1914 Star

Those who served in France or Belgium between 5^th August 1914 and midnight on 22/23^rd November 1914.                                               378,000

1914-15 Star

Those who saw service between 5 August 1914 and 31 December 1915. Couldn’t also receive 1914 star                                                       2,366,000

British War Medal 1914-20

Those who entered a theatre of war on duty or who rendered approved service overseas between 4 August 1914 and 11 November 1918.  6,500,000

Victory Medal 1914-19

The medal commemorated the victory of the Allies                           5,725,000

First World War Memorial Plaque

Those who lost their lives whilst on active service during World War One.

                                                                                                      1,600,000

Allied Subjects' Medal

Those who helped the Allied cause, by for example, assisting POWs to escape and avoid detection.

Mercantile Marine War Medal 

Members of the ‘Merchant Navy’ who served on at least one voyage through a danger zone during the war                                                              133,135

British War Medal 1914-20

This medal commemorates some of the bloodiest battles that have ever been fought by British & Commonwealth troops. The medal was instituted by King George V in 1919 to mark the end of the First World War and record the service given. Although the First World War ended in 1918, the qualification period was extended to cover post-war mine clearance and service in Russia during 1919-20.

A total of approximately 6,500,000 silver medals were issued. A total of approximately 110,000 bronze versions of this medal were issued to Chinese, Maltese, Indian and other native Labour Corps and also to other native personnel who were mobilised for war service and received pay at military rates.

The medal commemorated the victory of the Allies over the Central Powers. Each of the Allies issued a Victory Medal to their own nationals. All issues had a common obverse of a picture of Victory.

5,725,000 British Victory medals were issued.

Individuals who were mentioned in despatches wore the oak leaf on the medal's ribbon.

Army:  issued to those who were in a unit within a theatre of war between the period of 4 August 1914 to 11 November 1918.

Royal Navy: issued to those who were mobilised and gave service at sea or who were on the establishment of an unit within an operational theatre between 4 August 1914 and 11 November 1918.

Royal Air Force:  had to be serving with a unit within a theatre of war actively engaged in the air against the enemy, who flew new planes from Britain to France or formed part 

of the compliment of an aircraft-carrying ship.

Obverse & reverse sides of the British Victory Medal

The 120 millimetre, bronze Memorial Plaque was awarded to the next-of-kin of those who lost their lives whilst on active service during World War One. The inscription around the edge reads "He (or she) died for freedom and Honour".  

Each plaque had the name of the soldier commemorated, individually embossed (although later some were engraved) as part of the design. The soldiers full name was given without any indication of rank or honours to show equality of sacrifice of all those who lost their lives.  

The example shown right is named or attributed to "Victor John Remblance". 

Memorial Scroll

The Allied Subjects' Medal was a bravery medal issued to those people (not necessarily British) who had helped the Allied cause, by for example, assisting POWs to escape and avoid detection. Due to a disagreement between the British War and Foreign Offices, the medal was not introduced until November 1920, with additional awards made in 1921 and 1922.

The medal itself was either silver or bronze, and 33 millimetres in diameter. On the obverse side was the profile of King George V. The reverse side had a female Humanity offering a cup to a British soldier resting on the ground, against a profile of ruined buildings. Medals were unnamed and almost half went to women.

The 1914 Star was awarded to those who served on the strength of a unit, or service in in France or Belgium between 5th August 1914 and midnight on 22/23rd November 1914. The medal was issued named, with the recipient's details impressed on the star's reverse. All recipient's also received the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

In October 1919, King George V sanctioned the award of a bar to this medal. The bar was awarded to holders of this medal who had been under fire in either France or Belgium during the period covered by the above dates.

No Royal Navy personnel were awarded the 1914-15 Star, except for the a small number who served at Antwerp prior to midnight on 22/23 November 1914.

The majority of the recipients were officers and men of the prewar British Army, the "old Contemptibles" who landed in France soon after the outbreak of the First World War and who took part in the retreat from Mons, hence the popular nickname of Mons Star. A total of 378,000 1914 Stars were awarded.     

The 1914-15 Star was instituted in 1918 and was awarded to those who saw service between 5 August 1914 and 31 December 1915.

Personnel eligible for the 1914 Star were not eligible for this medal. The medal was issued named, with the recipient's details impressed on the star's reverse. All recipient's also received the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Approximately 2,366,000 1914-15 Star were issued. Of this total, 283,500 went to the Royal Navy and 71,500 to Canadian personnel.

This bronze medal was instituted by the UK Board of Trade and was awarded to members of the Mercantile Marine (forerunner of the Merchant Navy) who served on one or more voyages through a danger zone during the period 4 August 1914 and 11 November 1918.

A total of 133,135 medals were issued, with approximately 100 being awarded to Canadian personnel.

Obverse & reverse sides of the Mercantile Marine War Medal