Military Medal (MM)

6 March 2003, 09:14 AM

I'm trying to find out the reason my great uncle was awarded the Military Medal and would be grateful for any assistance. He served with 55 Squadron and earned the medal sometime during the period 22-28 April 1918. His name was A S Allan and held the rank of Sergeant (Observer).

I've tried the PRO, RAF museum at Hendon and the London Gazette.

Many thanks.

Graeme · 10 March 2003, 11:32 AM

Derek

The closest I've got so far is the award of the French Medaille Militaire to "406711 Sergeant Alexander Stewart Allan, MM (Perth)" as per the London Gazette of 15 July 1919. Unfortunately, it doesn't mention the date of the award of the Military Medal.

However, during a raid on Mannheim on 24 March 1918, Sgt Allan and his pilot, 2nd Lt W Legge, were credited with an Albatros scout Out of Control, as reported in RFC Communique No 132. The MM might well have been awarded for this.

Graeme

12 March 2003, 08:36 AM

Graeme,

Many thanks for that. *After trawling through the London Gazette web pages again, I too found the MM(France) entry. *I have also found the entry for the Military Medal. *This was gazetted on 16th July 1918, but as with the 1919 entry, there was no reason given.

I did wonder if they had been awarded as a result of the Mannheim raid in March '18, but was put off by the fact that mention of the award was not
made until late April (according to the RFC communiques as compiled by Chaz Bowyer).

Do you know if this would be normal practice - i.e. for an earned award not to be mentioned until almost one month later.

Whilst I was searching the RAF archives at Hendon, I came across an event in April 1918 when 3 RFC Captains (I think) were awarded the Croix de Guerre and wondered if there may be some connection.

Derek

12 March 2003, 11:25 AM

Derek, did you get my message of 7 March suggesting Air 1/1650 as a source ?

13 March 2003, 07:21 AM

Hugh,

Apologies, I did get your message. Thanks very much. Frustratingly, I was only at the PRO at the end of February!! I shall certainly look up the file when I am down in London next time.

Regards,

Derek

Graeme · 13 March 2003, 10:03 AM

Derek

Few awards to "Other Ranks" merited a citation so it is frequently a question of whether the award was an "immediate award" or a "periodic award".

Non-Immediate (Periodic) Awards rewarded devotion to duty sustained over a period of time. This category of award could be made at any time during an operational "tour" but, in a large number of instances, the award was given to recognise the successful completion of a full tour of operational flying.

The length of time between the action on 24 March 1918 and promulgation of the award only a month later seems too short for an immediate award; since I haven't been able to find a mention of Sgt allen after RAF Communique number 4, I suspect the MM was for a period of service with the squadron. If you know when he returned to HE it might help determine which type of award he received.

It mght also be worth checking whether Sgt Allen was mentioned in a despatch at any time since this was often the precursor of a "real" medal and was a pre-requisite for award of the DSO. At the moment I'm only up to mid-1917 - a bit too early to come across Sgt Allen.

Happy hunting

Graeme