George Michie - WWI pair

This return has been several years in the making. Each time I've had a look at this soldier a little bit more information became available and yesterday it all came together.

My part in the search for the family of 909 George Leslie Michie started following an email from Mike V who came across the WWI medals awarded to George in a collection of coins he had. Mike did a considerable amount of research on George then enlisted my assistance to track down George's family. 

George was a 34 year old civil servant when he enlisted in 1916 and allocated to 55th Battalion, AIF. I think that his obituary summarises his war experience far better than a retelling of his service record.

While I could find details of George's immediate family, it was difficult to pin down the current generation and find their contact details. As we approach Anzac Day 2022, Mike spurred me on to have another look and sure enough, some recent information posted online led me to the final piece of the puzzle. After sending out a couple of speculative social media messages, I was in contact with George's granddaughter. This is Robyn and she is now in contact with Mike. Persistence pays off.

The returned medal tally is now 2739.        

Harry Wallis

It is very satisfying to finalise a search just prior to Anzac Day. These WWI medals, awarded to 2258 Harry Edmund Wallis, are more to come out of the RSL Care SA bag. 

Harry was a 19 year old tailor from Adelaide when he enlisted in May 1915.  He was allocated to 11 Battalion, AIF. Harry's service record gives a lot of details about being hospitalised on multiple occasions but not much other details about his war service. He was wounded in action in 1918.

There are two details in his service record which I found interesting. Harry was also entitled to the 1914-15 Star. Also, in 1970, while a resident of the War Veterans Home, now RSL Care SA, Harry applied for the Anzac Medallion. Neither the star or medallion are with the other two medals which prompts me to wonder where they are now. 

Harry did marry, however there is no evidence he had children. Harry died in 1976. I'll be sending these two medals to a relative of Harry's with the intention that these medals will be displayed for others to see.

The returned medal tally is now 2737.

  

Medals to two generations of the same family

These are three more medal that came to me from RSL Care SA. I was a little bit confused at the start of this research, despite the surname on all the medals are the same the initials are different. My confusion was trying to make the connection between the two individuals.

The oldest medal is the Imperial Service Medal (1st type) named to JJ Gould. The other two medals are the 1914-15 Star and the Victory Medal awarded to Lieutenant R E Gould, RFA. I enlisted the help of the experts on the British Medal Forum who assisted me to correctly identify the ISM and who it was awarded to. The recipient of the ISM was Joseph James Gould. This is the London Gazette entry for the award of this medal.

Additional clarifying information  provided to me was:

'Of the 1906 awards [ISM] in 1906, 40 went to people working in various departments of the War Office, including the Royal Arsenal and of these 39 were to men and one to a woman. It is most likely the he had completed, at least, 25 years service in, or around 1906, and it is likely to be a retirement award, hence his age about 65.'

The two WWI medals were awarded to LT Ralph Edmond Gould RFA .

Having all the names was the key which led to the current generation. Via an Ancestry family tree I've been in contact with the great great grandson of Ralph and 4 x great grandson of Joseph. Timing is everything and this family will be in Canberra next week and I'll be able to hand them the medals.

Thank you so much to Andrew, Damon and Radal from the BMF whose knowledge and skills significantly assisted this research. The returned medal tally is now 2735.