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DACKOMBE (and variants) Forces War Records Ambrose DACOMBE 1917 |
Below is the information for Ambrose DACOMBE
First Name: Ambrose
Surname: Dacombe
Rank: Company Sergeant Major
Service Number: 5912
Gallantry Awards: Medal for Military Valour – in bronze
Award Details: Award received from Italy during First World War.
Gazette Date: 26/05/1917
Gazette Page: 5202
Campaign Medals: Victory Medal
Gallantry Awards: The Bronze Medal for Military Valour
Gazette Info: Gazette No. 30096. The Bronze Medal for Military Valour. His Majesty the King has given unrestricted permission in all cases to wear the Decorations and Medals in Question. His Majesty The King of Italy has Awarded The Bronze Medal for Military Valour.
Gazette Date: 25/05/1917
Gazette Page: 5202
Given the information we have available it is likely that Ambrose Dacombe was entitled to the Victory medal, also called the Inter Allied Victory Medal. This medal was awarded to all who received the 1914 Star or 1914-15 Star and, with certain exceptions, to those who received the British War Medal. It was never awarded alone. These three medals were sometimes irreverently referred to as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.
Eligibility for this award consisted of having been mobilised, fighting, having served in any of the theatres of operations, or at sea, between midnight 4th/5th August, 1914, and midnight, 11th/12th November, 1918. Women who served in any of the various military organisations in a theatre of operations were also eligible.
British War Medal
From the information available to us, it is very possible that Ambrose Dacombe was entitled to the British War Medal for service in World War One. This British Empire campaign medal was issued for services between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918.
The medal was automatically awarded in the event of death on active service before the completion of this period.
Service: British Army
Regiment: Royal Hampshire Regiment
Royal Hampshire Regiment during World War 1
Since 1815 the balance of power in Europe had been maintained by a series of treaties. In 1888 Wilhelm II was crowned ‘German Emperor and King of Prussia’ and moved from a policy of maintaining the status quo to a more aggressive position. He did not renew a treaty with Russia, aligned Germany with the declining Austro-Hungarian Empire and started to build a Navy rivalling that of Britain. These actions greatly concerned Germany’s neighbours, who quickly forged new treaties and alliances in the event of war. On 28th June 1914 Franz Ferdinand the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne was assassinated by the Bosnian-Serb nationalist group Young Bosnia who wanted pan-Serbian independence. Franz Joseph's the Austro-Hungarian Emperor (with the backing of Germany) responded aggressively, presenting Serbia with an intentionally unacceptable ultimatum, to provoke Serbia into war. Serbia agreed to 8 of the 10 terms and on the 28th July 1914 the Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on Serbia, producing a cascade effect across Europe. Russia bound by treaty to Serbia declared war with Austro-Hungary, Germany declared war with Russia and France declared war with Germany. Germany’s army crossed into neutral Belgium in order to reach Paris, forcing Britain to declare war with Germany (due to the Treaty of London (1839) whereby Britain agreed to defend Belgium in the event of invasion). By the 4th August 1914 Britain and much of Europe were pulled into a war which would last 1,566 days, cost 8,528,831 lives and 28,938,073 casualties or missing on both sides.
The Regiment formed a total of 32 Battalions and received 82 Battle Honours and 3 Victoria Crosses losing 7,580 men during the course of the war.
Collection: Gazetted Awards and Mentions in Despatches
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