5. Royal Marine Medal Roll 1914-1920
This database is a transcription of The National Archives document classes ADM/171/167 to ADM/171/171 (inclusive), ADM/171/92 & ADM/171/139, which comprise the complete World War I Campaign Medal Rolls for the Royal Marines. Added to the transcript are service details for a large number of men, particularly those killed in action or died of wounds during WW1 and in many cases post-war deaths and WW2 deaths are noted.
The database contains the names of over 75,000 Royal Marine Officers, NCOs and other ranks, and provides a complete listing of all Royal Marines who served in WW1.
The author has added extra information to many of the fields in the transcripts of the records. This means that, unusually, you are likely to find more detail on the transcript than the original image.
Start searching the Royal Marine Medal Roll 1914-1920.
The medals covered by the rolls are: the 1914 Star, the Clasp to the 1914 Star, the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Each man's entry is linked to display the original medal roll page image. For recipients of the 1914 Star, two or more images are provided, from the original handwritten 1914 Star Roll (ADM/171/139) and the later typewritten rolls.
Qualification for naval campaign medals
The 1914 Star was authorized in April 1917 and awarded to those who served in France and Belgium on the strength of a unit, or service in either of those two countries between 5th August 1914 and midnight on 22nd/23rd November 1914. Recipients of the 1914 Star automatically qualified for the British War and Victory Medals, but were ineligible for the 1914-15 Star.
The Clasp to the 1914 Star was sanctioned by King George V in October 1919, to be awarded to all who had been under fire in France or Belgium between 5th August 1914 and midnight on 22nd/23rd November 1914.
The 1914-15 Star was authorized in 1918 and awarded to those who saw active service between 5th August 1914 and 31st December 1915. Recipients of the 1914-15 Star automatically qualified for the British War and Victory Medals. Recipients of the 1914 Star were ineligible for the 1914-15 Star.
The British War Medal was authorized in 1919 to mark the end of the Great War. The Admiralty differed from the War Office in their allowance for qualification to the British War Medal. The Admiralty granted the issue of the British War Medal to all ranks who had completed 28 days' mobilised service between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918.
The War Office would only issue a British War Medal for UK Home Service in exceptional circumstances, such as the men killed in the German Battlecruiser bombardments on the East Coast in 1915. Normally, UK Home Service in the army did not qualify. As a result of this 'kindness' on the part of the Admiralty, the rolls were increased to a very large extent in listing those men entitled to the British War Medal only.
The Victory Medal was authorized in 1919 to commemorate the victory of the Allies over the Central Powers. It was awarded to all who embarked on active service at sea or on land in a Theatre of Operations between midnight 4th/5th August 1914 and midnight 11th/12th November 1918. Recipients of the Victory Medal automatically qualified for the British War Medal.
Those mentioned in despatches between 4th August 1914 and 10th August 1920 were entitled to wear a bronze oak leaf emblem on the ribbon of their Victory Medal. Only one oak leaf emblem could be worn on the ribbon, regardless of the number of times mentioned in despatches. For those mentioned in despatches but not entitled to the Victory Medal, the oak leaf emblem was worn on the ribbon of their British War Medal. For those mentioned in despatches but not entitled either the British War or Victory Medal, the oak leaf emblem was worn on their jacket.
The following branches of the Royal Marines are listed in the rolls:
- RMLI - Royal Marine Light Infantry (Chatham (CH), Portsmouth (PO) or Plymouth (PLY) prefix to service number)
- RMA - Royal Marine Artillery (RMA prefix to service number)
- RMB - Royal Marine Band Service/Royal Naval School of Music (RMB prefix to service number)
- RMLC - Royal Marine Labour Corps (Old) (Deal prefix to numbers 8000/S to 15952/S)
- RMLC - Royal Marine Labour Corps (Home Service Labour Company) (CH prefix to numbers 14100/S to 14342/S)
- RME - Royal Marine Engineers (RME prefix to service numbers 301/S to 8271/S)
The men specially enlisted for the Royal Naval Division support units:
- Royal Marines (RND Divisional Engineers - Deal prefix to numbers 1/S to 1500/S & 5001/S to 5895/S)
- Royal Marines (RND Divisional Train - Deal prefix to numbers 1501/S to 2762/S)
- Royal Marines (RND Medical Unit - Deal prefix to numbers 3000/S to 4400/S)
- Royal Marines (RND Ordnance Company - Deal prefix to numbers 4501/S to 4564/S)
In addition to the above, there are several anomalies on the roll:
RMLC - Royal Marine Labour Corps (New) (Deal prefix to service numbers 1/N to 1424/N). This unit was raised in March 1919 and the few men listed on the roll all had former service with the RMLC (Old). The service which qualified them for WW1 medals was with the RMLC (Old).
