VICTORY MEDAL

Date Instituted: 1919.

Campaign: First World War 1914-18.

Description: The obverse of this bronze medal bears the winged figure of Victory holding a palm branch in her right hand with her left extended.  The reverse has the inscription ‘THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILISATION 1914-19’ surrounded with a laurel wreath.  The ribbon is attached via a ring which passes through a small loop sweated to the top of the medal.

Metal: Bronze.

Size: 36mm.

Clasps: None authorised for this medal.

Ribbon:

Naming: Indented capital letters.

Comments: Some 5,725,000 issues were made and this medal was never awarded alone usually being found with at least the War Service Medal 1914-20.  Although the medal is dated 1914-19 the qualifying period ended in November 1918 but several issues are known to be made for those serving between 13-14^th January 1919 in Hedjaz or the Aden Field Force.

Several different finishes are seen with this medal.  Some have a dull brown or dusty finish which is believed to be due to a batch made from a slightly different mixture of metals from the others.

Some examples of these medals are encountered by collectors having a set of palm leaves attached to the ribbon. This signifies that the recipient was 'mentioned in despatches'.