Researching british medals?

[medals73]

. . . that to save on "administration costs" none of them were named. Named WW2 "British" medals were given named to the Empire troops but not the British Forces. . . .

As you note, some weren't named, many were (for example, around 85% of the medals to Indian -- but not Pakistani -- forces). The idea that they were issued unnamed for reasons of expense is wrong, though many who have never looked at the records say this, over and over; it was done in a desire to issue the medals quickly. And I can dig out and cite the file references on that if you wish.

In many cases, you'll find that if anyone is drawing a pension on behalf of a deceased serviceman, there will be legal issues. Different laws, different places. It also depends on who keeps the records and what their history of preservation has been.

But this is way off-topic . . . .

[CtahhR]

By Administrative costs I was implying more time and labour rather than LSD but I wasn't overly clear on that one. No matter what medals you are researching from any nation from any time period it is infinitely easier to research when the award has a good solid means of identification on it, be it a name or number. Whoever's idea it was to serial number all the Soviet awards, we salute you! (Just a shame they gave up on some of them)

[medals73]

Whoever's idea it was to serial number all the Soviet awards, we salute you!

So true so true. Shows a level of courtesy and respect that some (such as France, Germany, and the US) never displayed (the US did early on but lost it by the Great War).

[CtahhR]

I've seen lots of dealers out there state that whatever set of unnamed/unnumbered awards they have from whatever nation(s) for sale is so unique etc. that it would be easy to research and find a recipient and all the rest from there. Has anyone here every had ANY sort of luck ever researching an anonymous group? (as if it's not hard enough getting information sometimes when you hold all the aces in your hand) or are these tales told to inflate prices?

[CtahhR]

Seems the answer is negative. Anyway here are a random trio of scans from this set of research I got. The scans aren't top quality as I scanned them in greyscale but you can see from them what you could expect, rather tired and fire damaged pieces offering some very telling gems of information.