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• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by delrick53 (U13797078) on Sunday, 9th August 2009

  While looking through a box of my late paternal Grandfather's possessions I found a small, silver medal/medallion.
  It's meant to be worn around the neck and is held on a 16" black ribbon.
  The inscription says 'Ashington Sailors & Soldiers - Great War 1914-1919', and 'Welcome Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ'.
  Two kneeling figures, a soldier firing a rifle, and a sailor using a telescope, are in the centre of the 1" medal.
  I have no idea what it is.
  Any ideas ?
  
  I also found a series of 14 postcards with photographs of military nurses on the front, and another two with what looks like a small hospital.
  All carry 'get well soon' and 'good luck' hand written messages from various nurses. They aren't generic, as they are all addressed personally to my Grandfather, and some even use his nickname.
  
  Was this kind of thing common ?
  Is there any way I can trace the hospital (it's a country house of some kind, but the only word I can make out on the sign is 'Hospital').
  
  It's only in the last few years that I discovered he'd fought and been wounded during WW1, and I don't even know his regiment/unit (yet!).
  
  Thanks in anticipation.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by LairigGhru (U5452625) on Monday, 10th August 2009

  There are places called Ashington in Northumberland, Somerset and West Sussex. I wonder which one this relates to?

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Backtothedarkplace (U2955180) on Monday, 10th August 2009

  Hi Del,
  
  if its what i think it is then its a medalion /medal commemerating war service issued by Ashington. Presumably given to, or flogged to, any person in the town that served in the war. I have seen similar things from other towns in the UK. Some are medalions like you have some are like a lapel badge. Britain in the 1900's seems to have been fixed on badges club badges job badges its a fashion that dosnt seem to have carried on to the present unless you count the walking stick badges you can some times buy.
  
  post cards.
  
  Again a early 1900's thing people used to collect them like stamps and as well as the traditional view from the bridge sort of thing they used to run them out for major local events including things like tram crashes and royal visits.
  
  It seems to be a sort of sideline for professional photographers, and in the days when folk didnt have cameras probably provided the only real way people could have a permenant record of an event
  
  There used to be a bloke in Plymouth who would photography new warships on arriving and have post cards printed and ready for sale by the time the ship docked. It was a family company and was still going well into the 1960's.
  
  I know there were photographers in France doing the same thing during the first world war and am going to assume that there was a french photographer doing the same thing. if the hospital is in the UK then I am almost a hundred percent sure of it.
  
  
  
  
  

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• Message 4

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  Posted by delrick53 (U13797078) on Monday, 10th August 2009

  LairigGhru/dan,
  
  
  I know it was the Northumberland Ashington. I was born there.
  The medallion (his name's on the reverse) and post cards are post WW1, and my Grandfather was a Northumberland Fusilier (found out this morning !) and was wounded (don't have any more details as yet), so I think all the items are genuine.
  
  I know that some counties have lists of the WW1 dead, wounded, and missing on-line (Northampton for example, but I can't find anything for Northumberland.
  
  I had thought that the medallion may have come from the mining community (he was a miner, like most men in Ashington).
  
  I'll keep looking, but thanks to you both.
  
  I think your Guzz photographer was still going strong in the 70's ! I've still got a few of the Commando Carriers.
  It was quite lucrative, with all of us young Booties wanting to show our Mums the Big Ship !

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• Message 5

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  Posted by LairigGhru (U5452625) on Monday, 10th August 2009

  delrick53,
  
  This may help:
  
  

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by Stepney Boy (U1760040) on Monday, 10th August 2009

  Hi,
  
  This may also help.
  
  British local tribute medals fall into two categories: (1) Commercially-produced types, usually from larger towns; (2) Locally-made pieces, usually made from a coin or token, and engraved with the appropriate information.
  
  
  Regards
  Spike

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by delrick53 (U13797078) on Monday, 10th August 2009

  Thanks again,
  
  I'll let you know hoe I get on.

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