Let's start with First Sergeant John Hanna, a Nova Scotia born Civil War veteran. He was one of 29 chosen to escort the body of Abraham Lincoln on the funeral train route from Washington to Springfield back in 1865. Three recent blogs here told of his story.
A researcher contacted me to help with his group's efforts to locate the Hanna Grave. When I, with help from another, found it, the cemetery insisted we had the right name but wrong grave. They insisted their man had served during the Civil War with the 95th Pa Infantry. The Canadian did not. They were unable to supply any supporting info.
A search by friends of the cemetery then turned up a great obit, but it also mentioned the 95th. But at my request another researcher pulled the files of both men at the US National Archives in Washington. Therein we got the proof verifying that the 95th man was buried in another cemetery, and the Canadian was at the above cemetery. They now agree that the Canadian is now hopefully at better rest at their cemetery.
The supplier of the info below was sent several emails, and now a 2nd one has also been sent to the below organization. But as of yesterday this information has still not been corrected. Nor has either responded to my emails.
Hopefully that will be resolved soon. More info is also being sought on the Canadian Hanna and will be provided when received.
A researcher contacted me to help with his group's efforts to locate the Hanna Grave. When I, with help from another, found it, the cemetery insisted we had the right name but wrong grave. They insisted their man had served during the Civil War with the 95th Pa Infantry. The Canadian did not. They were unable to supply any supporting info.
A search by friends of the cemetery then turned up a great obit, but it also mentioned the 95th. But at my request another researcher pulled the files of both men at the US National Archives in Washington. Therein we got the proof verifying that the 95th man was buried in another cemetery, and the Canadian was at the above cemetery. They now agree that the Canadian is now hopefully at better rest at their cemetery.
The supplier of the info below was sent several emails, and now a 2nd one has also been sent to the below organization. But as of yesterday this information has still not been corrected. Nor has either responded to my emails.
Hopefully that will be resolved soon. More info is also being sought on the Canadian Hanna and will be provided when received.
Note the incorrect info above re the 95th. The Canadian first enlisted with the 40th NY Infantry. He then served with the 2nd US Cavalry and finally with the 14th Veterans Corps, and from there was selected for the funeral duties.
On another front, a story that mentioned British Columbia born Medal of Honor hero Douglas Munro was published by a Seattle paper most recently.
On another front, a story that mentioned British Columbia born Medal of Honor hero Douglas Munro was published by a Seattle paper most recently.
The story was a brief intro of a paragraph long on about 2 dozen Medal of Honor men, with each story complete with an image of the hero, or one that depicts the events that lead to their awards. But something caught my eye in this otherwise great story.
This site's editing function continues to throw roadblocks my way... and thus such sloppy cropping above. Regardless, the clip says that the stories are about Washington State born recipients and that the information comes from the well known HOME OF HEROES website.
What concerns me is that one of the stories in the newspaper article is about Munro who is clearly a NON-AMERICAN born recipient, and comes from Vancouver BC.
As evidenced in many many places... including the very source they quote. ...Here's one such notice...
What concerns me is that one of the stories in the newspaper article is about Munro who is clearly a NON-AMERICAN born recipient, and comes from Vancouver BC.
As evidenced in many many places... including the very source they quote. ...Here's one such notice...
Most difficult to read, but the first line notes that Munro was Vancouver BC born.
As do the above two clips re Munro, and from the same source.
But they finally get it right, as shown above.
Now, on to something much more positive.
Much has been written in this space about the Cable Cutting incident during the Spanish American War and how 52 Medals of Honor were awarded for bravery in this incident back in 1898. During the short war several Canadians were among those honoured and a handful were for heroism during the Cable Cutting.
My early research into the Canadian medaled men from that event exposed me to the name of a Delaware man by the name of Leonard Chadwick. His bravery was whilst working at the very side of Canadians medaled for that same incident.
Chadwick's name also came up while I was researching the 6 Americans who were awarded the Victoria Cross. (4 while fighting with Canadian troops in the Great War.) Chadwick was not one of these, but while doing the VC work, I came across the story of the Queens Scarf, also often mentioned in this space in the past. And as duly noted previously, Chadwick was awarded one of the 8 Queens scarf's.
Over the years, 7 of the scarfs have been accounted for, but Chadwick's was not. Till now.
Sort of!
Other stories have kept me from bringing you news I have been sitting on for about a month regarding Leonard, his Medal of Honor and his scarf.
For several years I was a proud member of the Delaware Medal of Honor Society. It has recently been morphed into another due to aging of its founder and thoughts that it best be put in the hands of new and younger keepers of the watch, if you will. For several years we exchanged MOH information and we and many others had been on the hunt for Chadwick family for a long time, but with little in the way of results.
But a month ago that all changed when distant relatives found my website and made contact. Many emails and phone calls later, the story emerged that the Queens Scarf was loaned to a most reputable museum. But over the years it somehow lost track of it and cannot now find it. So too for an actual Medal of Honor and a certificate regarding the medal.
I have promised not to reveal where the descendants live, nor the museum as it would lead to them possibly.
The museum has made a recent investigation but as of yet had not turned up the items. Hopefully that will change in time.
But the heirs have some goodies! Items that I venture to bet the world have not seen for many, many, many years.
Now, on to something much more positive.
Much has been written in this space about the Cable Cutting incident during the Spanish American War and how 52 Medals of Honor were awarded for bravery in this incident back in 1898. During the short war several Canadians were among those honoured and a handful were for heroism during the Cable Cutting.
My early research into the Canadian medaled men from that event exposed me to the name of a Delaware man by the name of Leonard Chadwick. His bravery was whilst working at the very side of Canadians medaled for that same incident.
