British War Full Size Medal

The British War Medal was a WW1 campaign medal of the British Empire, also nicknamed 'Squeak'. Approved by King George V in 1919, the British War medal was issued to 6.5 million British and Imperial forces for their services during WW1, between the 5th August and the 11th November 1918. The qualifying dates were later extended to cover 1919-1920 for service involving mine clearance of the sea and operational service in Russia, Siberia and the Baltic, Black and Caspian Seas. The British War medal is the only Bitish campaign medal of WWI that could be awarded on its own.

The obverse of the medal is an uncrowned profile of King George V by Sir Bertram Mackennal. The reverse of the medal shows St George on horseback trampling under the horses foot the eagle shield of the central powers and a skull and cross-bones, the emblems of death. The ribbon is a standard width of 32mm and has a broad orange centre with stripes of white, black and royal blue on the edge.

Qualifying time for the medal is a minimum of 28 days in an active theatre of war or on deployment overseas. For anyone Killed in Action the medal was automatically awarded. Staff of recognised non-military hospitals, Womens Auxiliary services, RN canteen and medical staff and member of the WRNS were also eligible. 

AWARD miniature medals complement the full-size official medals and are normally worn for formal dinner dress occasions.

All official medals are sent loose on the ribbon unless medal mounting is also purchased on the same order.