Inter-Allied Victory Medal

Authorised:
1919.

Qualification:
First World War. There were many versions of this medal which were issued to qualifying participants from the victorious allies. Qualification for the British/colonial version was extensive and has been covered comprehensively by North East Medals. Essentially though, the award covered those who had been serving within a theatre of military operations between 4th/5th August 1914 and midnight on the 11th/12th November 1918. It was also awarded to members of the British Naval mission to Russia 1919-1920 and for mine clearance in the North Sea between 11 November 1918 and 30 November 1919.

Description:
Approximately 6,335,000 Victory medals were issued to British and Imperial forces.

36mm diameter bronze gilt finish suspended by a ring. Obverse: the standing figure of Victory holding a palm. Reverse: inscription 'THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILISATION 1914-1919' appears within a laurel wreath. William McMillan (1887-1977) was responsible for the design which appeared on the British/colonial and South African version of the Victory Medal. The South African version carries a bilingual inscription: 'THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILISATION' and, in Afrikaans, 'DE GROTE OORLOG VOOR DE BESCHAVING 1914-1919'.

Ribbon:
Double rainbow pattern, graded and watered. From the centre the colours are: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple.

Naming:
Impressed in sans serif capitals around the edge.

Clasps:
None issued with this medal.

Other:
Men who were Mentioned in Dispatches were awarded an Oak Leaf which was worn on the ribbon of the Victory Medal.

For other versions of the Inter-Allied Victory Medal, visit the Digger History page devoted to Allied Victory Medals from the Great War.

Image shows the medal group awarded to Captain William Balfour Campbell of the 8th Punjab Regiment. The oak leaf for his MiD is affixed to his Victory Medal ribbon (centre).

British War Medal

Authorised:
1919.

Qualification:
First World War. Qualification for this medal was extensive and North East Medals has already published a wealth of information on this WW1 award. What follows below is a summary.

The original qualification was for officers and men of British and Imperial Forces who had rendered service between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918. This was later extended to include women who had served (subject to those qualifications which North East Medals outlines), and also the immediate post-war period 1919-1920 which covered mine-clearance operations at sea as well as operations in the eastern Baltic, Siberia, The Black and Caspian Seas, and north and south Russia.

Description:
6,390,000 silver British War Medals were issued with a further 110,000 bronze British War Medals issued mostly to the Chinese Labour Corps, Indian Labour Corps and Maltese Labour Corps.

36mm diameter silver or bronze (as above) with non-swivelling suspender. Obverse: King George V and the legend: GEORGIUS BRITT: OMN: REX: ET: IND: IMP: which is the abbreviated 1919 'txt' equivalent of "George V, omnipotent King of Great Britain and Emperor of India." The reverse of the medal depicts St George on horseback holding a short sword. His horse tramples his adversaries’ shield, to the left of which lies a skull and crossbones. 1914 and 1918 are recorded behind St George’s back and in front of the horse’s left fore-leg respectively.

Ribbon:
Orange with, from each edge, blue, black and white stripes.

Naming:
Impressed in a variety of styles.

Other:
Sixty eight naval bars and seventy nine army bars were proposed although ultimately the idea was abandoned and the medal was issued, in Frank Richards’ words, “bare-arsed".

Image:
Courtesy of John Duncan, taken from his excellent Newbattle at War website.

Citations of the DCM 1914-1920

Citations of The Distinguished Conduct Medal in the Great War 1914-1920

The Naval & Military Press has this to say about this four volume set:

"This much-needed series lists the full citations of the Distinguished Conduct Medal (and second and third award bars) in the Great War. The DCM may not have the cachet of the VC, but the deeds told in the citations for the award are just as heroic and inspiring.

"Section 1 of the series lists DCMs won by members of the Royal Flying Corps and (from April 1918) of the Royal Air Force; the Foot Guards; and the Yeomanry and Cavalry. Section 2 covers the Line Regiments. Section 3 the Territorial Army Regiments including the RGLI/RNVR/RMLI and RMA; the Royal Engineers and the Royal Artillery. Section 4 covers the Corps and the overseas forces of the Crown in alphabetical order: Australia; the British West Indies Regiment; Canada; India; Newfoundland; New Zealand; Rhodesia; South and East Africa.

"The citations for DCMs are hard to find - unit histories often have no space for more than a brief mention; or just the bare fact of the award tucked away in an appendix. Others are lost in the labyrinth of small print in the official ‘London Gazette’. But, thanks to the research of Rob Walker, who compiled the citations, and the tireless work of Chris Buckland who oversaw the mammoth task of typing of all 25,000+ citations, the brave deeds which won the medals are here for all to see."