Historical information

Medals from WW1.

Significance

Significant to remember previous wars and conflicts as it is from these that the qualities and attributes for future generations of soldiers (including Vietnam veterans) have been born.

Physical description

WW1 trio of Medals:
1st medal: 1914-15 Star:
The four pointed star is bright bronze, ensigned with a crown. The obverse has crossed gladius, overlaid with an oak wreath that is ensigned with the cypher of King George V. A scroll bearing the legend 1914-15 is centrally placed across the crossed blades.
2nd Medal:
The medal is circular, 36mm in diameter, silver in colour. The obverse bears an un-crowned effigy of King George V, facing left, with the inscription; ‘GEORGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:’ The reverse depicts St. George naked on horseback, armed with a short sword. The horse tramples on the Prussian shield and the skull and cross-bones. Just off-centre, near the right upper rim, is the Sun of Victory. The dates 1914 and 1918 appear in the left and right fields respectively. The recipient's details can be found on the medal's rim impressed in sans serif capitals - but due to the large numbers that were issued and the several suppliers that were involved this varies.
The ribbon is 36mm wide with colours orange, white, black and blue.

3rd Medal: Victory Medal:
The medal is bronze with a winged figure of Victory on the obverse. The obverse has the words ‘THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILISATION’, all surrounded by a laurel wreath.
The ribbon has a ‘two rainbow’ design, with the violet from each rainbow on the outside edges moving through to a central red stripe where both rainbows meet.
Dimensions:
rack: xxmm by yymm; medal 1: xxmm x ymm; medal 2: xxmm x ymm; medal e3: xxmm xy yymm.

Inscriptions & markings

1st medal:
The obverse has, centrally located, a scroll reading 1914-15.
2nd medal:
The obverse has the inscription; ‘GEORGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP
3rd medal:
The obverse has the words ‘THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILISATION’.