MEDAL REFERENCES

First World War

1914 STAR

1914-15 STAR

BRITISH WAR MEDAL

"The Mons Star" or "Pip"

Awarded to the "Old Contemptibles" - members of the pre-war British Army, some 378,000 of these medals were issued. While coloquially known as "The Mons Star", referencing the famous Mons Retreat, this medal covers action in both France and Belgium between the dates embossed on the medal.

Qualifying for this medal required service personnel of the British or Indian Expeditionary Forces to have served in France or Belgium between the outbreak of war in August 1914 to 22/23 November 1914.

"Pip"

Instituted in 1918, the 1914-15 Star was awarded alongside the British War Medal and Victory Medal for any service personnel who served in any global theatre of war between 5th August 1914 and 31st December 1915.

Over 2,366,000 of these medals were awarded to British and Empire soldiers.

Silver Issue

The British War Medal was widely awarded to British and Empire soldiers who rendered their services between the 5th August 1914 up until the German armistice on 11th November 1918.

Unlike the the Victory Medal and the 1914 and 1914-15 Stars, the British War Medal could be awarded on its own.

Over 6,500,000 medals were awarded to eligible personnel.

BRITISH WAR MEDAL

Bronze Issue

As with the Silver Issue of the British War Medal, the eligibility criteria were the same. The Bronze issue was however primarily awarded to Labour Corps from China, Malta, India and Macedonia, as well as other small native personnel who received military pay.

Only 110,000 of these medals were struck and fakes regularly circulate among the genuine.