MEDALS OF THE GREAT WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 251, 22 October 1919, Page 10

MEDALS OF THE GREAT WAR.

The Victory march in London saw tho first official appearance of the 19hi-1919 ribbon (the British War Afedal), writes an ex-regular in the "Daily Mail." Tho wearing of the 1914 ("Mons") Star and the 1914-1915 Star has already been sanctioned. Only one ribbon will be issued for these two medals; but an announcement is shortly expected as to the wearing of a rosette to mark service in 1914. In addition, an inter-Allied (or Victory) medal will also be granted to all British troops. These three ribbons then, exclusive of decorations and foreign awards, will comprise the number of active service medals to be won in the great war. I believe I am right in saying that three separate general service medals constitute the largest number ever granted in the history of the British Army for one war. After the Boer War two medals were granted; several medals have been struck for campaigns in Egypt, the Sudan, and India, but never three for any one war in particular. One general service medal was granted for the Crimea: one for Waterloo. The Waterloo medal was the first medal ever granted for general service—that is, the | first medal to be given to all, irrespective of rank and individual services, who were present. The earliest trace of an official medal at all dates back to the reign of Charles 1., who established two medals, which wore given for conspicuous conduct on the field. It is interesting to note that, in the opinion of many soldiers, the Distinguished Conduct Mednl of to-day is the j finest award a soldier can get after the V.C. Unlike the D.5.0., which until) the very end of the war, could be, and sometimes was acquired for conscientious work at the base, the D.C.M. is only bestowed for gallantry in action. A bar to the D.S.O. is, of course, quite a different matter. This, like the D.C.M., can only be gained for gallantry under fire.