There are two men with no service number, who enlisted pre-1880 and were never allocated a service number. These two men re-enlisted in 1914 for UK Home Service and are listed under their old RMLI or RMA company number (Private Henry MEDLEY, 25th Company RMLI & Gunner Thomas H. PITT, 5th Company RMA).
During the course of transcription of these rolls, The National Archives (TNA) released the Royal Marine Service Registers (ADM/159) for online access which, with the free search facility for names and numbers, provided a very useful source for error checking. Please note, however, that ADM/159 Service Registers do not exist for about 15,250 WW1 enlisted Royal Marines.
Three branches are not catered for in the TNA online records:
- 7000 Royal Marine Labour Corps (Old) ADM 157/3270-3458
- 250 Royal Marine Labour Corps (Home Service Labour Company) ADM 157/3459-3466
- 8000 Royal Marine Engineers ADM 157/3467-3625
All of the records in these ranges are arranged in service number order.
Fortunately, the service papers for these 15,250 Marines may be found in TNA Class ADM/157. Royal Marine Officers' Records are not currently available online, although their service records are on microfilm in TNA Class ADM/196.
Origins of the rolls
The rolls were compiled around 1930 to amalgamate existing sources (Index cards) and provide a master list for easy access and reference. The rolls consist of six large books (ADM/171/167 to ADM/171/171 inclusive for NCOs and other ranks and ADM/171/92 for Officers) and greatly simplified the task of the naval clerks in administering the issue of medals to claimants for the next 60 years, up until the rolls were finally deposited with The National Archives in 1991.
Even after 1991, medal claims continued, the last seen being a 1914-15 Star trio issued to the Next-of-Kin of Private John Clegg RMLI in 1997, but at least two other naval claims are thought to have been honoured since then (both 1914-15 Star Trios, to Private Ben SINFIELD RMLI & Able Seaman John FAIRBAIRN RNVR).
The original handwritten 1914 Star Roll (ADM/171/139) was incorporated into the new rolls around the same time (1930), but during the transfer of details a few mistakes and omissions were made. The greatest loss, however, was that of the issue dates for the 1914 Star and the Clasp. This has been rectified by the transcription of all the issue dates, plus other information contained in the original 1914 Star Roll. The original images may be viewed to confirm the various entries.
The 1914 Star Issue and resulting complications
As Admiralty policy was to issue campaign medals to claimants only, this dispensed with the requirement to prepare named medals prior to claims. The 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were all 'made to order' as and when the claimant applied. The Naval 1914 Stars, however, were all minted, named and ready for issue by early 1919. The majority of the 1914 Stars were issued to claimants between 1919-1921, but issues continued up until early 1934, when the remaining unclaimed stock (115 to Royal Marines) were returned to the Royal Mint (presumably for destruction).
No sooner had these 1914 Stars been scrapped (over 400 Naval 1914 Stars were returned to the Mint in March 1934) when only two years later in February 1936, Gunner Albert G. COULSON RMA, decided to claim his 1914 Star trio. He was issued a replacement 1914 Star 21/2/1936, along with his 1st issue Victory and British War Medals.
One notable 1914 Star returned to the Mint in 1934 was that to Brigadier-General FW LUMSDEN VC CB DSO RMA, who was killed in action in France in 1918. His family donated his VC CB DSO group to the RM Museum in 1962, but it was lacking the 1914 Star trio. The Roll shows that a duplicate 1914 Star was issued to the Curator of the R.M. Museum, Eastney, 24/10/1962. His British War and Victory Medals were presumably issued by the War Office at the same time, to complete his medal group for display.
As already stated, the majority of 1914 Stars were issued between 1919 and 1921. The accompanying two medals the British War Medal & Victory Medal, to which all 1914 Star recipients were also entitled, however, were not available until mid-1921. Most 1914 Stars were therefore issued singularly, the claimant apparently having to make a second application for his British War and Victory Medals. This second claim was not made in a large number of cases and it is therefore quite normal to find a Naval 1914 Star without the accompanying British War and Victory Medals.
