft carrier hms ark royal sinking after being torpedoed by a german submarine in november 1941, the assisting destroyer hms legion was sunk in 1942. When world war ii ended, the royal navy had 16 battleships, 50 carriers, 62 cruisers, nearly 200 destroyers, 1 submarines and also 9,000 other ships. Full royal navy tropical only used once maybe twicefrom smoke free home excellent value at 45. Mar 27, 2011 not that i ever would but found this surf tweb. The 1914 star, also known as the mons star, was a campaign medal of the british empire, for service in world war one. The defence medal, from 3 september 1939 to 8 may 1945 2 september 1945 for. If a rating entered the royal navy after 1928, his record will still be with the ministry of defence. The most important operation conducted predominantly by the royal navy after the second world war was the defeat in 1982 of argentina in the falkland islands war.
The victoria cross was awarded 628 times and to 627 people. Only four days after the invasion on 2 april, a task force sailed for the south atlantic, with other warships and support ships following. Earliest material relates to 1808 1814, latest material relates to the1970s. About 6,000,000 british service personnel served in this war. Compiled from original sources including admiralty death ledgers and admiralty communiques. It projects that its new carriers will deploy between 12 and 24 f35s too few to use the ships to their. Hm king george v, in whose name all honours and gallantry awards were granted click to enlarge return to world war 1, 19141918 1 my thanks to the london. British world war ii merchant navy campaign medals. If you are a passionate collector with an all consuming interest, or just a keen amateur who dabbles, the naval and military press publish the books you need to keep you ahead in your hobby. Deciphering royal navy medal roll ww1 world war one page 1.
The only reason i can think of is if you left your time without a gong and want some bling. Examples include the defence medal, for homeland defence in world war ii, and the atlantic star for world war ii sea service in the atlantic. British world war two campaign medals 17 stars and service medals. If you want to know if your relatives campaign medals have been claimed theres a lot of information to help here and on the online database of bt 395 which lists the medals awarded to merchant seamen for their service in the second world war 19391945. Complete guide to united states navy medals, badges and. Navy ww1 royal naval air service rnas harriers anglesey 1917 rp postcard. W ith britains involvement in ww2, her medalissuing policy reverted to norm, with the issuance of seventeen stars and service medals, including the prized air crew europe star.
A book signing will take place after a free public lecture by the authors. Captain noel chavasse, a doctor serving in the royal army medical corps, was awarded the vc twice. The traditional explanation of the source of the metal from which the medals are. Of those who received the award about one quarter were killed in action. Greenhill books, volumes 1 and 2, revised edition 198789.
The royal australian navy has inherited a tradition handed down from the royal navy, but in recent years has moved to. British campaign medals are awarded to members of the british armed forces, allied forces and civilians participating in specified military campaigns. Janes fighting ships, an illustrated guide to classes of royal navy vessels, annual editions for 19391945. Royal navy roll of honour world war 1, by name by don. The british armed forces recognises service and personal accomplishments of individuals while a member of the royal navy, british army or royal air force with the awarding of various awards and decorations. The naval history of world war two greenhill books, 1992 myron j smith, world war ii at sea. Eleven campaign medals were issued by the british government for participation in ww2, nine campaign stars, the defence medal and the war medal. View details of campaign and gallantry medals british military and uk armed. Getting into ship shape at the national archives, kew.
See war diaries, ship logs and operations record books. The royal mint commemorates the 100th anniversary of the. Medals can have the soldiers number on the rim of the medal itself. Military awards and decorations of the united kingdom. Roll of honour merchant navy world war 2 medals awarded. Full selection of royal navy medals for sale for service in the royal navy. It has been suggested that british campaign medals be merged into this article. Pages in category royal navy personnel of world war ii the following 200 pages are in this category, out of approximately 270 total. A further set of records for seamen who served in the first world war are the campaign medal rolls, found in adm 17194 119, arranged in alphabetical order.
The british honours committee decided that second world war campaign. The mercantile marine office usually issued the ribbons at the port, with the medal normally following on some time later, after it had been produced by the mint. Imperial japanese navy and order of the golden kite a note. On the same day that the world was struck by news of a second atomic bomb, the last victoria cross of world war 2. Royal navy ratings service records 18531928 the national. The collection of military medals, decorations, awards and badges deservedly remains one of the most popular pastimes among military enthusiasts. Uk, wwii medals issued to merchant seamen, 19391945. This is a list of royal navy ships and personnel lost during world war ii, from 3 september 1939 to 1 october 1945. British guiana military band from 29 april 1942 to 8 may 1945.
These are the most common modern medals awarded to those who served in th. They will be published as close to the 100th anniversary of the events being described as my other commitments permit. List of royal navy losses in world war ii wikipedia. The royal navy in the first world war this page will contain a series of posts about the british royal navy during the first world war. The royal navy during world war 2 macmillan, 1993 juurgen rohwer and gerhard hummelchen, chronology of the war at sea 19351945. This assortment also comes with personal effects including ships plaque and photographs. The last victoria cross of world war two royal navy. Ww2 awards badges medals and understanding them navy. British first world war service medals imperial war museums. Uk, naval medal and award rolls, 17931972 ancestry.
This book is a great reference source for anyone who has an interest in the navy and wants to know exactly what all those rankrates and decorations stand for. A specimen example of the 1914 star, first world war campaign medal. About uk, naval medal and award rolls, 17931972 this database contains lists of more than 1. The blue, red and white stripes on the ribbon represent the colors of great britain. Royal navy medal british service medal with navy emblem what does the masses of rr. A bibliography of sources in english scarecrow press, 1976. This list may not reflect recent changes learn more. Hms foxglove was one of only two acaciaclass sloops to survive long enough to see service in world war ii.
Uk, wwii medals issued to merchant seamen, 19391945, index. The royal navy in world war ii an annotated bibliography. Available here are over 700000 royal navy service records for ratings who entered. The second world war was the third major conflict canada participated.