Replacement British War Medal 1914-1920

Object/Artifact

-

Henley & Grange RSL

Name/Title

Replacement British War Medal 1914-1920

Entry/Object ID

2023.220.2.1.3

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 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

Replacement British War Medal 1914-1920, awarded to Sergeant Sidney Benjamin Jones, service number 7057, who served in the 17th Battalion AIF during World War 1. Born in Manly, New South Wales, Australia in 1891, Sidney Jones first enlisted on February 16, 1917, before being discharged as medically unfit on April 30 the same year. Undeterred, he re-enlisted on July 26, 1917, and posted to the 17th Battalion with the rank of Sergeant, embarking for England on October 31, 1917. Landing at Devonport, UK on Boxing Day, Jones undertook training before being sent to France on April 1, 1918. Once again, injury would impact his service, with him being sent back to England just 10 weeks later. An old injury to Sergeant Jones' right wrist had him returning to Australia on July 27, 1918, and eventually discharged as medically unfit on September 21, 1918. Sergeant Sidney Benjamin Jones would return to civilian life, unfortunately a fire at his business premises in 1919, would destroy his discharge papers and see a loss of his Victory and War Medals. These were eventually applied for in 1938 and they were dispatched accordingly. Service to his country meant a great deal to Sidney Jones, and when war broke out again in 1939, he enlisted at Keswick, South Australia on December 1940. A wool classer by trade, he was again discharged, however on this third occasion, it was due to "Essential Services". Eventually settling with his wife Norma, in Henley Beach South, South Australia, the veteran of two World Wars, Sergeant Sidney Benjamin Jones died on August 15, 1974.

Category

Medal, Personal Effects
War Memorabilia

Made/Created

Date made

1919

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Medal

Circumference

36 mm

Dimension Description

Ribbon

Width

32 mm

Location

Building

Henley & Grange RSL Sub-branch

Condition

Overall Condition

Very Good

Acquisition

Acquisition Method

Donation

Acquired From

Sidney Benjamin Jones

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Korean South East Asia Forces Veterans Association SA

Provenance

Provenance Detail

Original owner