22880759 Pte. G. Cawthorne

[Noor]

Hi all,

I am medal collector from Dublin and I am mainly interested of Royal Dublin Fusiliers stuff only. Now, I picked up randomly one GSM with the "Malaya" clasp. Medal is named to "22880759 Pte. G. Cawthorne Manchester Reg" and I am wondering is there any chance to find more about post WW2 medal like this. I presume this is the most knowledge place in the cyber world to ask about the manchesters? 

Again, I am collector and this medal is not my area of interest, so most likely it will go on some point. If you feel like due to that you don't want to share information, that's totally understandable - I just wanted to be honest with you guys. If you can just advise how is possible to research that GSM that would be great, what are the sources available, etc. Like I understand there are much less around then pre 1939 stuff.

Kind Regards,

Timo

[sphinx]

Noor,

There are no sources available to research the issue of the GSM with clasp "MALAYA" other than the published medal rolls on line.

The Manchester Regiment enlistment books expired c. 1947, before his series of numbers commenced in 1950 so they cant help.

The Regimental Archives dont have any other records to trace individuals.

There are, however, gentlemen on here who served in malaya and may remember him, but I am not one of them.

regards

[george.theshed197]

Hi there Timo,
Welcome to the Forum;  I am one of the persons mentioned by Sphinx before who MAY be able to help you.
I have the 'Bible i.e. Jungle Bashers'  the only known record  ( outside of the War Office Medal Listings) of those who served with The 1st Bn of The Manchester Regiment during the 1951 - 54 period in Malaya and also have the original listing of Members who had joined the Malaya Veterans Association when it first came into existence.
Having checked both lists carefully I regret to say that unfortunately I have found no mention whatsoever of the gentleman concerned.
It does happen that persons have been in the Battalion for his period  of NS service and due to the fact that we were operating as individual Companies most of the time in widely separated areas that many such persons never got a mention in the Book and also did not bother to join the MVA.
Sorry we have not been successful in being able to give you any further information.
All the best.
George

[Noor]

Thank you very much for your time and information! Ah, nothing to do then when that medal is not possible to research any future. Meantime his name is not so common and perhaps that's him (Ancestry.co.uk details):

Graham Cawthorne
Birth 6th Mar 1935 in  Manchester North district, Lancashire, England.   Death Mar 2005 in  Fleetwood and Fylde district, Lancashire, England.

[sphinx]

Yes,

The year of birth is good for a Malaya Vet.

regards

[Noor]

Thank you! I can see that he appears in one family tree on ancestry but unfortunately I am not able to contact with the owner of the account (I have only public access so I can't send personal messages).

Again guys - thank you very much for your information!