This is especially true for single 1914 Stars issued to a deceased Marine's Next-of-Kin between 1919 and 1920. The roll makes allowance for this contingency by separately listing the 1914 Star entitlement in the space above that shown for entitlement to the British War & Victory Medals. Normally the full medal entitlement is given in one single line. There are also many instances of Victory Medals being issued after the British War Medal, or the British War & Victory Medals being issued after the 1914-15 Star, however. In all eventualities of staggered issues of whichever combination of medals, this is shown by the division of the medal entitlement, listing on two lines instead of the normal single line.
The Clasp to the 1914 Star
The Clasp to the 1914 Star is another complication to the above. Roll accuracy regarding entitlement to the Clasp to the 1914 Star is not totally reliable. A large number of entries were checked against the original handwritten 1914 Star Roll and at least 62 Marines were found to be lacking the Clasp entitlement and 4 were found showing erroneous entitlement to Clasp. Further research may be necessary to establish Clasp entitlement for a number of 1914 Star recipients, as many Clasp entitlements remained unclaimed.
The Clasp was not available for issue until June 1920 and many Clasps were issued singularly between June 1920 and May 1921. The 1914 Star and Clasp recipient may therefore have made three separate applications for his full entitlement (i.e., 1914 Star issued June 1919, Clasp issued July 1920, British War and Victory Medals issued July 1921).
The question of other ranks entitlement to the Clasp can be very difficult to determine. A large number of Marines who were known to be, or were clearly proven entitled, did not claim their Clasp. Others appear to have made a claim, but the Clasp was not subsequently issued. A range of short entries appear in the 'Clasp issued' Column in such cases. The following are examples of these entries:
- Officer I/C called 2.21
- Officer I/C called 3.21
- I/C 29.10.20
- I/C Called 31.8.1920
- I/C Called for 3.11.1921
- I/C Called 3.8.1920. Returned not known
- I/C Called for 9.3.21. Returned not known
- I/C called 4.1.21, Form 700 returned not known
- I/C Called 3.3.1921. Returned gone away
- I/C returned gone away 20.10.1920
- I/C called 9.10.1920. I/C returned gone away
- Form 700 returned 14.7.21 gone away
None of the above notes are found on Officer's Clasp entries, only to other ranks. All such entries coincide with no record of issue of the Clasp on the rolls. It is believed that these entries all relate to a request made by the man for his Clasp and the subsequent enquiry for the name and rank of an officer who could confirm their Clasp entitlement. Naval Regulations required other ranks to provide the place and period under fire during the qualifying dates, together with the name and rank of an officer who would be able, if necessary, to confirm the service. In most of these cases the man is believed to have been entitled as claimed.
Below are examples of the separate issue of the medals and/or Clasp:
- CH/16797 Sergeant Thomas S RANDALL RMLI, who received his 1914 Star 2/11/1919, his British War and Victory Medals 20/6/1921 and his Clasp to the 1914 Star 22/10/1921
- CH/16180 Corporal William H WATTS MM RMLI, who received his 1914 Star 20/6/1919, his Clasp to the 1914 Star 7/7/1920 and his British War and Victory Medals 15/7/1921
- PLY/2797 Colour Sergeant John J MOYSE RMLI, who received his 1914 Star 10/3/1919 and his Clasp to the 1914 Star 21/12/1920. He died sometime after and the roll records his son as claiming his British War and Victory Medals 25/6/1936
- Lieutenant Euan HM COX RM, who received his 1914 Star 25/6/20, then claimed his Clasp, British War and Victory Medals 14/2/1936
- RMA/8488 Gunner William S GIBBENS, who received his 1914 Star 17/7/1919, then claimed his British War and Victory Medals in 1939
- PLY/16411 Private Albert MOSS RMLI, who received his 1914 Star 4/8/1919, then claimed his British War and Victory Medals in 1951
- RMA/8280 Gunner James FANNING, who received his 1914-15 Star between 1921-1932, then claimed his British War and Victory Medals in 1939
- CH/1175/S Private Walter A WINTER RMLI, who received his British War Medal between 1921-1932, then claimed his Victory Medal in August 1933
- CH/2251/S Pte. Hubert Tom EDWARDS RMLI, who received his British War Medal between 1921-1932, then claimed his Victory Medal in November 1934
- RMA/2064/S Gunner Walter G. POOLE, who received his British War Medal between 1921-1932, then claimed his Victory Medal in 1939
Late issue and duplicate medals
Contrary to popular belief, WW1 campaign medals to the Naval Forces were not issued automatically. Admiralty policy required claims to be made by the man himself, his Legatees or Next-of-Kin.
