1.
George V
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George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936. He was the son of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales. From the time of his birth, he was third in the line of succession behind his father and his own brother, Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence. From 1877 to 1891, George served in the Royal Navy, on the death of his grandmother in 1901, Georges father became King-Emperor of the British Empire, and George was created Prince of Wales. He succeeded his father in 1910 and he was the only Emperor of India to be present at his own Delhi Durbar. His reign saw the rise of socialism, communism, fascism, Irish republicanism, the Parliament Act 1911 established the supremacy of the elected British House of Commons over the unelected House of Lords. In 1917, George became the first monarch of the House of Windsor, in 1924 he appointed the first Labour ministry and in 1931 the Statute of Westminster recognised the dominions of the Empire as separate, independent states within the Commonwealth of Nations. He had health problems throughout much of his reign and at his death was succeeded by his eldest son. George was born on 3 June 1865, in Marlborough House and he was the second son of the Prince and Princess of Wales, Albert Edward and Alexandra. His father was the eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and he was baptised at Windsor Castle on 7 July 1865 by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Charles Longley. As a younger son of the Prince of Wales, there was expectation that George would become king. He was third in line to the throne, after his father and elder brother, George was only 17 months younger than Albert Victor, and the two princes were educated together. John Neale Dalton was appointed as their tutor in 1871, neither Albert Victor nor George excelled intellectually. For three years from 1879, the brothers served on HMS Bacchante, accompanied by Dalton. They toured the colonies of the British Empire in the Caribbean, South Africa and Australia, and visited Norfolk, Virginia, as well as South America, the Mediterranean, Egypt, Dalton wrote an account of their journey entitled The Cruise of HMS Bacchante. Between Melbourne and Sydney, Dalton recorded a sighting of the Flying Dutchman, after Lausanne, the brothers were separated, Albert Victor attended Trinity College, Cambridge, while George continued in the Royal Navy. He travelled the world, visiting many areas of the British Empire, during his naval career he commanded Torpedo Boat 79 in home waters then HMS Thrush on the North America station, before his last active service in command of HMS Melampus in 1891–92. From then on, his rank was largely honorary
2.
United Kingdom
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The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country in western Europe. Lying off the north-western coast of the European mainland, the United Kingdom includes the island of Great Britain, Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom that shares a land border with another sovereign state—the Republic of Ireland. The Irish Sea lies between Great Britain and Ireland, with an area of 242,500 square kilometres, the United Kingdom is the 78th-largest sovereign state in the world and the 11th-largest in Europe. It is also the 21st-most populous country, with an estimated 65.1 million inhabitants, together, this makes it the fourth-most densely populated country in the European Union. The United Kingdom is a monarchy with a parliamentary system of governance. The monarch is Queen Elizabeth II, who has reigned since 6 February 1952, other major urban areas in the United Kingdom include the regions of Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester. The United Kingdom consists of four countries—England, Scotland, Wales, the last three have devolved administrations, each with varying powers, based in their capitals, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, respectively. The relationships among the countries of the UK have changed over time, Wales was annexed by the Kingdom of England under the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542. A treaty between England and Scotland resulted in 1707 in a unified Kingdom of Great Britain, which merged in 1801 with the Kingdom of Ireland to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Five-sixths of Ireland seceded from the UK in 1922, leaving the present formulation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, there are fourteen British Overseas Territories. These are the remnants of the British Empire which, at its height in the 1920s, British influence can be observed in the language, culture and legal systems of many of its former colonies. The United Kingdom is a country and has the worlds fifth-largest economy by nominal GDP. The UK is considered to have an economy and is categorised as very high in the Human Development Index. It was the worlds first industrialised country and the worlds foremost power during the 19th, the UK remains a great power with considerable economic, cultural, military, scientific and political influence internationally. It is a nuclear weapons state and its military expenditure ranks fourth or fifth in the world. The UK has been a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council since its first session in 1946 and it has been a leading member state of the EU and its predecessor, the European Economic Community, since 1973. However, on 23 June 2016, a referendum on the UKs membership of the EU resulted in a decision to leave. The Acts of Union 1800 united the Kingdom of Great Britain, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have devolved self-government
3.
Campaign clasp
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A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. When used in conjunction with decorations for service, such as gallantry medals. In the example, Group Captain Leonard Cheshire, VC, OM, DSO, a British convention is to indicate bars by the use of asterisks, thus, DSO** would denote a DSO and two bars. Bars are also used on long service medals to indicate the length of service rendered. The two terms are used because terms bar and clasp both refer to two parts of the medal, the indicator discussed in article, and the part of the medal connected to the ribbon. One exception was the Army Gold Medal issued to higher ranking participants in the Peninsular War, a medal was given for service, with a clasp for each battle fought. After four clasps were earned the medal was turned in for a cross with the names on the arms. The maximum was achieved by the Duke of Wellington, with a cross, over the next 40 years, it became customary for governments to present a medal to all soldiers and officers involved in a campaign. These medals were engraved with the names of the major battles the recipient had fought in during the campaign. The Sutlej Medal was the earliest medal to use such bars and it was awarded to British Army and Honourable East India Company soldiers who fought in the First Anglo-Sikh War between 1845 and 1846. The first battle the recipient participated in would be engraved on the medal itself, if the recipient had participated in multiple engagements, silver bars bearing the name of each additional battle were attached to the medals ribbon. The creation of bars led to the development of General Service medals, bars would be awarded to denote the particular campaign or war the recipient fought in. The 1854 India General Service Medal was awarded to soldiers over a 41-year period, twenty-three clasps were created for this award, becoming one of the more extreme uses of this system. The Crimea Medal was issued with ornate battle bars, since then the general trend has been to have simple horizontal devices. Campaign bars or battle bars are used to denote the campaign, battle. This is the most common use of bars on military decorations. In the United Kingdom, campaign bars are known as clasps. Examples of ones that were issued are the enemy fire clasp on the 1914 Star
4.
India General Service Medal (1909)
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The Indian General Service Medal was a campaign medal approved on 1 January 1909, for issue to officers and men of the British and Indian armies. In 1925 it was awarded to officers and men of the Royal Air Force. The 1909 IGSM was awarded for minor military campaigns in India. Each campaign was represented by a clasp on the ribbon,12 were sanctioned, north-West Frontier Mackay, J and Mussel, J - Medals Yearbook -2006, Token Publishing. Joslin, Litherland, and Simpkin, British Battles and Medals, Spink
5.
British War Medal
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The British War Medal is a campaign medal of the United Kingdom which was awarded to officers and men of British and Imperial forces for service in the First World War. Two versions of the medal were produced, about 6.5 million were struck in silver and 110,000 were struck in bronze, the latter for award to Chinese, Maltese and Indian Labour Corps. Consideration was given to the award of clasps to commemorate certain battles and theatres of operations, while the Naval clasps were authorised in August 1920, none were awarded and the idea was abandoned in 1923. For the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and the Dominion and Colonial naval forces, the criteria were 28 days mobilised service, the medal was presented to the next-of-kin of all casualties, including those who were killed before the completion of this 28 days period. The medal was awarded in the event of death on active service before the completion of the prescribed period. The order of precedence of the First World War campaign stars and medals is as follows, of the official British campaign medals which were applicable to South Africans, the British War Medal takes precedence as shown. The medal is a silver or bronze disk,36 millimetres in diameter, the medal was designed by W. McMillan and struck by the Royal Mint. The recipients name, rank, service number and unit are impressed on the edge of the medal. On medals awarded to Army officers, with the exception of the Royal Artillery, obverse The obverse shows Sir Bertram Mackennals bareheaded effigy of King George V facing left, with the legend GEORGIVS V BRITT, OMN, REX ET IND, IMP. Reverse The reverse shows Saint George naked on horseback and armed with a short sword, 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 upper rim is the risen sun of Victory. The years 1914 and 1918 appear on the perimeter in the left, the colours are not thought to have any particular symbolic significance. Some 6,610,000 medals were awarded,6,500,000 struck in silver and 110,000 struck in bronze. The bronze medals were awarded to Chinese, Maltese and Indians who served in the labour battalions of such organisations as the Chinese Labour Corps. Altogether 427,993 medals were awarded to Canadians who served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, pip represented either of the two Stars, Squeak represented the British War Medal and Wilfred represented the Victory Medal. Similarly, when only the British War Medal and Victory Medal are worn together, they are referred to as the Mutt and Jeff pair
6.
