By Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen Medallists Worcestershire Medal Service Ltd Bromsgrove Worcestershire Medal Service Ltd 1914 Star

Eligibility Instituted in 1917 and sometimes erroneously referred to as the Mons Star, this award was approved for all Officers and Men of the British and Indian Expeditionary Forces, including civilian medical practitioners, nursing sisters, nurses and others employed in military hospitals who actually served in or between the 5th August 1914 and midnight of 22-23rd November 1914. Criteria Royal Navy, Royal Marines, RNR and RNVR personnel qualified if they served at ashore in France or Belgium. Army Personnel had to serve on the establishment of a Unit in Either France or Belgium Service for all must have been between 5th August 1914 and midnight of 22- 23rd November 1914 Description A bronze four pointed star the top point formed as a crown with a ring suspension on top through which the ribbon is threaded. Swords cross through the angles of the star and where they meet they are surmounted with a scroll bearing the date ‘1914’ above which is a smaller scroll bearing the date ‘Aug’ and a similar scroll below bearing ‘Nov’ with a plain reverse. The medal is worn from a watered ribbon of Red White and blue in equal proportions. The red is worn nearest to the centre of the chest. Approximately 378,000 stars were awarded but it is not known how many of these were awarded with a bar. 160 stars without bars were awarded to Canadian. Mounting A fixed ring formed into the top of the Crown. Bars A single clasp bearing the dates ‘5th Aug-22nd Nov 1914’ was authorised by the King in 1919 for award to those personnel who served under fire in France or Belgium between those dates. The clasp has a small hole in each corner for sewing onto the ribbon.

Information compiled from official sources and provided free of charge. WMSI01 – First World War Medals V1.0 Last Updated : 17th October 2008

By Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen Medallists Worcestershire Medal Service Ltd Bromsgrove Worcestershire Medal Service Ltd 1914-15 Star

Eligibility Authorised in 1918 and awarded to all who served overseas between 5th August 1914 and 31st December 1915 provided the had not received the 1914 Star. Criteria For the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, RNAS, RNR, RNVR and RIM and Dominion Naval forces, personnel had to be have been mobilised and served at sea or on shore within the theatres of operations. RNAS employed flying from Naval Air stations on overseas patrols, to personnel of the mercantile marine serving under special Naval engagements; to canteen staffs who had served in a ship of war at sea. Description Same basic design as the 1914 star except the central scroll bears the dates 1914-15 and the two smaller scrolls are omitted. The medal is worn from a watered ribbon of Red White and blue in equal proportions. The red is worn nearest to the centre of the chest. Approximately 2,366,000 were issued, including 283,500 to the Royal Navy and 71,500 to Canadian Units. Mounting A fixed ring formed into the top of the Crown. Bars No bars were authorised to this medal.

British War Medal

Eligibility Approved in 1919 this award also covered post war mine-clearance at sea as well as service in North and South Russia, the Eastern Baltic, Siberia, Black Sea and Caspian up to 1920. Criteria Navy, and Marines including dominion and colonial forces and reserve qualified by serving 28 days between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918

Information compiled from official sources and provided free of charge. WMSI01 – First World War Medals V1.0 Last Updated : 17th October 2008

By Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen Medallists Worcestershire Medal Service Ltd Bromsgrove Worcestershire Medal Service Ltd Army and RAF personnel received the award on entering a theatre of war between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918. Description The reverse represents St. George on horseback trampling underfoot the eagle shields of the and a skull and cross-bones, the emblem of death. The male figure rather than a symbolic female one was chosen because man had borne the brunt of the fighting. The figure was mounted on horseback as symbolic of mans min controlling a force (the horse) of greater strength than his own. The medal is struck in solid silver although also awarded to Chinese, Maltese, Indian and other native Labour Corps and also to other native personnel who were mobilised for war service and rendered pay at military rates. Approximately 6,500,000silver medals and 110,000 bronze medals were issued. The medal is worn from a ribbon with a broad central orange stripe of 16mm bordered either side by a white stripe or 3mm, a black stripe of 1mm and a blue edge of 3mm. Mounting The ribbon is attached by a straight non-swivelling suspension. Bars Bars were originally approved for the medal and the Royal Navy actually had their list of 50 clasps approved, none were however ever awarded although they are found in miniature. The Army and RAF list was never made public. Mercantile Marine War Medal

