The family of James CARR, son of William Carr and husband of Annie Carr, of John Street, Downpatrick, (County Down) are searching for his missing First World War Medals.
This medal set consists of the 1914 Star (colloquially referred to as the ‘Mons Star’), British War Medal and Victory Medal. As such, James was part of the BEF (British Expeditionary Force) sent to the Western Front prior to the First Battle of Ypres in November 1914.
James CARR served with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Sadly he died in Mons on 26th August 1914.
The 1914 Star, colloquially referred to as the Mons Star. It is a medal similar to this which was posthumously awarded to James CARR of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. His descendants are searching for any medals in his name.
In terms of the original troops sent to the Western Front in the early days of the Great War, it has been said that Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany was famously dismissive of the BEF. It has been claimed that he allegedly issued an order on 19 August 1914 to “exterminate … the treacherous English and walk over General French’s contemptible little army”. Subsequently the survivors of the regular army who served prior to the end of 1914 dubbed themselves “The Old Contemptibles”, although no evidence of Kaiser Wilhelm II ever issuing such order has ever been found.
Any assistance to help my family to recover these missing medals would be very much appreciated.
About gary
Gary Traynor is the volunteer Administrator of the Militaria based website MEDALSGONEMISSING. The aim of this "NOT FOR PROFIT" website is to reunite families, with lost War Medals and other items of militaria. Anything from medals to items of uniform. What Gary refers to as their "lost heritage". He has been actively involved in the Militaria world and researching of Military History for well over 30 years. As a result, Gary also conducts valuations and offers advice on all items of militaria. He has acted as advisor to a number of television and Foxtel productions; including Sir Tony Robinson's "Tour of Duty" series which featured on the History Channel. Gary is a field historian and conducts tours to Gallipoli, The Western Front, Kokoda and many other major battle sites around the world. He was a member of the Australian Army Reserve (UNSWR & 4/3 RNSWR) and served for 23 years with the New South Wales Police Force. He is perhaps the only person who has been employed at the Australian War Memorial in all three capacities .... as a volunteer, part time and full time employee .... starting as a qualified tour guide, working in the public galleries as an Information Assistant and finally Assistant Curator in Military Heraldry & Technology.
Medalsgonemissing is a website that will assist you in locating your family's lost war medals and other awards. If you have an ancestor who served in any of the British Commonwealth Armed Services at any time - and whose medals are lost/stolen or simply missing....then so long as the medals are out there - this site will help you to locate them.
However the site also contains articles of interest in relation to Military History, War Memorials & Uniforms / kit. Please explore our website as there is sure to be something of interest to you.