Victory Medal (United Kingdom)
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The Victory Medal is a United Kingdom and British Empire First World War campaign medal. A particular form of this historic Greek monument was chosen by each nation, except the nations in the Far East who issued the medal but with a different design. The dates of the war were in every case 1914 to 1918, except that of the British Empire, which gave the dates as illustrated. The medal was issued to all those who received the 1914 Star or the 1914–15 Star and these three medals were sometimes irreverently referred to as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred. Women qualified for this and the two medals, for service in nursing homes and other auxiliary forces. It was also awarded to members of the British Naval mission to Russia 1919 -1920, the reverse has the words ‘THE GREAT / WAR FOR / CIVILISATION / 1914-1919 in four lines, all surrounded by a laurel wreath. The 39mm wide ribbon has a iridescent colour scheme, with the violet moving through to a red stripe where both schemes meet. Those personnel Mentioned in Despatches between 4 August 1914 and 10 August 1920 wear an oak leaf on the medals ribbon, as well as the United Kingdom, a significant number of allied and associated countries involved in the conflict against the Austro-German alliance issued a Victory Medal. The proposition of such common award was first made by French marshal Ferdinand Foch who was commander of the allied force during the war. The 2005 book The Great War for Civilisation by Robert Fisk takes its title from the legend of the medal. Searchable database of cards at The National Archives
7.
World War I
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World War I, also known as the First World War, the Great War, or the War to End All Wars, was a global war originating in Europe that lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918. More than 70 million military personnel, including 60 million Europeans, were mobilised in one of the largest wars in history and it was one of the deadliest conflicts in history, and paved the way for major political changes, including revolutions in many of the nations involved. The war drew in all the worlds great powers, assembled in two opposing alliances, the Allies versus the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary. These alliances were reorganised and expanded as more nations entered the war, Italy, Japan, the trigger for the war was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, by Yugoslav nationalist Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914. This set off a crisis when Austria-Hungary delivered an ultimatum to the Kingdom of Serbia. Within weeks, the powers were at war and the conflict soon spread around the world. On 25 July Russia began mobilisation and on 28 July, the Austro-Hungarians declared war on Serbia, Germany presented an ultimatum to Russia to demobilise, and when this was refused, declared war on Russia on 1 August. Germany then invaded neutral Belgium and Luxembourg before moving towards France, after the German march on Paris was halted, what became known as the Western Front settled into a battle of attrition, with a trench line that changed little until 1917. On the Eastern Front, the Russian army was successful against the Austro-Hungarians, in November 1914, the Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers, opening fronts in the Caucasus, Mesopotamia and the Sinai. In 1915, Italy joined the Allies and Bulgaria joined the Central Powers, Romania joined the Allies in 1916, after a stunning German offensive along the Western Front in the spring of 1918, the Allies rallied and drove back the Germans in a series of successful offensives. By the end of the war or soon after, the German Empire, Russian Empire, Austro-Hungarian Empire, national borders were redrawn, with several independent nations restored or created, and Germanys colonies were parceled out among the victors. During the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, the Big Four imposed their terms in a series of treaties, the League of Nations was formed with the aim of preventing any repetition of such a conflict. This effort failed, and economic depression, renewed nationalism, weakened successor states, and feelings of humiliation eventually contributed to World War II. From the time of its start until the approach of World War II, at the time, it was also sometimes called the war to end war or the war to end all wars due to its then-unparalleled scale and devastation. In Canada, Macleans magazine in October 1914 wrote, Some wars name themselves, during the interwar period, the war was most often called the World War and the Great War in English-speaking countries. Will become the first world war in the sense of the word. These began in 1815, with the Holy Alliance between Prussia, Russia, and Austria, when Germany was united in 1871, Prussia became part of the new German nation. Soon after, in October 1873, German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck negotiated the League of the Three Emperors between the monarchs of Austria-Hungary, Russia and Germany
8.
France
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France, officially the French Republic, is a country with territory in western Europe and several overseas regions and territories. The European, or metropolitan, area of France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, Overseas France include French Guiana on the South American continent and several island territories in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. France spans 643,801 square kilometres and had a population of almost 67 million people as of January 2017. It is a unitary republic with the capital in Paris. Other major urban centres include Marseille, Lyon, Lille, Nice, Toulouse, during the Iron Age, what is now metropolitan France was inhabited by the Gauls, a Celtic people. The area was annexed in 51 BC by Rome, which held Gaul until 486, France emerged as a major European power in the Late Middle Ages, with its victory in the Hundred Years War strengthening state-building and political centralisation. During the Renaissance, French culture flourished and a colonial empire was established. The 16th century was dominated by civil wars between Catholics and Protestants. France became Europes dominant cultural, political, and military power under Louis XIV, in the 19th century Napoleon took power and established the First French Empire, whose subsequent Napoleonic Wars shaped the course of continental Europe. Following the collapse of the Empire, France endured a succession of governments culminating with the establishment of the French Third Republic in 1870. Following liberation in 1944, a Fourth Republic was established and later dissolved in the course of the Algerian War, the Fifth Republic, led by Charles de Gaulle, was formed in 1958 and remains to this day. Algeria and nearly all the colonies became independent in the 1960s with minimal controversy and typically retained close economic. France has long been a centre of art, science. It hosts Europes fourth-largest number of cultural UNESCO World Heritage Sites and receives around 83 million foreign tourists annually, France is a developed country with the worlds sixth-largest economy by nominal GDP and ninth-largest by purchasing power parity. In terms of household wealth, it ranks fourth in the world. France performs well in international rankings of education, health care, life expectancy, France remains a great power in the world, being one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council with the power to veto and an official nuclear-weapon state. It is a member state of the European Union and the Eurozone. It is also a member of the Group of 7, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the World Trade Organization, originally applied to the whole Frankish Empire, the name France comes from the Latin Francia, or country of the Franks
9.
Belgium
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Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a sovereign state in Western Europe bordered by France, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and the North Sea. It is a small, densely populated country which covers an area of 30,528 square kilometres and has a population of about 11 million people. Additionally, there is a group of German-speakers who live in the East Cantons located around the High Fens area. Historically, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg were known as the Low Countries, the region was called Belgica in Latin, after the Roman province of Gallia Belgica. From the end of the Middle Ages until the 17th century, today, Belgium is a federal constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of governance. It is divided into three regions and three communities, that exist next to each other and its two largest regions are the Dutch-speaking region of Flanders in the north and the French-speaking southern region of Wallonia. The Brussels-Capital Region is a bilingual enclave within the Flemish Region. A German-speaking Community exists in eastern Wallonia, Belgiums linguistic diversity and related political conflicts are reflected in its political history and complex system of governance, made up of six different governments. Upon its independence, declared in 1830, Belgium participated in the Industrial Revolution and, during the course of the 20th century, possessed a number of colonies in Africa. This continuing antagonism has led to several far-reaching reforms, resulting in a transition from a unitary to a federal arrangement during the period from 1970 to 1993. Belgium is also a member of the Eurozone, NATO, OECD and WTO. Its capital, Brussels, hosts several of the EUs official seats as well as the headquarters of major international organizations such as NATO. Belgium is also a part of the Schengen Area, Belgium is a developed country, with an advanced high-income economy and is categorized as very high in the Human Development Index. A gradual immigration by Germanic Frankish tribes during the 5th century brought the area under the rule of the Merovingian kings, a gradual shift of power during the 8th century led the kingdom of the Franks to evolve into the Carolingian Empire. Many of these fiefdoms were united in the Burgundian Netherlands of the 14th and 15th centuries, the Eighty Years War divided the Low Countries into the northern United Provinces and the Southern Netherlands. The latter were ruled successively by the Spanish and the Austrian Habsburgs and this was the theatre of most Franco-Spanish and Franco-Austrian wars during the 17th and 18th centuries. The reunification of the Low Countries as the United Kingdom of the Netherlands occurred at the dissolution of the First French Empire in 1815, although the franchise was initially restricted, universal suffrage for men was introduced after the general strike of 1893 and for women in 1949. The main political parties of the 19th century were the Catholic Party, French was originally the single official language adopted by the nobility and the bourgeoisie
10.
Central Powers
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The Central Powers, consisting of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria – hence also known as the Quadruple Alliance – was one of the two main factions during World War I. It faced and was defeated by the Allied Powers that had formed around the Triple Entente, the Powers origin was the alliance of Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1879. The Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria did not join until after World War I had begun, the Central Powers consisted of the German Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the beginning of the war. The Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers later in 1914, in 1915, the Kingdom of Bulgaria joined the alliance. The name Central Powers is derived from the location of these countries, finland, Azerbaijan, and Lithuania joined them in 1918 before the war ended and after the Russian Empire collapsed. When Russia enacted a general mobilization, Germany viewed the act as provocative, the Russian government promised Germany that its general mobilization did not mean preparation for war with Germany but was a reaction to the events between Austria-Hungary and Serbia. The German government regarded the Russian promise of no war with Germany to be nonsense in light of its general mobilization, and Germany, in turn, mobilized for war. On August 1, Germany sent an ultimatum to Russia stating that since both Germany and Russia were in a state of military mobilization, a state of war existed between the two countries. After Germany declared war on Russia, France with its alliance with Russia prepared a general mobilization in expectation of war, on 3 August 1914, Germany responded to this action by declaring war on France. This plan was hoped to gain victory against the French. Belgium was a country and would not accept German forces crossing its territory. Germany disregarded Belgian neutrality and invaded the country to launch an offensive towards Paris, europe Upon its founding in 1871, the German Empire controlled Alsace-Lorraine as an imperial territory incorporated from France after the Franco-Prussian War. It was held as part of Germanys sovereign territory, Africa Germany held multiple African colonies at the time of World War I. All of Germanys African colonies were invaded and occupied by Allied forces during the war, cameroon, German East Africa, and German Southwest Africa were German colonies in Africa. Togoland was a German protectorate in Africa, Asia The Kiautschou Bay concession was a German dependency in East Asia leased from China in 1898. It was occupied by Japanese forces following the Siege of Tsingtao, Pacific German New Guinea was a German protectorate in the Pacific. It was occupied by Australian forces in 1914, German Samoa was a German protectorate following the Tripartite Convention. It was occuiped by the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in 1914, Austria-Hungary regarded the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand as being orchestrated with the assistance of Serbia
11.
