Andrew CAMERON ?VC? Alexandria 1882

[ukgal]

Hi

I was just wondering,...My husbands GGGrandfather, was Discharged from The Royal Navy, in 1878, For A fractured Thigh,......would i be able to find out, how, he fratured his thigh!?????


Thank you in advance, for any info!
kind regards
Gina

[ukgal]

hi there

My husbands GGGrandfather, claimed that he was awarded, the VC, in 1878,..although there is no record of this!
my question is:...if he wore a VC, and claimed he won it, had a book written about winning it,........ but didnt,.........would he have been prosecuted???????

I have over the past 8 years, been researching him, on and off,(you may have seen my posts, on the Great War Forum, or Rootschat)........there was a book written by a REV in 1905, telling the story of how, Andrew Cameron, won the VC, and the Cross of God!
After ww1, he was employed by a company working, as a diver on the River Clyde, in Glasgow,......he was used in the Irish Sea Collision Inquiry, in 1917, to assess the damage of the wreck!,..he still claimed he was a VC winner!,.....i have 2 Articles from The Belfast Newsletter(attached), from the Irish Sea Inquiry, where his VC came into Question!!!

Please could you give me your opinion also, on these articles!
Does the following day, Article, claim that he gave proof, or not???

thank-you very much
Gina

[Mark]

There are laws against wearing medals you are not entitled to in the UK today. However, I must admit I am not sure about back in the Victorian period. It would certainly not have been seen as acceptable behaviour that is for sure!

Mark

[Mark]

Hi Gina

You could find his service records and see if anything is mentioned on them regarding his injury. I have found service records with medical reports attached - although this doesn't happen that often.

Mark

[ukgal]

Thanks
Yes i have his service records, thats how i knew, he was discharged, to royal naval Haslar Hopspital, with a Fractured thigh!

so there would be no medical records, anywhere, that i can view!??
would it be mentioned in the ships log, on that particular day??
thanks again
Gina

[crimea1854]

Gina

If you know the ship he was on when he received the injury you might find a reference to the accident in the Ships Log. As a rule these are normally rather bland documents, recording wind direction, lost items of equipment etc. but you might get lucky. The other route would be to consult Haslar's Muster Book at the National Archives (ADM 304/36-41) this covers the period 1852-95, again no guarantee that there is any information.

Martin

[crimea1854]

If as he claims he was awarded the VC for an act of heroism during the bombardment of Alexandria, this would have been 1882, or shortly thereafter. I've checked the medal roll for this action, and cannot even find an Andrew Cameron present!

Martin

[ukgal]

Thank you for your reply!
yes i do know what ship he was on at the time,..as i have his service record.

Last time i went to NA,...i was stumped!..didnt understand any of it!...lol

Thanks anyway
Gina

[ukgal]

Hi
Thanks for your reply!!

I cant find this documented anywhere of official importance, apart from a few newspaper articles,(mainly Australia & New Zealand) where after he was discharged from the navy, he became the world record Diver,..and did many a good deed, with his diving skills!
Also a book that was written, by a REVEREND, he was editor of the christian scotsman magazine,....the book was about Andrew Cameron,...and titled:The Two Crosses: How Andrew Cameron Won them.( i have this book). There is also a book Titled: Stories of a sea adventure, By Frank Mundell,..which is about deep sea diving, and many of the stories told in this book, are about Andrew Cameron.
I have 2 pictures of him, wearing this VC, and a family member, remembers seeing the VC.


If this is all Lies, then surely, he would have been prosecuted, wouldnt he???
Cant find any reference to this either!

Frustrating, that i cant find the truth!

[ukgal]

Hi There
can anyone tell me the meaning of this:

'He holds a Pension for life, of Distinguished Service in the Navy'....

.in 1878,..could this be anything to do, with The Victoria Cross??

Thank you in advance
Gina

[swordcollector1]

The description of the case seems to imply that the Court were unconvinced of Cameron's story but rather than submit him to the embarrassment of formally rejecting it, found a way of finding against him without actually calling his honesty into question. I'd suggest we do the same!

John

[Maureene]

This Great War Forum thread on the topic includes photographs
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forum ... opic=36474

Another Great War Forum thread is
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forum ... 36489&st=0

A Scottish War Graves forum thread is
http://scottishwargraves.phpbbweb.com/s ... ic955.html

Cheers
Maureen

[crimea1854]

Since I think this question relates to Andrew Cameron, have you downloaded his service record from the National Archives (£3.50), because this would at least provide a list of ships he served on, from which you would be able to determine if he was at least present at during an engagment with the enemy?

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=6834467&queryType=1&resultcount=2

Martin

[ukgal]

HI there
Thanks for your input, and the links Maureen!

I know what everyone is saying, in the links etc!,..that there is no evidence, of him being awarded the VC,...there are plenty, of Newspaper articles, abroad, about stories of his diving adventures etc, and some claim, he has a VC! The Book, by the REV, the photos of him wearing it!

but what i am trying to determine, is whether or not he was an Imposter!...where is the proof of this?....surely there would be newsapaper articles, about him wearing the VC, claiming he won the VC, when he didnt, maybe even a prosecution record, but i cannot find any reference to this!
I am considering writing to Lord Ashcroft, this is soo frustrating, not knowing the truth!
thanks
Gina

[ukgal]

Hi
Yes i have a service record, where he was Invalided, because of fracturing of the thigh, in 1878,..does this mean, he would have been discharged?...or could there be another service record, after he recovered from this injury??

If anyone can interpret, the meaning on this record, that would be gratefully recieved??

Can you make out what the £5, was for in 1874?
under the character column what does i.only mean?

Traced W, i have been informed means, that it was traced to Whitehall,..why and what, is that all about???


Thanks
very much for any help
Gina