British War Medal 1914-20

Object/Artifact

-

Henley & Grange RSL

Name/Title

British War Medal 1914-20

Entry/Object ID

2023.43

Description

The obverse shows Sir Bertram Mackennal's bareheaded effigy of King George V facing left, with the legend "GEORGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:" The reverse, designed by William McMillan, shows Saint George naked on horseback and armed with a short sword, an allegory of the physical and mental strength which achieved victory over Prussianism. The horse tramples on the Prussian eagle shield and the emblems of death, a skull and cross-bones. In the background are ocean waves and just off-centre near the right upper rim is the risen sun of Victory. The years "1914" and "1918" appear on the perimeter in the left and right fields respectively. The rim is impressed with the recipient's name rank and service number in block capitals. The watered silk ribbon is 32 millimetres (1.25 in) wide, with a 3 millimetres wide royal blue band, a 2 millimetres wide black band and a 3 millimetres wide white band, repeated in reverse order and separated by a 16 millimetres wide orange band. The colours are not thought to have any particular symbolic significance.

Use

One of three medals awarded to K1049 Stoker Petty Officer Sidney COUSSENS RN for his service during WW1 aboard the following ships: HMS Dwarf June 29, 1914 - August 18, 1916 HMS Pembroke II August 19, 1916 - February 21, 1917 HMS Attentive II February 22, 1917 - September 25 1919 SPO Cousins would have been involved in the engagement in the Cameroon River between HMS DWARF and the German armed steamer, NACHTIGAL, on September 16, 1914. The Nachtigal sank in an ensuing explosion, which killed 36 of her crew, with HMS Dwarf noting in its log "picked up 4 white [illegible] 8 black". Another attempt failed to sink the Dwarf, when two German launches used spar torpedoes against her. K1049 SPO Sidney Coussens continued to serve with the Royal Navy until being discharged on July 22, 1930. He died in Kent, United Kingdom in 1970.

Category

Medal, Personal Effects
War Memorabilia

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Medal

Circumference

36 mm

Dimension Notes

Ribbon

Width

32 mm

Location

Building

Henley & Grange RSL Sub-branch

Condition

Overall Condition

Good