First Battle of Ypres
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The First Battle of Ypres was a battle of the First World War, fought on the Western Front around Ypres, in West Flanders, Belgium, during October and November 1914. The battles at Ypres began at the end of the Race to the Sea, reciprocal attempts by the German, North of Ypres, the fighting continued in the Battle of the Yser, fought between the German 4th Army and the Belgian army and French marines. General Erich von Falkenhayn, head of the Oberste Heeresleitung, then tried a limited offensive to capture Ypres and Mount Kemmel, the autumn battles in Flanders had quickly become static, attrition operations, unlike the battles of manoeuvre in the summer. French, British and Belgian troops in improvised field defences, repulsed German attacks for four weeks, from 21–23 October, German reservists had made mass attacks at Langemarck, with losses of up to 70 percent, to little effect. The defensive use of artillery and machine guns had dominated the battlefield, thirty-four German divisions fought in the Flanders battles, against twelve French, nine British and six Belgian, along with marines and dismounted cavalry. Falkenhayn reconsidered German strategy over the winter, because Vernichtungsstrategie and a dictated peace against France, Falkenhayn intended to detach Russia or France from the Allied coalition, by diplomatic as well as military action. A strategy of attrition, would make the cost of the war too great, the remaining belligerents would have to negotiate or face the Germans concentrated on the remaining front, which would be sufficient to obtain a decisive victory. On 9 October, the First German offensive against Warsaw began with the battles of Warsaw, four days later, Przemyśl was relieved by the advancing Austro-Hungarians and the Battle of Chyrow 13 October–2 November) began in Galicia. Czernowitz in the Bukovina, was re-occupied by the Austro-Hungarian army on 22 August, on 29 October, the Ottoman Empire commenced hostilities against Russia, when Turkish warships bombarded Odessa, Sevastopol and Theodosia. Next day Stanislau in Galicia was taken by Russian forces and the Serbian army began a retreat from the line of the Drina, on 4 November, the Russian army crossed the frontier of Turkey-in-Asia and seized Azap. Britain and France declared war on Turkey on 5 November and next day, Keupri-Keni in Armenia was captured, on 10 October, Przemysl was surrounded again by the Russian army, beginning the Second Siege, Memel in East Prussia was occupied by the Russians a day later. Keupri-Keni was recaptured by the Ottoman army on 14 November, the Sultan proclaimed Jihad, next day the Battle of Cracow began, the Second German Offensive against Warsaw opened with the Battle of Łódź. The Great Retreat was a withdrawal by the Franco-British armies to the Marne, from 24 August –28 September 1914. After the defeat of the French Fifth Army at the Battle of Charleroi, a counter-offensive by the French and the BEF at the First Battle of Guise, failed to end the German advance and the Franco-British retreat continued beyond the Marne. After the retreat of the French Fifth Army and the BEF, General Fournier was ordered on 25 August to defend the fortress at Maubeuge, which was surrounded two days later by the German VII Reserve Corps. Maubeuge was defended by fourteen forts, with a garrison of 30,000 French territorials and c. 10,000 French, British, on 7 September, the garrison surrendered, after super-heavy artillery from the Siege of Namur demolished the forts. The Germans took 32,692 prisoners and captured 450 guns, small detachments of the Belgian, French and British armies conducted operations in Belgium and northern France, against German cavalry and Jäger. On 27 August, a squadron of the Royal Naval Air Service flew to Ostend, British marines landed at Dunkirk on the night of 19/20 September and on 28 September, a battalion occupied Lille
12.
Rosette (decoration)
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A rosette /roʊˈzɛt/ is a small, circular device that is typically presented with a medal. The rosettes are worn on the medal to denote a higher rank, or for situations where wearing the medal is deemed inappropriate. Rosettes are issued in such as Belgium, France, Italy. Rosettes are also sometimes called bowknots, due to their shape, moreover, a large rosette is sometimes pinned onto the ribbon which suspends a medal, typically the Officer s badge of certain orders of chivalry. Some small lapel rosettes are worn in the manner as lapel pins. For instance, knights of the Order of the British Empire now wear a lapel rosette bearing the cross in the center. While a metal pin mounted on a silk rosette is considered a decoration of distinction. In the United States, the Medal of Honor is issued with a 1/2 inch light blue rosette with white stars, previously, the Purple Heart was also presented with a purple and white rosette, but now has been replaced by a metallic lapel pin. The lapel pin is designed to be a version of the rectangular service ribbon. Most American military medals have the ribbon bar design scaled down to the size of a lapel pin, members of the Sons of the American Revolution wear small, blue-and-buff rosettes as lapel buttons. The colors match those of the uniform of Gen. George Washington, a rosette adorns the ribbon of all national Orders of Merit at the rank of Officer. Such rosette may also be worn in diminutive form on appropriate civilian dress, ranks above that of Officer may wear a rosette adorned with gold and/or silver bars on each side of the rosette on appropriate civilian dress. Such rosette also adorns ribbon bars worn on the dress uniform. Several of the top decorations of France, including the Légion dhonneur, the Legion of Honor authorized a rosette for those who are the rank of officer or above. If the grade is higher, the rosette is adorned with gold and/or silver bars which are place beside each side of the rosette, the same manner is accorded to the Order of National Merit. In occasions when bars are worn alone, the above-mentioned half-knots and/or rosettes are pinned onto the ribbon bars as appropriate to denote the wearers grade. In the United Kingdom, small silver rosettes can be added to the ribbons that are worn in place of medals, usually these indicate multiple award bars, the number of times a decoration for merit or distinguished service has been awarded. Holders of the 1914 Star, the 1939-45 Star, the Pacific Star, the Burma Star, several American-based lineage societies provide a rosette as an insignia of membership for informal wear
13.
Service ribbon
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Service ribbons or ribbon bars are small ribbons mounted on small metal bars equipped with attaching devices, and are generally issued for wear in place of medals. Each countrys government has its own rules on what ribbons can be worn in what circumstances and this is usually defined in an official document and is called the order of precedence or the order of wearing. In some countries, some awards are only, having no associated medal. According to the Defense Logistics Agency, the U. S. militarys standard size for a bar is 35mm wide, 3/8 inches tall. The service ribbon for a medal is usually identical to the suspension ribbon on the medal. For example, the suspension and service ribbon for the U. S. governments Purple Heart medal is purple with a vertical stripe at each end. However, there are some military awards that do not have a suspension ribbon, the Soviet Order of Victory is a badge that was worn on the military parade uniform. However, a ribbon bar representing the Order of Victory was worn on a field uniform. There is a variety of constructions of service ribbons, in some countries, service ribbons are mounted on a pin backing, which can be pushed through the fabric of a uniform and secured, with fasteners, on the inside edge. These ribbons can be secured and then lined up, or they can be all mounted on to a single fastener. After the Second World War, it was common for all ribbons to be mounted on a metal bar. Other methods of wearing have included physically sewing each service ribbon onto the uniform garments, orders of wearing define which ribbons may be worn on which types of uniform in which positions under which circumstances. For example, miniature medals on dinner dress, full medals on parade dress, ribbons on dress shirts, some countries maintain a standard practice of wearing full service ribbons on combat utility clothing. These regulations are similar to the regulations regarding display of rank insignia. In times of war, it is not uncommon for commanders and other high value individuals to wear no markings on their uniforms, service medals and ribbons are generally worn in rows on the left side of the chest. In certain commemorative and/ or memorial circumstances, a relative may wear the medals or ribbons of a relative on the right side of the chest. Medals and ribbons not specifically mentioned in the Order of wear are also worn on the right side of the chest. Sequencing of the ribbons depends on each countrys regulations, the study, history and collection of ribbons, among other military decorations, is known as phaleristics
14.