The War Office infamously despatched medals to all army 'other ranks' recipients, regardless of their preference, although army officers were required to claim their medals, as per the Admiralty's policy.
Naval medals were, therefore, issued as and when they were applied for from 1919 onwards. A supplementary volume recording all WW1 Naval Campaign Medals issued from January 1936 to April 1975 can be found at The National Archives under class ADM/171/196. Unfortunately, supplementary records for the issue of medals pre-1935 and 1975-1991 are missing. All medals issued up to 1989, however, are recorded in the rolls.
Medals issued from 1933 onwards were classed as either '1st issue to Late Claimants' or 'Duplicates' to replace those lost or stolen. Duplicate issues were clearly recorded as such in the rolls. The last recorded issue of medals in the rolls was on the 19th of June 1989, of a duplicate 1914 Star trio to the son of Private Bert ELDERSHAW RMLI, Plymouth Battalion, Royal Naval Division, killed in the Defence of Antwerp in October 1914.
The Admiralty employed a six-figure reference number system, beginning at '392000', for recording the 1st issue of medals to late claimants after January 1933. This six-figure number referred to the 'Medal Issue Paper' (MIP) and was entered on the roll in the 'How Disposed of' column. (It is believed that the number 392000 was used as a starting point because this was the approximate total of Naval Medal claimants up to 1932).
Below is a list of MIP numbers and the corresponding dates taken from the rolls and ADM/171/196. Numbers in brackets are the approximate total of 1st issue medal claims that year.
As can be calculated from the above list, nearly 4000 men claimed their 1st issue medals between 1933 and 1962. The start of the Second World War saw an increase in claims, with many former WW1 Naval personnel returning to service. A small increase also occurred prior to and after the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
From 1st September 1962, the six-figure MIP number system was supplanted by a new 'M' prefix number reference for 1st issue medals. This same new 'M' prefix number system also replaced the old Duplicate number system from January 1962.
Duplicate medal issues employed a separate numbering system and these numbers were recorded on the rolls from late 1931 to 1961. Duplicate medal issue numbers were also recorded in the ADM/171/196 medal issue book 1936-1961, along with the six-figure MIPs for 1st issue medals.
Below is a list of duplicate medal issue numbers and the corresponding dates taken from the rolls and ADM/171/196:
1914-15 Star Issue
The table below shows the issue dates of the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals to 19 Royal Marines who were retained in post-war service. These details were obtained from the service registers of Marines in ADM/159.
The first column shows the date of issue of the 1914-15 Star, the second column shows the date of issue of their accompanying British War and Victory Medals. The earliest date found for the issue of a 1914-15 Star was July 1920. It would appear that the British War and Victory Medals were not available until June 1921. Assuming that Royal Marines who remained in service might be expected to take precedence in the issue of medals, these dates may be taken as being very near to the earliest date these medals were available for issue.
Issue dates for the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals to serving marines:
Unclaimed medals
The ADM/171 series of Naval Medal Rolls are primarily a record of the medal entitlement of individuals and only secondly record basic details for the issue of the medals. Blank entries in the 'How issued or disposed of' column are given in the transcription as 'No entry' and this normally indicates that the medal or medals were unclaimed. If a given column field is empty, the transcription is blank, but in the case of the 'How issued or disposed of' column, it was thought necessary to show the lack of issue details by the use of the term 'No entry'. (The term 'No entry' has also been used in other columns where an expected entry was missing). Nearly 17,000 entries in the Roll show medal entitlement but have no accompanying issue details. Additionally:
- 545 1914 Stars were issued without subsequent claim of the British War and Victory Medals
- 73 1914-15 Stars were issued without subsequent claim of the British War and Victory Medals
- 209 British War Medals were issued without subsequent claim of the Victory Medal
- 537 marines were found to be missing from the rolls. Their details have been added to the transcript and their medal entitlement may be assumed as unclaimed
- Another 119 Marines have been added to the transcript, although in all 119 cases they did not qualify for medals, being discharged within 28 days of enlistment. Strictly speaking, they should not be on the roll, but it was thought best to include these men's details for the benefit of the researcher, whose ancestor was perhaps discharged 'under-age' or invalided within 28 days of enlistment
Known problems and errors
The compilation of such a large listing in the late 1920s, without the benefit of modern computer aids, was an awesome task. It is, therefore, understandable that many errors and omissions crept in. All identified errors in service numbers, names and ranks are corrected in the transcript, with an accompanying note of the error correction in the text notes. The medal entitlement column, however, is listed exactly as is given in the rolls, even if in error, and the correct medal entitlement is shown in the text notes.
