Military Medals (52 weeks of genealogical records: week 1)

John Mustell WEBSTER's medals

This post is the first in a series called '52 Weeks of Genealogical Records'. Anyone is welcome to do all or part of this blogging challenge, and each week Shauna Hicks will add a new topic to this list.

The topic for week 1, military medals, is not particularly relevant to my own family, although a few of my direct ancestors' siblings served in WWI or WWII.

I have been told (but I have not confirmed) that my second cousin twice removed, John Mustell ('Jack') WEBSTER (son of Ernest Edward WEBSTER and Alice TEAGUE) was awarded the 1914 star, British war Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal and Military Medal. (This photograph was kindly provided by Nick Aldham and Elaine White.)

Lost Medals Australia, who do a great job of returning medals to family members, sought my help in tracing the next of kin of Terence Edward Downing WEBSTER (a cousin once removed, but a stranger to me). I was able to put them in contact with a descendant of Terence's sister.

Records available on Findmypast include:

• Distinguished Conduct Medal Citations 1914-1920 (this set of records is very important because it includes full citations, which are not always found in unit histories)


• index of nominal returns of Colonial Forces who made applications for the New Zealand War Medal.

There is a British Army Medals index.

For more research tips, see my other posts in the series '52 Weeks of Genealogical Records':

• 10 Tips for Wills, Intestacies and Probate


• Internal Migration

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On This Day - BUTLER and MUSTELL

30 Aug 1910 (100 years ago) - Mary Jane BUTLER (nee NICHOLSON) was buried at Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney NSW Australia. Mary Jane is something of a mystery. She was allegedly born at Enniskillen, Fermanagh, Ireland, c1828-1830, a daughter of Richard NICHOLSON, a soldier. I think she is probably the Sarah Jane NICHOLSON who married Robert BUTLER in NSW in 1856. [Great-great-grandmother, James Campbell Webster line]

31 Aug 1822 (188 years ago) - Anne MUSTELL was born in London, Middlesex, England. She was the daughter of Thomas MUSTELL and Anne VAUGHAN, and the wife of William James WEBSTER. Anne was buried in the Old Cemetery, Camberwell, Surrey, England, on 2 Sep 1891 (119 years ago this week). [Wife of my great-great-granduncle]

If you are researching these families, I will gladly provide full details of my sources, which include a family bible, a letter from Camberwell New Cemetery, and marriage and death certificates. My thanks to Anne Reece and Rhonda Newell for their help.

MUSTELL (Surname Saturday)

I don't know how accurate this is, but http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Muzzall says that MUSTELL is derived from a name of Old French origin, introduced into England after 1066. MUSTELL seems to be rather uncommon in the UK. I am researching Anne MUSTELL who married William James WEBSTER in 1845 at St. Peter's Church, Walworth, in the parish of St. Mary Newington, Surrey, England. Anne's parents were Thomas MUSTELL (gentleman, deceased by 1845) and Anne VAUGHAN. I would like to know whether Anne had any siblings, or whether there is any truth in the family legend that says 'Anne MUSTELL was a grand-daughter of Mrs FRY (celebrated Quakeress)'.

('Surname Saturday' is a theme used by 'Geneabloggers'.)