Antwerp
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Antwerp is a city in Belgium, the capital of Antwerp province in the region of Flanders. With a population of 510,610, it is the most populous city proper in Belgium and its metropolitan area houses around 1,200,000 people, which is second behind Brussels. Antwerp is on the River Scheldt, linked to the North Sea by the Westerschelde estuary, the Port of Antwerp is one of the biggest in the world, ranking second in Europe and within the top 20 globally. Antwerp has long been an important city in the Low Countries, the inhabitants of Antwerp are nicknamed Sinjoren, after the Spanish honorific señor or French seigneur, lord, referring to the Spanish noblemen who ruled the city in the 17th century. The city hosted the 1920 Summer Olympics, according to folklore, notably celebrated by a statue in front of the town hall, the city got its name from a legend about a giant called Antigoon who lived near the Scheldt river. He exacted a toll from passing boatmen, and for those who refused, he severed one of their hands, eventually the giant was killed by a young hero named Silvius Brabo, who cut off the giants own hand and flung it into the river. Hence the name Antwerpen, from Dutch hand werpen, akin to Old English hand and wearpan, a longstanding theory is that the name originated in the Gallo-Roman period and comes from the Latin antverpia. Antverpia would come from Ante Verpia, indicating land that forms by deposition in the curve of a river. Note that the river Scheldt, before a period between 600 and 750, followed a different track. This must have coincided roughly with the current ringway south of the city, however, many historians think it unlikely that there was a large settlement which would be named Antverpia, but more something like an outpost with a river crossing. However, John Lothrop Motley argues, and so do a lot of Dutch etymologists and historians, aan t werp is also possible. This warp is a hill or a river deposit, high enough to remain dry at high tide. Another word for werp is pol hence polders, historical Antwerp allegedly had its origins in a Gallo-Roman vicus. Excavations carried out in the oldest section near the Scheldt, 1952–1961, produced pottery shards, the earliest mention of Antwerp dates from the 4th century. In the 4th century, Antwerp was first named, having been settled by the Germanic Franks, the name was reputed to have been derived from anda and werpum. The Merovingian Antwerp was evangelized by Saint Amand in the 7th century, at the end of the 10th century, the Scheldt became the boundary of the Holy Roman Empire. Antwerp became a margraviate in 980, by the German emperor Otto I, in the 11th century Godfrey of Bouillon was for some years known as the marquis of Antwerp. In the 12th century, Norbert of Xanten established a community of his Premonstratensian canons at St. Michaels Abbey at Caloes
15.
British Expeditionary Force (World War I)
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The British Expeditionary Force or BEF was the British Army sent to the Western Front during the First World War. Planning for a British Expeditionary Force began with the Haldane reforms of the British Army carried out by the Secretary of State for War Richard Haldane following the Second Boer War. The term British Expeditionary Force is often used to only to the forces present in France prior to the end of the First Battle of Ypres on 22 November 1914. By the end of 1914—after the battles of Mons, Le Cateau, an alternative endpoint of the BEF was 26 December 1914, when it was divided into the First and Second Armies. B. E. F. remained the name of the British armies in France. Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany, who was dismissive of the BEF. The treacherous English and walk over General Frenchs contemptible little army, hence, in later years, the survivors of the regular army dubbed themselves The Old Contemptibles. No evidence of any such order being issued by the Kaiser has ever been found, in October 1914, 7th Division arrived in France, forming the basis of III Corps and the cavalry had grown to form the Cavalry Corps of three divisions. By December 1914, the BEF had expanded to such an extent that the First Army, the force was commanded by Field Marshal Sir John French until December 1915, when he was replaced by General Sir Douglas Haig. The BEFs Chief of Staff on mobilization was General Archibald Murray and he was replaced in January 1915 by General William Robertson. Lieutenant-General Launcelot Kiggell then served as Chief of Staff from December 1915 to January 1917 when he was succeeded by Lieutenant-General Herbert Lawrence, the two initial Army Corps were commanded by Douglas Haig and Horace Smith-Dorrien. As the Regular Armys strength declined, the numbers were made up, first by the Territorial Force, by the end of August 1914, he had raised six new divisions and by March 1915, the number of divisions had increased to 29. The Territorial Force was also expanded, raising second and third battalions and forming eight new divisions. The Third Army was formed in July 1915 and with the influx of troops from Kitcheners volunteers and further reorganisation, the Fourth Army and the Reserve Army, became the Fifth Army in 1916. The BEF grew from six divisions of British regular army and reserves in 1914, to encompass the British Empires war effort on the Western front in 1918 and some of its allies. Over the course of the war 5,399,563 men served with the BEF, the First Army was formed on 26 December 1914. Its first commander was Douglas Haig promoted from command of the I Corps, when Haig took over command of the BEF in 1915, the new commander was General Henry Horne. First Army remained in France until the end of the war, the Second Army was formed at the same time as the First Army on 26 December 1914
16.
Great Retreat
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From 5–12 September, the First Battle of the Marne ended the Allied retreat and forced the German armies to retire towards the Aisne river and fight the First Battle of the Aisne. Reciprocal attempts to outflank the opposing armies to the north followed, the Battle of the Frontiers is a general name for all of the operations of the French armies until the Battle of the Marne. A series of encounter battles began between the German, French and Belgian armies, on the German-French frontier and in southern Belgium on 4 August 1914, the Battle of Mulhouse was the first French offensive of World War I against Germany. The French captured Mulhouse until forced out by a German counter-attack on 11 August, the main French offensive, the Battle of Lorraine, began with the Battles of Morhange and Sarrebourg advances by the First Army on Sarrebourg and the Second Army towards Morhange. Château Salins near Morhange was captured on 17 August and Sarrebourg the next day, the German 6th and 7th armies counter-attacked on 20 August, the Second Army was forced back from Morhange and the First Army was repulsed at Sarrebourg. The German armies crossed the border and advanced on Nancy but were stopped to the east of the city, to the south the French retook Mulhouse on 19 August and then withdrew. On 24 August at the Battle of the Mortagne, a limited German offensive in the Vosges, by 20 August a German counter-offensive in Lorraine had begun and the German 4th and 5th Armies advanced through the Ardennes on 19 August towards Neufchâteau. An offensive by French Third and Fourth armies through the Ardennes began on 20 August, the opposing armies met in thick fog and the French mistook the German troops for screening forces. On 22 August the Battle of the Ardennes began with French attacks, the Third Army recoiled towards Verdun, pursued by the 5th Army and the Fourth Army retreated to Sedan and Stenay. Mulhouse was recaptured again by German forces and the Battle of the Meuse 26–28 August), Liège was occupied by the Germans on 7 August, the first units of the BEF landed in France and French troops crossed the German frontier. On 12 August The Battle of Haelen was fought by German and Belgian cavalry and infantry and was a Belgian defensive success. The BEF completed its move of four divisions and a division to France on 16 August. The Belgian government withdrew from Brussels on 18 August and the German army attacked the Belgian field army at the Battle of the Gete. Next day the Belgian army began to retire towards Antwerp, which left the route to Namur open, Longwy, further west, the Fifth Army had concentrated on the Sambre by 20 August, facing north either side of Charleroi and east towards the Belgian fortress of Namur. On the left, the Cavalry Corps linked with the BEF at Mons, by 20 August, the Fifth Army had begun to concentrate on a 40-kilometre front along the Sambre, centred on Charleroi and extending east to the Belgian fortress of Namur. On the left flank, the Sordet Cavalry Corps linked the Fifth Army to the British Expeditionary Force at Mons, Bülow attacked again on 22 August with three corps against the entire Fifth Army front. Fighting continued on 23 August, when the French centre around Charleroi began to fall back, the German 3rd Army had crossed the Meuse and launched an attack against the French right flank, held by I Corps. The French stopped the German advance and delivered a counter-attack, the Fifth Army was confronted by the German 3rd and 2nd armies from the east and the north
17.
Royal Flying Corps
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The Royal Flying Corps was the air arm of the British Army before and during the First World War, until it merged with the Royal Naval Air Service on 1 April 1918 to form the Royal Air Force. During the early part of the war, the RFC supported the British Army by artillery co-operation, at the start of World War I the RFC, commanded by Brigadier-General Sir David Henderson, consisted of five squadrons – one observation balloon squadron and four aeroplane squadrons. These were first used for spotting on 13 September 1914. Aerial photography was attempted during 1914, but again only became effective the next year, by 1918, photographic images could be taken from 15,000 feet and were interpreted by over 3,000 personnel. By this time parachutes had been used by balloonists for three years, on 17 August 1917, South African General Jan Smuts presented a report to the War Council on the future of air power. On 1 April 1918, the RFC and the RNAS were amalgamated to form a new service, after starting in 1914 with some 2,073 personnel, by the start of 1919 the RAF had 4,000 combat aircraft and 114,000 personnel in some 150 squadrons. The recommendations of the committee were accepted and on 13 April 1912 King George V signed a royal warrant establishing the Royal Flying Corps, the Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers became the Military Wing of the Royal Flying Corps a month later on 13 May. The Flying Corps initial allowed strength was 133 officers, and by the end of year it had 12 manned balloons and 36 aeroplanes. The RFC originally came under the responsibility of Brigadier-General Henderson, the Director of Military Training, and had branches for the Army. Major Sykes commanded the Military Wing and Commander C R Samson commanded the Naval Wing, the RFCs motto was Per ardua ad astra. This remains the motto of the Royal Air Force and other Commonwealth air forces, the RFCs first fatal crash was on 5 July 1912 near Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain. Loraine and his observer, Staff Sergeant R. H. V, an order was issued after the crash stating Flying will continue this evening as usual, thus beginning a tradition. Four months later on 11 December 1912 Parke was killed when the Handley Page monoplane in which he was flying from Hendon to Oxford crashed. The Naval Wing, with pilots and aircraft than the Military Wing. In November 1914 the Royal Flying Corps, even taking the loss of the Naval Wing into account, had expanded sufficiently to warrant the creation of wings consisting of two or more squadrons and these wings were commanded by lieutenant-colonels. In October 1915 the Royal Flying Corps had undergone further expansion which justified the creation of brigades, further expansion led to the creation of divisions, with the Training Division being established in August 1917 and RFC Middle East, being raised to divisional status in December 1917. Finally, the air raids on London and the south-east of England led to the creation of the London Air Defence Area in August 1917 under the command of Ashmore who was promoted to major-general. Two of the first three RFC squadrons were formed from the Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers, No.1 Company becoming No.1 Squadron, RFC, a second heavier-than-air squadron, No.2 Squadron, RFC, was also formed on the same day
18.