Chadwick's name also came up while I was researching the 6 Americans who were awarded the Victoria Cross. (4 while fighting with Canadian troops in the Great War.) Chadwick was not one of these, but while doing the VC work, I came across the story of the Queens Scarf, also often mentioned in this space in the past. And as duly noted previously, Chadwick was awarded one of the 8 Queens scarf's.
Over the years, 7 of the scarfs have been accounted for, but Chadwick's was not. Till now.
Sort of!
Other stories have kept me from bringing you news I have been sitting on for about a month regarding Leonard, his Medal of Honor and his scarf.
For several years I was a proud member of the Delaware Medal of Honor Society. It has recently been morphed into another due to aging of its founder and thoughts that it best be put in the hands of new and younger keepers of the watch, if you will. For several years we exchanged MOH information and we and many others had been on the hunt for Chadwick family for a long time, but with little in the way of results.
But a month ago that all changed when distant relatives found my website and made contact. Many emails and phone calls later, the story emerged that the Queens Scarf was loaned to a most reputable museum. But over the years it somehow lost track of it and cannot now find it. So too for an actual Medal of Honor and a certificate regarding the medal.
I have promised not to reveal where the descendants live, nor the museum as it would lead to them possibly.
The museum has made a recent investigation but as of yet had not turned up the items. Hopefully that will change in time.
But the heirs have some goodies! Items that I venture to bet the world have not seen for many, many, many years.
Over the years the army and navy medals have gone through a number of changes and assortment of ribbons. Above are the first three versions of the army medal.
When a new medal was introduced, or a new ribbon, the old medal or ribbon might have been recalled, or maybe not. Some may have refused to let go of the originals because of the sentimental value they placed in them. Sometimes just ribbons were sent out. Sometimes they were attached and sometimes not. Researchers often pull their hair out trying identify the recipient and if the version is correct or not. And to boot, sometimes a duplicate is issued. So a soldier or sailor could literally have three or more of these critters.
Possible part of the Chadwick story!
His obit says he was buried with the medal. A medal that was never signed out apparently from the museum, in the same manner... or any manner apparently, as it was signed in. So there are possible 2 medals for Chadwick right there.
And the two metal tins in the family closet have another. It was first described to me as being a star, not sure what it was and with no name on it. That is till I suggested they turn it over.
And Wallah... here is what soon came my way, and I take great pride in now showing it to you and the world....
When a new medal was introduced, or a new ribbon, the old medal or ribbon might have been recalled, or maybe not. Some may have refused to let go of the originals because of the sentimental value they placed in them. Sometimes just ribbons were sent out. Sometimes they were attached and sometimes not. Researchers often pull their hair out trying identify the recipient and if the version is correct or not. And to boot, sometimes a duplicate is issued. So a soldier or sailor could literally have three or more of these critters.
Possible part of the Chadwick story!
His obit says he was buried with the medal. A medal that was never signed out apparently from the museum, in the same manner... or any manner apparently, as it was signed in. So there are possible 2 medals for Chadwick right there.
And the two metal tins in the family closet have another. It was first described to me as being a star, not sure what it was and with no name on it. That is till I suggested they turn it over.
And Wallah... here is what soon came my way, and I take great pride in now showing it to you and the world....
As they say in the navy, it looks like it has slipped it's anchor. HeHe.
Here's a closer look...
Here's a closer look...
It is inscribed... From Congress, for Bravery and Gallantry, to Leonard Chadwick, Apprentice First Class, USS Marblehead, for Cutting of Cable, Cienfuegos, Cuba, May 11 1898.
Not sure why the later ribbon, as it should be the center ribbon shown above. But it may have been altered when a new ribbon was probable sent to the recipient.
Not sure why the later ribbon, as it should be the center ribbon shown above. But it may have been altered when a new ribbon was probable sent to the recipient.
Several times during the Civil War and beyond, some generals and admirals issued there own tokens of thanks to those serving under them. What you see here is an example. This a medal created by Admiral Sampson after the Spanish American War. It had over 30 different campaign bars, at above left, top is a bar for Guantanamo and as shown below the bar represents the vessel served on. The reverse also has at the very bottom some of the particular battles. This is Chadwick's medal for action at Cienfuegos where the cable Cutting took place.
The family told me that the medal didn't have his name on it. I told them to look at its edge... and sure enough... there it was...
The family told me that the medal didn't have his name on it. I told them to look at its edge... and sure enough... there it was...
Here we see...Leonard Chadwick, and rotating the medal further it shows his rank. When the family emailed back they were so excited about all of the info they were getting they said it was more fun than being in a barrel full monkeys. Having never been in such a barrel I took their word for it.
Here are two more great keepsakes. One looks like a business card. Note the image of the MOH bow knot at upper left. These were worn on suits etc in lieu of the actual medals on some occasions.
Past blogs have often mentioned the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. There were other similar groups, one being the above which allowed entry to medaled men who had very high awards but not necessarily the MOH. More on them in a later blog.
Past blogs have often mentioned the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. There were other similar groups, one being the above which allowed entry to medaled men who had very high awards but not necessarily the MOH. More on them in a later blog.
Here is another great family heirloom. The actual release document for his service in the Boer War where he earned his Queen's Scarf.
He was voted the bravest of the bravest of the bravest of thousands of men and selected, without any officer's input. The men on the front lines chose him. A major accomplishment. The scarf itself has to dwarf the Medal of Honor when you think about it. Yet it is so little known across North America.
That's enough for this week,
Bart
He was voted the bravest of the bravest of the bravest of thousands of men and selected, without any officer's input. The men on the front lines chose him. A major accomplishment. The scarf itself has to dwarf the Medal of Honor when you think about it. Yet it is so little known across North America.
That's enough for this week,
Bart
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