WW1 Victory Medals SHOWCASE

[Primoris Scio]

To bring life back to this topic -

 

Here is my great grandfather's medal - 108th Inf Reg, 27th Div.  The 27th had the Ypres-Lys, Somme Offensive and Defensive Sector clasps.  From what I understand the Defensive Sector was earned for passing through, or fighting in, an area where combat was occuring but the event was not significant enough to warrant a named clasp.  Can anyone explain how that process worked? 

 

The Ypres-Lys clasp was given for their time fighting in Belgium, and during their march south to fight in France for the Somme Offensive they passed through a DS qualifying zone; I believe I read somewhere that they were shelled and gassed during the transition between fronts.  The battle clasps are not set in chronological order, does anyone know what the order of precedence is and how was it determined?

[mikes militaria]

DP-28. Beautiful medal in great shape. Even better it was your great grandfather’s. The bars are in the correct order. Just about every one I’ve seen ,excepting a few, are in order by the date the campaigns started. The Cambrai campaign started 20 November 1917. That would be at the top. The Meuse-Argonne campaign has the latest start date the AEF participated in France. 26 September 1918. That would be at the bottom unless the soldier participated in the Vittorio-Veneto campaign that started 24 October 1918. I’ve never seen that combination but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t have happened. I, by all means, don’t know it all. The Defensive sector is usually placed under the Meuse-Argonne bar, or the latest battle the individual soldier participated in. The Defensive sector was given for service in a zone specified between 6 April 1917 to 11 November 1918. There are 5 conditions that apply to be entitled to the Defensive Sector bar. There are specific dates and units outlined but there is a catch all condition stating “Any engagement not included in one of the thirteen major operations recognized by its own battle clasp.”  Navy personnel with the 2nd I.D. have  four additional conditions in which they could get the Defensive Sector bar. I have just found some info I didn’t know a couple days ago that the Belleau Wood battle is not covered by the Aisne battle bar so the Defensive Sector covers that battle.
 

 In the case of your great grandfather, the Somme Offensive started 8 August 1918 . Ypres-Lys started 19 August 1918 ..  Even if your great grandfather’s unit marched through a Defensive Sector between his two campaigns, the Defensive Sector bar would be worn at the bottom. No matter how many Defensive Sectors a unit was in, they only received one bar. This is my interpretation of the information I have.

[warroom1]

here is medal for refrence i hope its ok

[cwnorma]

Nice to see this old friend again!

[Sweazy21]

Raymond James Cocklin was born in Rutland, Vermont on September 13, 1895. He enlisted on April 2, 1917 in the Vermont national guard and left for France in September that year. Well overseas he served with the 26th division until December 1918 when he returned home. On October 24, 1918, well going over the top a bullet from a machine gun struck him in the shoulder and shortly after gassed according to a newspaper article I found. Raymond was discharged January 17, 1919.
After the war I believe he may have reenlisted and served in the army or National Guard. Have not found much information yet. In April 1932, he received his Purple Heart for for meritorious service in the Meuse Argonne in October 1918. Raymond passed away on August 17, 1967 in Florida.

[Hermanus]

8 hours ago, Sweazy21 said:

Raymond James Cocklin was born in Rutland, Vermont on September 13, 1895. He enlisted on April 2, 1917 in the Vermont national guard and left for France in September that year. Well overseas he served with the 26th division until December 1918 when he returned home. On October 24, 1918, well going over the top a bullet from a machine gun struck him in the shoulder and shortly after gassed according to a newspaper article I found. Raymond was discharged January 17, 1919.
After the war I believe he may have reenlisted and served in the army or National Guard. Have not found much information yet. In April 1932, he received his Purple Heart for for meritorious service in the Meuse Argonne in October 1918. Raymond passed away on August 17, 1967 in Florida.

 

Any idea were the Purple Heart might be?

 

Regards

Herman 

[Sweazy21]

5 hours ago, Hermanus said:

 

Any idea were the Purple Heart might be?

 

Regards

Herman 

I don’t unfortunately

[Sumserbrown]

Any thoughts on this one? It is as I bought it, and I did buy it as a curio.

Clearly you have a mix of army and navy bars, and maybe later issues or maybe French made. It's possible that the vet was issued the Aviation bar for example and then just added the France and England bars himself later to commemorate where he served, but the ribbon seems much longer than you might expect to find on a single bar victory medal.

Any thoughts, good or bad?

[Sumserbrown]

Hi all,

I would also appreciate any input on the pin on this medal. Is it contemporary in age with the victory medal and can anyone tell me what it is or with which outfit it was associated?

thanks

Rob

[Jim T]

      Here's my contribution: a plain-Jane Navy WWI Victory:

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   As you see, the USS Louisville was authorized the Armed Guard or Transport clasp for her role in the war effort and as appropriate to date-of-service; reference to his record would establish why neither is present.  I'm guessing that his service was post-Armistice because there is no evidence that the medal has been monkeyed with (or...maybe the appropriate clasp was just never installed if he had  service between the declaration of war and the armistice). 

 

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ps:   Note that the Mine sweeper clasp was authorized long after the Armistice...even as late as December 1919; this is true for most minesweepers in the document. This nuance (which I never knew) undoubtedly was due to the danger involved: it was apparently considered still a wartime activity whereas those of other clasps ended at Armistice.

 

   You live and learn.

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USS Louisville in NY harbor, note the Statue of Liberty in left background.

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And a second contribution:   his service is very similar to that in post #1. He had lots of time in the Aisne river operational area but didn't make it to either the St. Mihiel or Meuse-Argonne campaigns. The why and who are lost to time but there is plenty of character in his service and this medal.

 

 

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Jim T

 

 

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[KurtA]

boxed and attributed to a member of the 332nd Infantry.

 

 

[KurtA]

Attributed 10 Bar VM- Ambulance Driver