Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

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For Mac Hardy

Posted by Allan Campbell on 16/2/2025, 9:16 am

Hi Mac. I asked on the board a few weeks ago about a box holding Dad’s WW11 medals which had written on it Group Leader Allan F. Campbell and asked if anyone knew about what it was for.

The box contained a Civil Defence Medal ( Dad was a ARP warden) and a Special Constabulary Medal which I remember had stitching on the material for two bars. The bars are missing but I do remember them being sewn on.

I had wondered if the Group Leader was to do with being part of Civil Defence as an ARP warden.

On Friday during my son’s visit I brought it up and he was able to find the following photo.

So Dad was a Group Leader in the Durham County Special Constabulary.

Two questions that maybe you could answer.

How would he be awarded two bars. I assume that one could be for getting the Cram family ( milkman) out of their house after an incendiary went through their roof into the main bedroom.

No idea about the second bar.

What would a Group Leader be in charge of?

Some time ago I tried to contact Durham Police for Dads police records. Nowt came back.

I do not have that medal or ever remember seeing it.

Allan C.

Re: For Mac Hardy

Posted by Mac Hardy on 16/2/2025, 10:09 am, in reply to "For Mac Hardy"

No such title as Group Leader in the Specials when I joined around 1962, I remember your dad was an Inspector, a rank I took over later in life The medal for GroupLeader is as much a mystery to me as to you, possible a rank before aligning them with the regular force. I knew your dad quite well as I lived at 1 Blue House Road and our gardens met up.Sorry I can’t be more help !

Re: For Mac Hardy

Posted by Allan Campbell on 16/2/2025, 3:00 pm, in reply to "Re: For Mac Hardy"

Thanks for the reply Mac.

The Group Leader thing maybe a wartime thing, who knows.

The box that his medals came in would be just after the war and that had Group Leader on it.

Grandfather Campbell’s medals are identical Defence and Specials but not box for those.

Allan C.

Re: For Mac Hardy

Posted by Mac Hardy on 16/2/2025, 7:06 pm, in reply to "Re: For Mac Hardy"

Your father was a true gentleman and an example to all, pleased I knew him.

Re: For Mac Hardy

Posted by Allan Campbell on 17/2/2025, 9:13 am, in reply to "Re: For Mac Hardy"

Nice of you to say that Mac. I have said before that I now realise that, I suppose did not really know him.

You would know your parents at home as we all did but away from the home you would only get glimpses of them at say the Reyrolle family visits, when Dad on Specials duty like at the Kelly Grave etc.

On that I remember Dad, Grandfather, GranddadS brother John and Dads sisters husband all on Specials duty on those days.

I remember three on duty around early 50’s. Uncle John moved to Canada in 1958 G/F died 1959 so that just left Dad and Dads sisters husband.

Once you started working it became sort of another world.

Allan C.

Re: For Mac Hardy

Posted by Geordieboy ns on 17/2/2025, 10:22 pm, in reply to "Re: For Mac Hardy"

Allan, what did your uncle die of that he was only in Canada one year ?

Re: For Mac Hardy Geordieboy

Posted by Allan Campbell on 17/2/2025, 11:31 pm, in reply to "Re: For Mac Hardy"

You misread my post. G/F died 1959, great Uncle John his youngest brother died I understand in about 1971 near Niagara on the Lake is it Virgil?

Info came third hand through his wife’s family she died 1968 I think.

It’s almost impossible to track family in Canada unless you are a close relative I understand.

Great Uncle John was and insurance man and live at 70 Victoria Road East. Some years ago a board member recalled him visiting their house.

He could have been one of those men that called to collect insurance money on a Friday night. I remember one calling at my In Laws when Ann and I were courting say about 1961 ish.

Allan C.

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[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

Rules! No Party Politics,swearing,derogatory remarks or we will delete. Anyone sharing our content on Face Book must credit 'Hebburn and our Neighbours'.