WWI UK Medals and awards during the reign of King George V 1910-1936

WWI UK Medals and awards during the reign of King George V 1910-1936, compiled by Tiaan Jacobs, DWD June 2016

The majority of the British medals and clasps are made of solid silver, though some were issued in bronze versions. The majority of the British campaign awards are circular, usually 36mm in diameter.

The British Campaign Medals

A Service Medal is awarded to all those who meet a particular set of criteria. These criteria are usually that an individual has served in a specific area, usually for a specified minimum time between set dates.


1. The 1914 Star with “Mons” clasp

Ribbon

The 1914 Star was approved in 1917, for issue to officers and men of British forces who served in France or Belgium between 5 August and midnight 22/23 November 1914. The former date is the day after Britain's declaration of war against the Central Powers, and the closing date marks the end of the First Battle of Ypres.

A small number were also issued to officers and men of the Coastal Artillery serving on the NE coast of England whose batteries engaged German warships bombarding the coast.
• 5th Aug.-22nd Nov. 1914
• Often referred to as Clasp and Roses. Instituted on 16 October1919 and awarded to those who had operated within range of enemy mobile artillery during the above period.
When the ribbon bar was worn alone, recipients of the clasp to the medal, wore a small silver
rosette on the ribbon bar.

 2. The 1914-15 Star (Also known as “Pip”)

Obverse                      Reverse

This bronze medal was authorized in 1918. It is very similar to the 1914 Star but it was issued to a much wider range of recipients. Broadly speaking, it was awarded to all who served in any theatre of war against Germany between 5th August 1914 and 31st December 1915, except those eligible for the 1914 Star.
3. British War Medal (Also known as “Squeak”.)

Ribbon

                              Obverse        Reverse

The silver or bronze medal was awarded to officers and men of the British and Imperial Forces who either entered a theatre of war or entered service overseas between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918 inclusive. This was later extended to services in Russia, Siberia and some other areas in 1919 and 1920.


4. Allied Victory Medal (Also known as “Wilfred”)

Ribbon

Obverse   Reverse                 With MID

It was decided that each of the allies should issue their own bronze victory medal with a similar design, similar equivalent wording and identical ribbon.

Those personnel who gained a MID between 4 August 1914 and 10 August 1920, wore the oak leaf on the medal's ribbon. This is illustrated in the picture above.

Pip                            Squeak                        Wilfred

Pip, Squeak and Wilfred are the affectionate names given to the three WW1 campaign medals — The 1914 Star or 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal respectively. These medals were primarily awarded to the Old Contemptibles (B.E.F.) and by convention all three medals are worn together and in the same order from left to right when viewed from the front. These are the most likely medals to be found among family heirlooms.


When the WW1 medals were issued in the 1920's it coincided with a popular comic strip published by the Daily Mirror newspaper. It was written by Bertram J. Lamb (Uncle Dick), and drawn by the cartoonist Austin Bowen Payne (A.B. Payne). Pip was the dog, Squeak the penguin and Wilfred the young rabbit. It is believed that A.B. Payne's batman during the war had been nicknamed “Pip-squeak” and this is where the idea for the names of the dog and penguin came from. For some reason the three names of the characters became associated with the three campaign medals being issued at that time to many thousands of returning servicemen, and they stuck.

In a similar vein, when only the British War Medal and Victory Medals are on display together, they are known as “Mutt and Jeff”.


(...to be continued...)