Medals of the First World War

British War Medal (1914-1920)

The 1914-1920 British War Medal was awarded to military personnel who served overseas, and so was issued to troops who went to serve in India and Iraq as well as those who fought in Europe. Struck in silver, the medal had an image of a bust of King George V on the front, while on the back was an image of St George. In total, more than 6.6 million British War Medals were issued.

Distinguished Service Order

The DSO was awarded to British, Commonwealth and Imperial senior officers for ‘highly successful command and leadership during active operations’. Recipients of the order are official known as Companions of the Distinguished Service Order. The medal is of silver gilt (early ones were gold) and is a cross with curved edges. At the centre is a crown.

King's Silver War Badge

First issued in 1916, the King’s Silver War Badge was given to British and Imperial personnel who were honourably discharged, or retired, from service during the war. Those discharged from 1914 were entitled to apply retrospectively, and in total around one million were issued. Most recipients were those invalided out of the services with severe injuries. Worn as a badge or brooch, it was useful for many as a symbol that they were not avoiding military service. _{Picture © IWM INS 7850}

Mercantile Marine War Medal

Meritorious Service Medal

The Meritorious Service Medal, also known as the MSM, was first awarded to non-commissioned officers in the British Army from 1845, but in 1919 it was decided it could also be awarded to those serving in the Royal Navy and its reserve forces.

It was awarded for ‘gallantry not in the face of the enemy’ and for meritorious service. The colours of its ribbon vary depending on the branch of the services the recipient was in and when. Up to 1916, when it was only awarded to the army, it was crimson. In 1916-17, the army ribbon was crimson with white edges, and from 1917 it had a white centre stripe added. Royal Navy ribbons were like the later army ones, as were Royal Air Force ones. Royal Marines ribbons are dark blue, except those awarded in the field from 1916-19, which again were the same as the later army ones.

The circular, silver medal shows an image of the monarch. If the monarch is in a naval uniform, the medal was awarded for service at sea, or for service on land by naval and Royal Marine personnel.

Picture © IWM (OMD 6211)

Military Cross

Today the Military Cross can be awarded to personnel of any rank, but when it was instituted at the start of the Great War it was reserved for junior and warrant officers (captain and below) for ‘exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy on land.’ It was the equivalent of the DSO, Distinguished Service Order, which at the time was for officers of the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and above, although it was bestowed on a number of Majors too. In 1916, the Military Medal was instituted as an equivalent award for other ranks.

The Military Cross is silver, with a Royal Cypher (such as GR) at the centre, and crowns at the end of the cross’s arms. During WW1 it was available to those in the Army, the Royal Naval Division and the Royal Marines, serving in British and Commonwealth forces. Picture: MoD

Military Medal

The Military Medal was instituted in the Great War by King George V to honour British and Commonwealth troops for bravery in battle on land. Awarded to ‘other ranks’ and warrant officers, it was the ordinary soldiers’ equivalent to the Military Cross.

A circular, silver medal, one side shows the face of the monarch, the other the words ‘For Bravery in the Field’. The ribbon is predominantly blue, with red and white vertical stripes.

Holders are entitled to use the letters MM after their name. The medal was discontinued in the British forces in 1993, and the Military Cross can now be awarded to service men and women of any rank.

The 1914 Star

The 1914 Star was also known, unofficially, as the Mons Star, and was awarded to all personnel of the British and Indian forces, as well as reservists and medical staff, who served with their units in France or Belgium between the start of the war in August 1914 and November 22 of that year. The latter date signals the end of the first Battle of Ypres. Most of the 378,000 recipients were members of the British Expeditionary Force, the old pre-war regular army.

On the front are two crossed swords and a wreath of oak leaves, and the words “AUG 1914 NOV”. Those recipients who served under fire were entitled to a bar clasp inscribed “5 Aug. To 22 Nov. 1914.” Picture: © IWM (OMD 792)

The 1914-15 Star

This medal, similar in design to the 1914 Star, was for British and Imperial forces who served in any theatre of war between August 5 1914 and December 31, 1915. Recipients of the 1914 Star were not eligible for this award, but everyone who was awarded the 1914-15 Star or the 1914 Star was also entitled to the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. The three were worn together.

The Territorial Force War Medal (1914-1920)

The Territorial Force was founded in 1908 and was the volunteer reserve force of the British Army until 1920 when it became known as the Territorial Army, or TA, which is still in existence today. Planned as a home defence force, members of the TF could not be forced to serve overseas, but could volunteer to do so.

The Territorial Force War Medal was awarded to those who served overseas between August 5 1914 and November 11 1918, with some qualifications as to length and start date of service.

It is the rarest of the five “Great War” medals, and around 34,000 were issued, to members of the TF and the TF Nursing Service. Recipients were not also entitled to the 1914 or 1914-15 Stars. Picture: © IWM (OMD 790)

Victory Medal (1914-19)

This medal was awarded to all service personnel who had entered a theatre of war. Every recipient of the Victory Medal was also eligible for the British War Medal. It was issued for service up to 1919 for those who saw action in Russia and Trans-Caspia after the Armistice.

Struck in bronze, on the front (obverse) is a figure depicting Victory. On the back is the inscription “The Great War for Civilisation”. If holders had also been Mentioned in Despatches, an oak-leaf emblem could also be worn on the ribbon of the Victory Medal. A total of 5.7 millions of these medals were issued.