Sometimes we get objects handed in that are of more recent historical importance. Last week I was handed a coin of Naopleon III which has been filed down and stamped with a British soldiers details as follows:
GA FIRTH
37078
WES
2 LANC FUS
This is from private George Firth of the Lancashire Fusiliers, soldier number 37078. I’m not sure what WES stands for ~ perhaps WES as in religion WESLEYN?
The National Archives have some interesting documents online, including war medals, from which I downloaded his record. Anyone know how to read it?
OpenCalais helped to tag this with: George Firth
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The top half of a Medal Index Card (MIC) always contains the personal data of an individual; usually name, rank(s), number(s) and unit(s). It is this information that gives each person an unique identity.
In the top left hand corner should be the surname and below this the forename(s) and/or initial(s).
The lower half of the card provides the medal entitlement and in many cases remarks concerning the career or fate of the individual.
The left hand side of the card contains a list of the campaign medals an individual was entitled to. To the right of these are the Army Medal Office (AMO) references to the original medal rolls for each of the medals. Below this, you might find information regarding the operational theatre first served in and the date the individual entered that theatre. In many cases this part of the card is blank, which usually means that the individual went to France in 1916 or later.
Comment by
Venicone — March 7, 2006 @ 4:20 pm
Adam
Could be the WES stands for West as in West Lancs - this would also tie in with the No 2 which shows on the coin
2nd West Lancashire Brigade?
http://www.1914-1918.net/57div.htm
Comment by
Venicone — March 7, 2006 @ 4:51 pm