Explanatory notes for information fields
Service branch
Information in this field does not appear on the original Roll, but was added by the author to inform researchers of the correct branch of the Royal Marines to which any man belonged. All Royal Marine NCOs and other ranks have their correct branch of Royal Marine service shown. Unfortunately it was not possible to identify this same information for all Royal Marine Officers and many therefore show their service branch as 'Royal Marines' only.
Service (register) number
Service numbers were allocated only to Royal Marine NCOs and other ranks. Officers were not allocated service numbers in WW1. Each enlisted man received a unique service number and from this alone one can deduce his enlistment date and his term of service (12 years/Regular Service or Hostilities Only/Duration of War).
Rank
The Royal Marines employed the same rank structure as the army. The rank given on the roll is not necessarily the final rank achieved. Many 1914 and 1914-15 stars carried a lower rank to that shown on the British War & Victory Medals. A rank with a 'Brevet' prefix allowed an officer to hold a higher rank than that for which he was actually paid. A Brevet rank was usually awarded for distinguished service.
Forename
The original roll usually lists only the first forename in full, with initials for other given names, but many are listed with initials only. The author has in many cases found and completed full given names.
Surname
There are many who served under an alias, but these are cross-referenced to their true name.Awards
Some gallantry awards are given on the original roll, but the author has added a large number of awards granted for gallantry, distinguished, or meritorious service. These are given in the standard abbreviated format (e.g., VC, DSC, CGM, DSM etc).
Medals and clasps earned
Entries in this column, the primary function of the roll, are limited to five basic entitlements:
- 1914 Star & Clasp, Victory & British War Medals
- 1914 Star, Victory & British War Medals
- 1914-15 Star, Victory & British War Medals
- Victory & British War Medals
- British War Medal
There are several cases where a man qualified for both the 1914 Star and the 1914-15 Star. In all such cases, however, the initial 1914 Star entitlement was forfeited and the man qualified for the 1914-15 Star by subsequent service (between November 1914 and December 1915). No man could legally hold both the 1914 and 1914-15 Stars, as entitlement to the 1914 Star automatically disqualified the man from entitlement to the 1914-15 Star.
How issued or disposed of
Entries in this column record brief details of to whom or where the medals were issued. If the medal or medals were unclaimed, the column is blank, but the transcription will give 'No entry'. If a man claimed his medal entitlement after leaving Royal Marine service, the entry reads 'Self' (issued to the man himself at a private address).
If a man claimed his medals whilst still in Royal Marine service, the entry will give the shore establishment or ship to which the medals were issued (e.g., R.M. Barracks, Chatham, HMS 'Impregnable' or R.N. School of Music, Eastney).
If a man died during service or after discharge and his next-of-kin claimed, then one of a large number of entries could be recorded: mother, father, sister, brother, daughter, uncle, cousin, widow, executor, executrix, legatee, universal legatee, administrator, legal representative etc.
Entries which read 'Issued to War Office for disposal to man' indicate that the man was in serving in the army after discharge from Royal Marine Service, the medals being transmitted to him via the War Office.
Similarly 'Issued to Air Ministry for disposal to man' indicates the man was serving in the Royal Air Force after discharge from Royal Marine Service, the medals being transmitted to him via the Air Ministry.
Entries which read 'Issued by War Office (for service in Army)' indicate that the man transferred to the army during WW1 and the War Office became responsible for his medal issue.
Similarly 'Issued by Air Ministry (for service in RAF)' indicates that the man transferred to the Royal Air Force during WW1 and the Air Ministry became responsible for his medal issue.
Entries which read 'Commissioner of Police' indicate the man was serving with the Civil Police after discharge from Royal Marine Service.
'Forfeited' is self-explanatory and the reason for the forfeiture is given in the 'Remarks' column (usually by desertion).
