War Medal

[wotty]

My other half has been clearing out a house and has found this. He was told to expect to find war medals but we're not certain this is one. Can anyone shed any light on it, please?

Many thanks.

[Jebber]

I stand to be corrected, but I believe it’s a commemorative medal rather than on official medal. Not worn by serving personnel, Ex service personnel can wear them beneath official ones.

[HMac]

Yes, it is The Great War Queen Mary & King George Peace Medal  - there appear to be many different designs - just google WW1 peace medal.

https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/coin_kingdom_llc/181/product/great_britain_world_war_i_1919_peace__victory_medal_the_great_war_queen_mary__king_george_v_original_box/1182440/Default.aspx

Regards
Hugh

[philipsearching]

I stand to be corrected, but I believe it’s a commemorative medal rather than on official medal. Not worn by serving personnel, Ex service personnel can wear them beneath official ones.

Yes, it is The Great War Queen Mary & King George Peace Medal  - there appear to be many different designs - just google WW1 peace medal.
https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/coin_kingdom_llc/181/product/great_britain_world_war_i_1919_peace__victory_medal_the_great_war_queen_mary__king_george_v_original_box/1182440/Default.aspx

Regards
Hugh

I can't add much to these replies, except to say that various City Corporations, Local Authorities, societies and so on issued commemorative medals dated 1914-18 or 1914-19.  Some made up their own designs (such as the Freemasons), others seem to have bought in medals from bulk manufacturers.

I am not aware of any national standard rules for the issue of these medals - they were unofficial and not sanctioned by the War Office.  It would be interesting to know if the medal is lightweight - some were apparently made of aluminium.  The few medals I have seen were not marked with a recipient's name or the organisation which issued them.

It will be almost impossible to find out the recipient - unless a name can be traced from electoral rolls and linked to the war (but even then it would only be as "probable" not a "definite").


These medals are fairly rare, even if not especially valuable.  But value is irrelevant.  What your other half has found is a fascinating piece of social history.

Philip

[barryd]

The Peace Medal stretched my World War I knowledge. Never seen one before.

Likewise a Peace MUG.

https://www.for-sale.co.uk/peace-1919-mug

[wotty]

Thank you all for the information.

philipsearching, the medal was quite lightweight, and also quite thin. There was no name on it and I doubt one could have been fitted around the edge. We have no idea who it could have belonged to. It likely belonged to someone in the householder's family, as family members were concerned about the whereabouts of some "war medals". Although it is not what they were looking for, it has been returned to the family.

Wotty.