WW1 Medals in WW2

[Resmoroh]

Hello All,

For various reasons I have started a project that involves a lot of poking about in the ‘backwoods’ of the London Gazette. Some surpising finds!

I have discovered that one of my WW2 RAFVR Forecasters has a WW1 DCM!! He was:-

825225 Sjt William John R Pook, RFA, (Bristol).
Pook, W J R, 25 Nov 41, Prom, 76293, T/Flt Lt

He was born (where?) in 1895. He married in Q3 of 1924. He died in Q3 of 1954, I have assumed that this RFA is Royal Field Artillery rather than Royal Fleet Auxiliiary? My questions are:-

1 Are/Were there individual Citations for DCMs – or did they just “come up with the rations”?

2 If the answer to 1 is “yes” - then where are they, and how may they be accessed?

Peter Davies

[vrajm]

Hi Peter,

OBITUARY p.33/36

Mr. W. J. R. Pook, D.C.M.— We regret to announce the death of Mr. Pook which occurred at Barnes on July 24, 1949, after a long illness.

Mr. Pook entered the Meteorological Office in 1919 .... with the Royal Artillery during World War I and was awarded the D.C.M. for conspicuous gallantry in the field. He ...

file:///C:/Users/vrajm/Downloads/MM_09_1949.pdf

1918 Birthday Honours

Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)

In recognition of valuable services rendered with the Forces in Italy — Sergeant W. J. R. Pook, Royal Field Artillery (Bristol)

METEOROLOGICAL BRANCH. William John Richard POOK (76293) is granted a commission in the rank of Flying Officer. 12th Dec. 1939.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...4756/page/8407

Regards

Mojmir

[davew]

Peter

William John Richard Pook Born in Clifton Bristol 1894. From Findmypast.

DaveW

[Lyffe]

Peter

DCM citation at https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...pplement/12365 .

MiD 1 Jan 1945

His promotion to F/L on 15 November 1941 coincided with that of Campbell Crichton-Miller (73496). (For those not in the loop C C-M was subsequently Senior Met Officer of HQ 38 Group at Netheravon and was killed whilst flying with a 295 Squadron crew attacking an electricity transformer at Distres on the evening 19th February 1943. He was listed on the crew manifest as Flight Engineer!).

Brian

[Lyffe]

Mojmir,

I'm afraid your link to Pook's obituary did not work for me but but it can be found at https://digital.nmla.metoffice.gov.u...-29ac454a3e26/.

From the date of his commission I suspected he had served in France as a forecaster during the winter and spring of 1939-1940, and fortunately that's confirmed by the obituary.

Brian

[vrajm]

Hi Brian,

Thank you very much for the correction.

Regards

Mojmir