Pip, Squeak and Wilfred
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Pip, Squeak and Wilfred was a long-running British strip cartoon published in the Daily Mirror from 1919 to 1956, as well as the Sunday Pictorial in the early years. It was conceived by Bertram Lamb, who took the role of Uncle Dick, signing himself in a book, and was drawn until c.1939 by Austin Bowen Payne. It concerned the adventures of an family of anímals. Pip, who assumed the role, was a dog, while the mother. Wilfred was the son and was a rabbit with very long ears. The origins of the characters are mentioned in the cartoon strips, Squeak was found in the London Zoological Gardens after hatching on the South African coast years before. Pip was discovered begging by a policeman on the Thames Embankment, and was sent to a dogs home, where he was bought for half-a-crown. Wilfred was found in a field near to his burrow and was adopted by Pip and Squeak, who were in turn looked after by Uncle Dick and Angeline, in 1927, the Pip, Squeak and Wilfred club began. It was named the Wilfredian League of Gugnuncs and organised many competitions and events for thousands of members, Gugnuncs is a combination of two baby-talk words used by Wilfred, who as a toddler-aged child cannot speak yet. Nunc being his version of Uncle, there was a WLOG members badge in blue enamelled metal, featuring the long ears of Wilfred. Among the WLOG rules was one to never eat rabbit, a series of silent animated cartoons were produced in 1921 by Lancelot Speed, titled The Wonderful Adventures of Pip, Squeak & Wilfred. Twenty–five 5-minute shorts were made, and were first–shown between 17 February 1921 and 11 August 1921, none appear to be currently available in any format. An early book was Pip, Squeak & Wilfred, Their Luvly Adventures, issued in 1921 by Stanley Paul & Co and this book recapped on the earliest Daily Mirror strips, showing how they were introduced. Luvly being one of Squeaks favourite words, Pip and Squeak Annuals appeared each year from 1922, dated as the 1923 to 1939 annuals. A separate Wilfreds Annual also appeared, dated 1924 to 1938 and this featuring stories aimed at under-10 year olds. The 1934 Pip & Squeak Annual featured a red frame which allowed the reader to see hidden pictures on several pages. The 1934 Wilfreds Annual similarly featured a Pantomime cut-out insert, the final Pip & Squeak annual of 1939 incorporated Wilfreds Annual, which had ended the previous year, and is the rarest of the series due to low sales and poor quality paper being used. No annual was issued in 1940, there were three Uncle Dicks Annuals issued from 1929 to 1931, dated as the 1930 to 1932 annuals, the first one being fully named Uncle Dicks Competition Annual
19.
Gladius
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Gladius was one Latin word for sword, and is used to represent the primary sword of Ancient Roman foot soldiers. Early ancient Roman swords were similar to those of the Greeks, from the 3rd century BC, the Romans adopted swords similar to those used by the Celtiberians and others during the early part of the conquest of Hispania. This sword was known as the gladius hispaniensis, or Hispanic Sword. A fully equipped Roman legionary after the reforms of Gaius Marius was armed with a shield, one or two javelins, a sword, often a dagger, and, perhaps in the later Empire period, darts. Conventionally, soldiers threw javelins to disable the shields and disrupt enemy formations before engaging in close combat. A soldier generally led with the shield and thrust with the sword, all gladius types appear to have been suitable for cutting and chopping as well as thrusting. Gladius is a Latin masculine second declension noun, however, gladius in Latin refers to any sword, not specifically the modern definition of a gladius. The word appears in literature as early as the plays of Plautus, modern English words derived from gladius include gladiator and gladiolus, a flowering plant with sword-shaped leaves. Manlius strapped on the Hispanic sword, during the combat he thrust twice with it under the shield of the Gaul, dealing fatal blows to the abdomen. He then removed the Gauls torc and placed it around his own neck, hence the name, the combat occurred during the consulships of C. About 361 BC, long before the Punic Wars, but during the wars with the Gauls. One theory proposes the borrowing of the gladius from *kladi- during this period. Gladius may have replaced ensis, which in the literary periods was used mainly by poets, the exact origin of the gladius Hispanus is disputed. Arguments for the Celtiberian source of the weapon have been reinforced in recent decades by discovery of early Roman gladii that seem to highlight that they were copies of Celtiberian models. The weapon developed in Iberia after La Tène I models, which were adapted to traditional Celtiberian techniques during the late 4th and these weapons are quite original in their design, so that they cannot be confused with Gallic types. By the time of the Roman Republic, which flourished during the Iron Age, the world was well-acquainted with steel. Pure iron is soft, but pure iron is never found in nature. Natural iron ore contains various impurities in solution, which harden the reduced metal by producing irregular-shaped metallic crystals
20.
Royal cypher
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In the case where such a cypher is used by an emperor or empress, it is called an imperial cypher. In the system used by various Commonwealth realms, the title is abbreviated as R for rex or regina, previously, I stood for imperator or imperatrix of India. The cypher is displayed on some government buildings, impressed upon royal and state documents, the letter I for Imperatrix was added to Queen Victorias monogram after she became Empress of India in 1877. The purpose seems to have been simply to identify an individual sovereign, the initials were used mostly on government papers, duty stamps and similar objects, and were sometimes surmounted by a stylised version of the Tudor Crown or, more recently, St Edwards Crown. In Scotland, the Crown of Scotland appears in place of the Imperial Crown, though royal symbols differ among the sixteen Commonwealth realms, as they are separate monarchies, the one sovereign uses the same cypher throughout all of his or her countries. Nowadays, the initials are also called the royal cypher, but, to aid clarification, the present Queens cypher is EIIR, standing for Elizabeth II Regina. Cyphers for other members of the Royal Family are designed by the College of Arms or Court of the Lord Lyon and are approved by the Queen. These cyphers have been incorporated by the Canadian Heraldic Authority into the royal standards of Canada. Other royal houses have also use of royal or imperial cyphers. Ottoman sultans had a signature, their tughra. All the monarchs of Europes six other surviving kingdoms use cyphers, Philippe of Belgium uses the letters P and F intertwined, referring to the fact that his name is Philippe in French, but Filip in Dutch, the two main languages in Belgium. King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand uses a cypher made up of his initials in Thai script, Royal sign-manual Signum manus Heraldic badge Personal Flag of Queen Elizabeth II H7 Mon MacCormick v Lord Advocate Pillar Box War
21.
Mercantile Marine War Medal
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More than a million plaques were produced to commemorate the sacrifice of military and mercantile marine men and women who fell between 4 August 1914 and 30 April 1920. One or more voyages through a zone during the war qualified a mariner for the award of the medal. Men who served in coastal trades, such as pilots, fishermen, lightship crews and it was also awarded to those who had served at sea for not less than six months between 4 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. Altogether 133,135 Mercantile Marine War Medals were awarded, of which 624 were awarded to Canadians, recipients also qualified for the award of the British War Medal. Service solely in the Mercantile Marine, however, did not count for the award of the Victory Medal or either of the two Stars, the order of precedence of the First World War campaign stars and medals is as follows, The 1914 Star. In the British order of wear, the Mercantile Marine War Medal takes precedence before the Naval General Service Medal, of the official British campaign medals which were applicable to South Africans, the Mercantile Marine War Medal takes precedence as shown. The Mercantile Marine War Medal is a disk, struck in bronze and 36 millimetres in diameter, the straight clasp non-swivelling suspender is attached to the medal with a single-toe claw mount and a pin through the upper edge of the medal. The recipients name is impressed on the rim in sans-serif capital letters, reverse The reverse, designed by Harold Stabler, shows a merchant steamship ploughing through heavy seas, with an enemy submarine sinking on portside and a sailing ship in the background. The exergue is inscribed, in three lines, FOR•WAR•SERVICE, MERCANTILE•MARINE and •1914–1918•, around the rim enclosing the whole image is a laurel wreath. Around the perimeter the medallion is inscribed HE*DIED*FOR*FREEDOM* at left and *AND*HONOVR at right, the deceaseds full name is in relief in a rectangular frame above the lions head. The exergue depicts the defeat of the Prussian eagle by the British lion, the text of the condolence slip which accompanied the plaque reads, Buckingham Palace. I send you this Memorial on behalf of my people and myself, and this is written further to ensure that among the rest shall be ever freshly remembered the name and service of
22.
