BRITISH WAR MEDAL 1914-1918
W1970.735
The medal hangs from its ribbon by a straight clasp without swivel, and has on the obverse the effigy of the king with the legend 'GEORGVIS V: BRITT:OMN: REX ET IND:IMP'
The reverse represents St. George on horseback trampling underfoot the eagle shield of the central powers and a skull and cross-bones, the emblems of death. Above is the risen sun of victory. The male figure, rather than a symbolical female one, was chosen because man had borne the brunt of the fighting. The figure was mounted on horseback as symbolic of mans mind controlling a force [represented by the horse] of greater strength than his own. The design was thus also symbolic of the mechanical and scientific alliances which helped to win the war.
The ribbon has an orange watered centre with stripes of white and black at each side and borders of royal blue. The colours were recorded as being of no particular significance.
Ref: Ribbons and Medals, Tapprell Dorling, H., p. 124, Published by George philips, london, 1974
Department:
History DepartmentCollection
| Accession Number: | W1970.735 |
|---|---|
| Accession Date: | 25 Jun 1962 |
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Western Australian Museum Collections https://museum.wa.gov.au/online-collections/content/W1970.735
Accessed 15 May 2024
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