MILITARY MEDALS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3159, 10 August 1917, Page 5

MILITARY MEDALS

DN EXHIBITION TN THE DOMINION MUSEUM, A specially interesting exhibit lias Uust reached' tho Dominion Museum 'through' Sir Thomas Mackenzie, HigS ■'Commissioner for Now Zealand. It consists of a specimen Military Cross, and .one each of threo different medals recently issued for presentation on tho field. Theso last aro classified respectively as "For Distinguished Conduct in -tho Field," "For Bravery in tho Field," ;«nd "For Meritorious Conduct," and all ■aro massive and exceptionally handsome silver medals of about tho size of a fiveshilling piece. That which rewards "Distinguished Conduct in tho Field" boars these worda an bold relief and plain lettering on the smooth surface, whilst the obverse side, which is the same on all three medals, has a fino portrait bust of the Xing, with tho . words "Gcorgius V. Britt: O.M.N. Rex: ct Ind: Imp" encircling the edge, which is heavily, bevelled. This medal is worn on a ribbon •whose dark blue contro_ is bordered on each.side-with dark crimson. Tho medal "For Bravery in the Field lias a laurel wreath surrounding tho •words, which aro surmounted by tho Itoyal monogram and a small crown. The accompanying ribbon is of reddish purplo odged with white. The crown which surmounts the laurel wreath encircling the words on the medal awarded ' For Meritorious Conduct" is the Crown with depressed aroh made for Queen Victoria ■when she assumed the title Empress of 'Tndia, quite a different shape to tho Royal Crown which is shown on tho Military Cross, and the ribbon, is a docidedly cheerful one with its three white lines on a crimson ground bordered with dark blue. _ . ~ The heavy Maltese Cross of silver ■which constitutes that much-desired "'Military Cross," won by so many of our gallant men during the severest actions of the year on the Western front, is somewhat largo and striking looking. Each point of the cross is engraved with the Royal Crown, and a small Latin Cross I deeply incised bears the Royal •monogram in low relief in the _ centre. ■The ribbon is white watered moire -with, a daTk blue centre. ..,,■. t The medals, which cannot fail to bo_ of :t.he greatest interest to a. large section of the public, aro shown in one of tho cases devoted to military decorations in the main hall of tho lower floor m the Dominion Museum.