The London Gazette
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The London Gazette claims to be the oldest surviving English newspaper and the oldest continuously published newspaper in the UK, having been first published on 7 November 1665 as The Oxford Gazette. This claim is made by the Stamford Mercury and Berrows Worcester Journal. It does not have a large circulation, in turn, The London Gazette carries not only notices of UK-wide interest, but also those relating specifically to entities or people in England and Wales. However, certain notices that are only of specific interest to Scotland or Northern Ireland are also required to be published in The London Gazette, the London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazettes are published by TSO on behalf of Her Majestys Stationery Office. They are subject to Crown Copyright, the London Gazette is published each weekday, except for Bank Holidays. The official Gazettes are published by The Stationery Office, the content, apart from insolvency notices, is available in a number of machine-readable formats, including XML and XML/RDFa via Atom feed. The London Gazette was first published as The Oxford Gazette on 7 November 1665. Charles II and the Royal Court had moved to Oxford to escape the Great Plague of London, the Gazette was Published by Authority by Henry Muddiman, and its first publication is noted by Samuel Pepys in his diary. The King returned to London as the plague dissipated, and the Gazette moved too, the Gazette was not a newspaper in the modern sense, it was sent by post to subscribers, not printed for sale to the general public. Her Majestys Stationery Office took over the publication of the Gazette in 1889, publication of the Gazette was transferred to the private sector, under government supervision, in the 1990s, when HMSO was sold and renamed The Stationery Office. In time of war, dispatches from the conflicts are published in The London Gazette. People referred to are said to have mentioned in dispatches. When members of the forces are promoted, and these promotions are published here. Man tally-ho, Miss piano, Wife silk and satin, Boy Greek and Latin, the phrase gazetted fortune hunter is also probably derived from this. Notices of engagement and marriage were also published in the Gazette. Gazettes, modelled on The London Gazette, were issued for most British colonial possessions
23.
British campaign medals
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British campaign medals are awarded to members of the British Armed Forces, Allied forces and civilians participating in specified military campaigns. Examples include the Defence Medal, for defence in World War II. Trios are made up of one or other of the 1914 or 1914–15 Stars, the British War Medal, the three medals were sometimes irreverently referred to as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred. Pairs are generally for servicemen who joined the war after 1915, occasionally one medal was issued, the British War Medal. Merchant seaman were entitled to the Mercantile Marine Medal and usually the British War Medal as well, the Territorial Force War Medal was awarded to members of the Territorial Force and Territorial Force Nursing Services who served overseas, it is the rarest of the five Great War medals. The Memorial Plaque was issued to the next-of-kin of deceased service personnel, records of WW2 Medals issued to Merchant Seamen from The National Archives
24.
Naval General Service Medal (1847)
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The Naval General Service Medal was a campaign medal approved in 1847, for issue to officers and men of the Royal Navy. Admiral Thomas Bladen Capel was one of the members of the board authorized the medal. The NGSM was retrospectively awarded for various actions during the period 1793–1840, a period including the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars. Each battle or action covered by the medal was represented by a clasp on the ribbon, the medal was never issued without a clasp,231 of which were sanctioned. The clasps covered a variety of actions, from service to ship to ship skirmishes all the way to major fleet actions such as the Battle of Trafalgar. Sir John Hindmarsh and Admiral of the Fleet Sir James Alexander Gordon were awarded medals with seven clasps, four men qualified for six clasps, and fourteen men qualified for five clasps. A point to note is that the medal was awarded to surviving claimants. A combination of factors, from general illiteracy to limited publicity for the new medal meant that many did not. The Admiralty awarded 20,933 medals in total—most with a single clasp, the final date for submitting claims was 1 May 1851. The medal was awarded only to surviving claimants, next of kin could not apply for a medal on behalf of a deceased relative. However, the medal was awarded to next of kin of those claimants who had died between the date of their application and the date of presentation. This medal and its counterpart, the Military General Service Medal, were amongst the first real British campaign medals. Mackay, J and Mussell, J. Medal Yearbook —2005, joslin, Litherland, and Simpkin, British Battles and Medals, Spink Naval General Service Medal Roll Some muster rolls, for ships involved in fleet actions 1794–1811, held at TNA Kew
25.
Military General Service Medal
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The Military General Service Medal was a campaign medal approved in 1847, for issue to officers and men of the British Army. Each battle or action covered by the medal was represented by a clasp on the ribbon, twenty-nine were sanctioned, the medal was never issued without a clasp. The Duke of Richmond, who had fought at Waterloo, was responsible for the belated institution of the Military General Service Medal for all survivors of the campaigns between 1793 and 1814. Senior officers had received the Army Gold Medal thirty years before, a point to note is that the medal was only awarded to surviving claimants, one had both to have survived until 1847 and then to actively apply for it. A combination of factors, from general illiteracy to limited publicity for the new medal meant that many did not, there are substantially fewer medals issued compared with the number of men who served during this period. The medal was awarded only to surviving claimants, next of kin could not apply for a medal on behalf of a deceased relative. However, the medal was awarded to next of kin of those claimants who had died between the date of their application and the date of presentation, in total there were 26,091 awarded. This medal and its counterpart, the Naval General Service Medal, were amongst the first real British campaign medals. An earlier Army Gold Medal had been awarded to officers for their successful commands. To distinguish between the two medals, the MGSM was referred to as the silver medal, Medals Yearbook —2005, Token Publishing. Joslin, Litherland, and Simpkin, British Battles and Medals, Spink Military General Service Medal Roll
26.
Army of India Medal
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The Army of India Medal was a campaign medal approved in 1851 for issue to officers and men of the British Army and the Army of the Honourable East India Company. This period encompassed four wars, the Second Mahratta War, the Gurkha War, the Pindaree or Third Mahratta War, each battle or action covered by the medal was represented by a clasp on the ribbon, twenty-one were sanctioned. The medal was awarded to survivors and, as such. Some 4,500 medals were awarded in total—most with only a single clasp, the medal is circular, made of silver, and 1.4 inches in diameter. The obverse of the bears a effigy of a young Queen Victoria wearing a diadem. On either side of the effigy is the inscription VICTORIA and REGINA, the reverse bears and an allegorical representation of Victory holding a laurel branch in her right hand and a wreath in her left. In the foreground is a flower, with a palm tree. Above is the inscription TO THE ARMY OF INDIA, below in the exergue 1799-1826, the following clasps were issued with the medal, Mackay, James & Mussel, John. Medals Yearbook —2005, Token Publishing Limited, ISBN 1-870192-66-4 Joslin, Edward, Litherland, Andrew & Simpkin, Brian. British Battles and Medals, Revised edition, Spink & Sons Ltd, Medals and Decorations of the British Army and Navy, Volume 2. Army of India Medal Roll Naval recipients of the Burmah Medal 1824-1826 available via Ancestry London Gazette announcement of Army of India Medal
27.
Army Gold Medal
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It was not a general medal, since it was issued only to those whose rank was no less than that of battalion commander. The medal came in three styles, the Large Medal, the Small Medal, and the Peninsular Cross, each style was supplemented with clasps identifying the battles involved. The Large Medal was restricted to generals, while lower-ranking officers were awarded the Small Medal, the Peninsular Cross, in cross pattée style, was awarded to those with four or more actions. The first four actions were marked on the arms of the cross, when the medal was first established, a new one was issued for each action. In 1813 an order was created, instructing that only one medal be worn and this was a new establishment of the bar tradition which was followed by all later medal awards. Another new development was the naming of the recipient on the rim of the medal, the total of all styles awarded were 165 Peninsular Crosses and clasps,88 Large Medals and clasps, and 596 Small Medals and clasps. The highest award was given to the Duke of Wellington, a Cross with nine bars for a total of 13 actions and it can be viewed on his uniform in the basement at Apsley House. Following the Peninsular War, rules governing the award of the Order of the Bath were altered, allowing recognition for military commands, in 1847 the Military General Service Medal was authorised, to be retrospectively awarded to all surviving veterans of the campaigns, irrespective of rank. Holders of the medals, crosses or additional clasps were not eligible to claim identical clasps on the MGSM. The eligible engagements for the MGSM were identical, with the addition of Egypt, the design of the cross is very similar to the later Victoria Cross and is considered to have provided the inspiration. Category, Recipients of the Army Gold Medal Category, Recipients of the Army Gold Cross Duckers, Medals which were awarded to Officers of the Royal Regiment of Artillery for Service in the Peninsular War -1808 to 1814. British Medals, Army Gold Medal British Medals, Army Gold Cross
28.