Remarks
Entries in this column are many and varied. In the main, the following standard entries will be encountered:
Victory & British War Medals issued by War Office (for service in Army: indicates the man transferred to the Army during WW1 and the War Office became responsible for the issue of his Victory & British War Medals, but a 1914 Star or 1914-15 Star was to be issued by the Admiralty for Royal Marine service.
Victory & British War Medals issued by Air Ministry (for service in RAF): indicates the man transferred to the Royal Air Force during WW1 and the Air Ministry became responsible for the issue of his Victory & British War Medals, but a 1914 Star or 1914-15 Star was to be issued by the Admiralty for Royal Marine service.
Run: indicates the man deserted HM Service and his medal entitlement was forfeited. Many men later claimed extenuating circumstances, however, and had their medals restored.
I.C.1000/1914 (etc.): this entry is always applicable to a deceased Marine. It refers to the 'Index Casualty' number in the Naval Records for Wills and allowed reference to the Legatee named in the Marine's Will. For Marines who died in service, the year of death usually conforms to that given in the suffix. For Marines who died after discharge, the year given in the suffix usually indicates the year of the medal claim.
D.D. 29/12/15 (etc.): this entry always accompanies a deceased Marine's entry. It shows the date (sometimes in error) that the Marine died (Discharged Dead) and always accompanies entries where the medals were not claimed. Late claims by Next-of-Kin (post-1933), however, are found in a few of these cases and the 'D.D.' entry will be found together with the date and details of the late issue to the Next-of-Kin. Two examples are shown here:
- PLY/2038/S Private Arthur Stanley MARTIN, 'D.D. 29.10.17', medals issued to his mother in September 1935 (MIP 392858)
- RMA/1120/S Gunner James WILCOX, 'D.D. 7.3.17', medals issued to TVH Wilcox DCM, 51 Luxborough Towers, London, in November 1976
1914ST. RET'D MINT DNA 1428 35: this entry shows that the 1914 Star, held on stock and unclaimed since early 1919, was returned to the Mint in March 1934.
Notes
This column contains all the author's notes on the man's service history and any error corrections in the transcript or corrections to medal entitlement. In many cases nothing is known of the man's service history and this column is blank. For a larger number of men, only their basic cause of discharge is known. The following are the basic causes of discharge:
- Demobilised (safe to assume the man survived the war and was discharged in 1919)
- Discharged Invalided (discharged from service due to wounds or sickness and no longer fit for service)
- Discharged Completed Term of Limited Engagement (completed his 12 year contract of service)
- Discharged to Pension (completed 21 years' service)
- Discharged with Bonus on Reduction (the man was paid a given cash amount as an incentive to leave the service without completing his 12 year service contract, usually during the period 1920-1923)
- Discharged Free (allowed to leave the service without payment or completing his 12 year service contract, usually during the period 1920-1923)
- Discharged by Purchase (the man paid a given cash amount to leave the service before completing his 12 year service contract)
- Discharged on compassionate grounds (allowed to leave the service for personal circumstances, such as a parent's illness or poverty, before completing his 12 year service contract)
- Discharged Services No Longer Required (usually indicates discharge as a consequence of misconduct of some description)
- Discharged Surplus to Naval Requirements (indicates discharge due to lack of employment within the given service)
- Discharged to civil employment (discharged to resume former civil occupation)
- Discharged to civil life (a rather vague category, which may be taken as leaving the service by any of the above causes)
Unit
Information in this column is exclusively for those who died in military service. The unit in which they were serving when they died is shown.
Date of death
Information in this column is usually for those who died in military service. Many post-war or WW2 deaths were found during compilation, however. For deaths which occurred after discharge and where no exact date is known, the format of the 'month quarter and year' as given in the GRO indexes for civil deaths, is shown (e.g. 00/03/1922). It was not practical to purchase death certificates for all, but the full GRO death certificate reference is given in most cases.
Cause of death
Shows all the known details of the man's death from original service records or death certificate.
Abbreviations used in Great War Medal Roll (1914-1920)
Below is a transcript of the abbreviations accompanying the Naval Medal Rolls. All abbreviations have been expanded in the transcript, so reproduction of this is purely informative.
Glossary
Start searching the Royal Marine Medal Roll 1914-1920.
Acknowledgments
Captain Roy SWALES R.N. as representative of the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton, who provided many hours of his time investigating and checking queries, thereby enabling accurate corrections in this project.
Mary LEONG, of The National Archives, in providing a very efficient and conscientious service of document copying and supply.
Jack Marshall © 2009
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