British World War One Medals

[David Dunlop]

Thanks, Gentlemen. Information much appreciated.

I will toss the information out here and check in on the Medal Forum Site as well. My Great Uncle was:

Edward Ryan
Sapper
Reg # 104379

He was wounded in November 1917, where ever in Italy the 228th Fld Co. of the RE in the 41st Div was located, suffering a GSW (shrapnel) to the inside right leg, just below the knee cap. Operated on in a hospital in Genoa he was returned to the Edinburgh War Hospital in Scotland for rehab and was discharged from there 2 November 1918 and pensioned out of the Army in Halifax a short time later with a "lame" right leg, returning home to Wigan, Lancashire.

Interestingly, upon completion of training at Aldershot, he was promoted to Corporal, becoming entitled to " 2 blue chevrons and a gold braid ". Not sure what the gold braid was all about, but it didn't seem to matter. Within a month, he was demoted "severely disiplined" back to Sapper with all sorts of pay loss, because men under his charge were observed detraining in a public rail station "in an unruly manner" by some officer. Gotta love the British Army in World War One!

Best regards to all in 2011!

[servicepub (RIP)]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

becoming entitled to " 2 blue chevrons and a gold braid ".

Each blue chevron indicated a year's service and the gold braid is also known as a wound stripe, awarded for having been wounded.

[David Dunlop]

Were these worn on the forearm of the tunic by any chance, below any Rank Identification?

[servicepub (RIP)]

The service chevrons were worn, point upwards, on the right sleeve and the wound strip was worn, vertically, on the left sleeve. Both insignia were worn approx 4 1/2 inches from the cuff (refernces not at hand but I am sure that somebody will correct me).
If you have a copy of "Khaki - Uniforms of the CEF" see Figures 16 and 17.
Clive