Waterloo Medal
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The medal was issued in 1816–17 to every soldier present at one or more of these battles. They were also credited with two years service and pay, to count for all purposes. The soldier was known and described as a Waterloo Man, the ribbon passes through a large iron ring on top of the medal. The medal is made of silver and is 37mm wide, a total of 37,500 struck by the Royal Mint but not all were issued. This is the first medal issued by the British Government to all present at an action. The Military General Service Medal commemorates earlier battles, but was not issued until 1848, the Waterloo Medal was also the first campaign medal awarded to the next-of-kin of men killed in action. It was designed by Thomas Wyon after a design competition and it was also the first medal on which the recipients name was impressed around the edge by machine. The Victorians at War, 1815–1914, An Encyclopedia of British Military History, attribution This article incorporates text from a work in the public domain, Royal Numismatic Society. On English and Foreign Waterloo Medals, the Waterloo Medal on the Kings Own Royal Regiment Museum website
29.
South Africa Medal (1853)
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The South Africa Medal was awarded to participants in three campaigns in the eastern Cape of Good Hope, The 1834–36 Sixth Frontier War. No clasps were awarded, therefore it is not possible to determine which of the wars any particular medal was awarded for, without reference to the appropriate medal rolls. The 1834–36 campaign began with a response to a Xhosa cattle raid when, on 11 December 1834 and this incensed the Xhosa and an army of 10,000 men swept across the frontier into the Cape of Good Hope, pillaged and burned homesteads and killed all who resisted. In response, Boer commandos under Piet Retief, Burgher and Khoikhoi commandos, the 1846–47 and 1851–53 campaigns were both fought against the Gaika tribe of Chief Mgolombane Sandile, who resented British land encroachments and had recently begun to receive fire-arms. This event gave rise to the women and children first protocol, also known as the Birkenhead Drill, in the order of wear of British Campaign Medals, the South Africa Medal takes precedence after the Waterloo Medal and before the Ghuznee Medal. The South Africa Medal is the oldest official British campaign medal applicable to South Africa, preceded by the British Empire Medal. Succeeded by the South Africa Medal, the medal was struck in silver and is a disk,36 millimetres in diameter, with a swivelling suspender. Designed by William Wyon and L. C, Wyon, the dies for the medal were engraved by Leonard Charles Wyon. Obverse The medals obverse displays the head of Queen Victoria. The medal is inscribed VICTORIA at left and REGINA at right around the perimeter, Wyon is inscribed on the truncation of the Queens neck. Reverse The reverse shows a lion on a plinth in front of a protea bush with a single flower. The medal is inscribed SOUTH AFRICA around the top perimeter and has the year 1853 in the exergue, Wyon is inscribed at the bottom, below the year. Army Order No.103 of August 1880 instituted a new South Africa Medal, the obverse of the new medal is identical to that of the South Africa Medal
30.
Ghuznee Medal
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The Ghuznee Medal is a British campaign medal that was awarded for participation in the storming of the fortress of Ghuznee in Afghanistan, on 21 to 23 July 1839. This action, the Battle of Ghazni, took place during the First Anglo-Afghan War and this was the second medal awarded to all ranks of the British Army for a specific campaign, the Waterloo Medal being the first. It was struck in 1839 on the orders of Shuja Shah Durrani, the obverse depicts the fortress of Ghuznee with the word ‘GHUZNEE’ below, while the reverse has a mural crown surrounded by a laurel wreath and the date ’23 JULY 1839’. The suspender is straight with a passing through a smaller loop sweated to the top of the medal. Two separate dies exist for this medal with one having a border around the edge than the other. The second also has a narrower and taller fortress, the medal was issued unnamed but many were later privately engraved or impressed in varying styles on the reverse or rim. First Anglo-Afghan War Shuja Shah Durrani The Ghuznee Medal on BritishMedals info
31.
China War Medal (1842)
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The China War Medal was issued by the British Government in 1843 to members of the British Army and Royal Navy who took part in the First Anglo-Chinese War. The medal was designed by William Wyon, the China War Medal was originally intended by the Governor-General of India, in October 1842, to be awarded exclusively to all ranks of the Honourable East India Companys Forces. At the first and second capture of Chusan, in 1840 and 1841, at the battles of Amoy, Ningpo, Chinhai, Tzeki, Chapu, Woosung, in the Yangtze River, and in the assault of Chinkiang. This campaign became known as the First Opium War, ending in the seizure of Nanking, the resultant treaty opened five ports to trade, and ceded Hong Kong to Great Britain. The medals obverse shows the head of Queen Victoria with the legend VICTORIA REGINA. The First China War Medals reverse was originally designed depicting the British lion devouring a Chinese dragon, however, this design was considered too insensitive to the Chinese and so the reverse described above was used. The non-swivelling suspender is plain and straight being sweated directly to the medal, the medals were named in bold block capital letters with stars used to fill in the spaces as on the Waterloo Medal. However, since new punches were used for this medal the naming appears somewhat sharper than on Waterloo Medal examples and those in receipt of this medal and who also qualified for the Second China War Medal in 1861 were supposed to receive the clasps awarded with the second medal only. These clasps were intended to be fixed to this medal but due to the difference in the width, as a result, the clasps were often simply slipped over the ribbon which was sometimes replaced with the narrower 32mm type supplied with the second medal. Other recipients of this removed the original suspender and replaced it with one similar to that found on the second medal. An example of the medal in the Australian War Memorial Proof specimen in the Fitzwilliam Museum Collection
32.
Candahar, Ghuznee, Cabul Medal
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Candahar, Ghunzee, Cabul Medal was awarded to those who took part in the First Anglo-Afghan War under the command of General William Nott. Approved by General Order at Simla in 1842, it was designed by William Wyon, there are no official clasps, but the four reverses indicate for which service the medal was issued. These are CANDAHAR1842, CABUL1842, GHUZNEE CABUL1842, in addition two erroneous strikings were made. In one VICTORIA REGINA rather than VICTORIA VINDEX appears on the obverse, in the other the reverse reads CABVL1842
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Medal for the Defence of Kelat-I-Ghilzie
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The Kelat-I-Ghilzie Medal, is a campaign medal issued by the British East India Company, to the defenders of the fort at Kelat-I-Ghilzie during the First Anglo-Afghan War. After the Massacre of Elphinstones Army, the forces left in Afghanistan were at Jalalabad and Kelat-I-Ghilzie. For most of the winter, the garrison was besieged under very difficult circumstances, finally, on 19 May 1842, a force was sent to draw off the garrison and relive them from their post. Before the relief force arrived, the garrison repulsed one final attack by some six thousand Afghans on 21 May 1842. A few days after this attack the garrison was relieved by the forces under Sir William Nott. For the courage displayed by the garrison at Kelat-i-Ghilzie, the East India Company, on 4 October 1842, the medal was minted of silver. The design of the obverse contained a wreath with mural crown at the top of a shield with the inscription KELAT-I-GHILZIE. The reverse has a trophy of arms on top of a plaque bearing the inscription INVICTA MDCCCXLII, the medal is suspended by a pin, which passes through a steel clip attached to the top of the medal. The ribbon is the watered rainbow colored ribbon common to most East India Company medals and it is red on the left edge fading into white, which changed to yellow in the center, fading back to white, until finally changing to blue at the right edge. The medals were engraved with the name of the recipient in script on the edge for the medals issued to British personnel, the medals issued to the indigenous troops were not engraved with names
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Scinde Medal
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The medal was awarded for service between 1842 and 1843 in the Sindh campaign. His campaign against these chieftains resulted, after the victories of Miani and Hyderabad, in the subjugation of the province of Sindh. The medal was issued in three variations reflecting service in the battles at Miani or Hyderabad or both, medal, Silver disc 37 mm wide. Suspender, Straight Steel Clip and straight bar suspender, obverse, Left facing, diademed bust of Queen Victoria with inscription VICTORIA REGINA. Engraving, Impressed with recipients details around the rim, Medals of the World Peter Duckers, British Campaign Medals 1815-1914,2000
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Gwalior Star
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The Gwalior Star is a campaign award presented to the soldiers of the British Army, by the Honourable East India Company, who took part in the 1843 Gwalior Campaign. On December 29,1843, the British Army defeated Maharaja Shrimant Jayaji Rao Scindia, the first division of the army, commanded by Sir Hugh Gough, was victorious at the Battle of Maharajpoor. Major-General Grey, on the day, with the second division, was victorious at the Battle of Punniar. This medal is a six pointed star made of bronze, from guns captured during the Gwalior Campaign. In the centre of the star is a disk, which bears the Date 29th Dec,1843. The reverse of the medal is plain and engraved with the name of the soldier, to whom the medal was awarded, and the soldiers regiment. Manufactured at the Calcutta Mint, this medal was presented by the British India Government originally as a star with a clip on the back to be worn on the breast. Eventually most of these were fitted with a ring so that they could be suspended by a ribbon and worn along with other medals. The ribbon used was the ribbon used on many East India Company medals. Gwalior Campaign Star, awarded to Cpt, lawrence Fyler 1843, The Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge, date accessed 2011-03-10. George Homeshaw,1844, The Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge, topic, Gwalior Star Medal, World of Coins, date accessed 2011-03-10