Eligibility Awarded to Officers and men of the Mercantile Marine (As the Merchant Navy was then known) It was also awarded to a few members of the Royal Navy who were seconded for service with the Mercantile Marine between 4th August 1914 and 31st December 1915. Criteria Personnel must have qualified for the and also provided proof of service on one or more voyages through a danger zone. Description The medal is struck in bronze and depicts a merchant ship in heavy seas, in the right background is a sailing ship in the middle distance on the right is a

Information compiled from official sources and provided free of charge. WMSI01 – First World War Medals V1.0 Last Updated : 17th October 2008

By Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen Medallists Worcestershire Medal Service Ltd Bromsgrove Worcestershire Medal Service Ltd sinking submarine. Underneath are the words ‘For war service mercantile marine 1914-1918’ The whole is surrounded by a laurel wreath. The ribbon is half red half green separated by a thin white stripe and represent the ships lights port and starboard. Approximately 133,135 medals were issued, around 100 were to Canadians. Mounting The ribbon is attached by a straight non-swivelling suspension. Bars No bars were authorised.

Eligibility Authorised in 1919 to commemorate the victory of the Allies over the Central Powers. It was resolved that each of the Allies should issue a ‘Victory Medal’ to their own personnel to prevent a mass exchange of awards between the nations. It was further resolved that all the issues would have a common theme, that of the figure of Victory on the obverse – Japan however issued theirs with a Samurai Warrior on the obverse. It was optional to issue the medal and in the event the following countries issued medals; Great Britain, Belgium, Brazil, Cuba, , France, , Italy, Japan, , Roumania, Thailand, Union of South Africa and the USA. Criteria Issued to all personnel who served within a theatre of war between midnight 4-5th August 1914 and midnight 11-12th November 1918. All recipients of the Victory Medal received the British War Medal. Not all recipients of the British War Medal received the Victory medal. Description The winged figure of Victory with her arm extended and holding a palm branch in her right hand. The reverse bears the inscription ‘The great war for civilisation 1914-1919’ The metal is Gilded Bronze. The ribbon is a watered wide ribbon in the colours of the rainbow going from Red in the centre to purple on each edge. Approximately 5,725,000 were issued Mounting The medal is suspended from 1 14mm diameter ring which passes through a loop fixed to the top of the medal.

Information compiled from official sources and provided free of charge. WMSI01 – First World War Medals V1.0 Last Updated : 17th October 2008

By Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen Medallists Worcestershire Medal Service Ltd Bromsgrove Worcestershire Medal Service Ltd Bars No bars were authorised however recipients of a Mention in Despatches wear a spray of oak leaves on the ribbon, only one emblem is worn regardless of how many times an individual was mentioned. Territorial Force War Medal

Eligibility Established in 1920 for award to members of the Territorial Force and Territorial Force Nursing Service who volunteered for service overseas on or before 30th September 1914. Criteria As well as volunteering for service before 30th September 1914 individuals must have rendered service during the First World War, served outside the between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918 and did not qualify for either the 1914 or 1914-15 Star. Individuals must also have completed four years service in the Territorial Force before 4th August 1914 and rejoined that Force on or before 30th September 1914. Description A Bronze medal bearing on the reverse the wording around the top ‘Territorial War Medal’ and below, inside a wreath, the inscription ‘ For Voluntary Service Overseas 1914-19’ The Ribbon is Yellow watered with a green stripe of 4mm set ip 5mm from each edge. A Total of 33,944 medals were issued. Mounting The ribbon is attached by a straight non-swivelling suspension. Bars No Bars were authorised

Information compiled from official sources and provided free of charge. WMSI01 – First World War Medals V1.0 Last Updated : 17th October 2008