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Sutlej Medal
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The Sutlej Medal was a campaign medal approved in 1846, for issue to officers and men of the British Army and Honourable East India Company who served in the Sutlej campaign of 1845-46. This medal was the first to use clasps to denote soldiers who fought in the battles of the campaign. The medal was approved on 17 April 1846, ferozeshuhur Aliwal Sobraon The Sutlej Medal was also awarded for participation in the Battle of Mudki. There is no clasp, as the first battle the recipient of the participated in would be engraved directly onto the medal. As there was no battle prior to Mudki, there was no need to produce a clasp for second-battle veterans, mackay, J and Mussel, J - Medals Yearbook -2005, Token Publishing. Joslin, Litherland, and Simpkin, British Battles and Medals, Spink
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New Zealand Medal
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The New Zealand Medal was a campaign medal awarded to Imperial and Colonial troops in the New Zealand Wars of 1845–47 and 1860–66. The New Zealand Wars were previously known as the Maori Wars, the medal was authorised in 1869. The Imperial forces included British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Marines, Colonial militia claimants had to prove that they had been under fire. Claims from colonial forces were closed in 1900 but reopened in 1910 and 1913 in association with land claims for service in the war, claims were finally closed for Europeans in 1915 and Māori in 1916. The medal is a bronze or silver design with a straight bar suspender. The reverse has a wreath with in centre usually a year or year range from either the first or second period. Generally the colonial militia medals are undated, and a few specimens are known with 1846 to 1865, a year range is given as ‘1863 / to / 1865’ and unusually for 19th century British medals the year are die struck in the centre. The blue ribbon has a 10mm red centre stripe, the suspender is ornamented with New Zealand fern fronds. The number struck was 1957 and 2500, total 4457, of which about 4400 were issued, the Ministry of Defence retained a few, and sold some unclaimed medals in the 1960s with the name of the recipient XXXXXed out. New Zealand Cross The New Zealand War Medal, Awards to Colonial Units by P. Y
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Punjab Medal
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The medal was approved on 2 April 1849, authorised for all who served in the Punjab between 7 September 1848 and 14 March 1849. Three clasps were authorised, although no medals were awarded all three clasps. No unit qualified for both the clasps Mooltan and Chilianwala, the medal was issued without a clasp to those units that were present in the Punjab but did not take part in fighting. Mooltan 7 September 1848 –22 January 1849, awarded to troops engaged in the siege of Multan. Awarded to troops under the command of Lord Gough who engaged with the Sikh army of Sher Singh, awarded to troops under the command of Lord Gough who defeated the Sikh army of Sher Singh at Gujarat. Mackay, J and Mussel, J – Medals Yearbook –2005, joslin, Litherland, and Simpkin, British Battles and Medals, Spink
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India General Service Medal (1854)
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The India General Service Medal was a campaign medal approved in 1854, for issue to officers and men of the British and Indian armies. The 1854 IGSM was approved on 1 March 1854 and it was awarded for various minor military campaigns in India, during 1852 to 1895. Each battle or action covered by the medal was represented by a clasp on the ribbon,24 were sanctioned, the medal was never issued without a clasp. The medal was awarded in silver to all ranks, regardless of race or branch of service. However, starting from 1885 both medal and clasp were issued in bronze to native support personnel such as bearers, sweepers, the medal is silver,1.4 inches in diameter, and was struck at the Royal Mint. It was later issued in bronze for camp followers and native civilians, the obverse bears a left facing effigy of Queen Victoria wearing a diadem and veil. Surrounding the head is the inscription VICTORIA REGINA, the reverse depicts Victory crowning a seated nude warrior. In the exerge of the medal are lotus flowers and leaves, the medal is suspended by a silver scrolled bar. The medal hangs from a ribbon 1 1/4 inches wide and it is divided into five stripes, three red and two dark blue, 1/4 inch wide. Mussel, J et al - Medals Yearbook -2016, Token Publishing, ISBN9781908828248 Joslin, Litherland, Medals and Decorations of the British Army and Navy, Volume 2
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Crimea Medal
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The Crimea Medal was a campaign medal approved in 1854, for issue to officers and men of British units which fought in the Crimean War of 1854–56 against Russia. The medal was awarded with the British version of the Turkish Crimean War medal, the Crimea medal was also presented to certain members of allied French forces. The medal consists of a 32 millimetres, pale blue ribbon with yellow edges and it is notable for its unusually ornate clasps. Each clasp is in the form of an oak leaf with an acorn at each end, the ornate, floriated, swivelling suspender is also unique to the Crimea Medal. Five bars were authorised for the medal, Alma, Inkerman, Azoff, Balaklava, because Azoff was only issued to Naval and Marine personnel, the maximum awarded to one man was four. A five bar specimen is held in the Royal Collection, the medal was issued without a clasp to those who were active in Crimea, but not present at any of the qualifying actions. The medals issued to members of allied French forces were issued with unofficial French bars Traktir, Tchernaia, Mer dAzoff. Joslin, Litherland, and Simpkin, British Battles and Medals, Spink The Crimean War Medal by Mike Hargreave Mawson The Kings Own Royal Regiment Museum, Crimea Medal
41.
Baltic Medal
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The medal primarily covered naval actions but it was also awarded to 100 men or the Royal Sappers and Miners for their work in the demolition of Russian fortifications at Bomarsund and Sveaborg. The die for the medal was engraved by Leonard Charles Wyon, archived from the original on September 14,2009. Mackay, J and Mussel, J - Medals Yearbook -2006, joslin, Litherland, and Simpkin, British Battles and Medals, Spink
42.
Second China War Medal
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The Second China War Medal was issued by the British Government in 1861 to members of the British Army and Royal Navy who took part in the Second Opium War of 1856 to 1860 against China. The medal was designed by William Wyon, the medals obverse shows the diademed head of Queen Victoria with the legend ‘VICTORIA REGINA’. The reverse has the coat of Royal Arms and shield found on both the First China War Medal with the inscription ‘ARMIS EXPOSCERE PACIM’ and the word ‘CHINA’ in the exergue below. The suspender is the same as used on the Indian Mutiny Medal. The medal was issued with the following clasps, China 1842, Fatshan 1857, Canton 1857, Taku Forts 1858, Taku Forts 1860, the 32 mm ribbon is crimson with yellow edges. The medals are named in indented Roman capitals for the Army, while members of the Royal Marines, guide to the Second China War Medal on the North East Medals website An example in The Fitzwilliam Museum Collection Second China War Medal on Naval & Military Press website
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Indian Mutiny Medal
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The Indian Mutiny Medal was a campaign medal approved in 1858, for issue to officers and men of British and Indian units who served in operations in suppression of the Indian Mutiny. The medal was sanctioned for award to those troops who had been engaged in action against the mutineers. The obverse of the medal depicts the head of a young Queen Victoria, the reverse shows a helmeted Britannia holding a wreath in her right hand and a union shield on her left arm. She is standing in front of a lion, the words India 1857-1858 are inscribed on the reverse of the medal. The ribbon is white with two scarlet stripes, five clasps were authorised, though the maximum awarded to any one man was four. The medal was issued without a clasp to those who served but were not eligible for a clasp, the vast majority of these awards were made to those who became entitled to the medal as a result of the 1868 extensions of eligibility. Delhi 30 May -14 September 1857, awarded to troops participating in the recapture of Delhi. Defence of Lucknow 29 June -22 November 1857, awarded to original defenders and to the relief force commanded by Sir Henry Havelock - Particularly rare and sought after by collectors. This medal was awarded to the principal, masters and schoolboys from La Martinière College in Lucknow Relief of Lucknow November 1857. Awarded to the force under the command of Sir Colin Campbell. Lucknow November 1857 - March 1858, awarded to troops under command of Sir Colin Campbell who were engaged in final operations leading to the surrender of Lucknow and the clearing of the surrounding areas. Central India January - June 1858, awarded to all those who served under Major-General Sir Hugh Rose in actions against Jhansi, Kalpi, and Gwalior. Also awarded to those who served with Major-General Roberts in the Rajputana Field Force and Major-General Whitlock of the Madras Column, the die for the medal was engraved by Leonard Charles Wyon. Mackay, J and Mussel, J - Medals Yearbook -2006, joslin, Litherland, and Simpkin, British Battles and Medals, Spink A searchable database of the names of all 50,700 men of the British Forces who received the Indian Mutiny medal *
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