THE WAR MEDAL

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 130, 4 June 1919, Page 9

THE WAR MEDAL

GENERAL ISSUE APPROVED.

(FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

LONDON, 15th April. Tho general medal for the Great War has .been decided upon, and tho design of • a ribbon has been approved. The riband, as I have already stated, will somewhat resemble tho South African Queen's. There will be a broad band of orange down the centre, and on each side narrow bands of red, blue, and black. Mr.'Churchill, Secretary for War, states that, tho design has been registered under tho Patents and Designs Act, so as to pre- [ vent anybody manufacturing the riband without a license. A free preliminary iesue will ,be made to all men entitled to 1 the medal,' whether serving or discharged, and for this purpose more than two'million yards of riband is required. Tho riband will be released for general sale as soon_ as sufficient quantities havo been obtained. Sir Ivor Philipps pointed out that by making tho riband a. patent production | tho Minister was creating a gigantic |, monopoly in tho supply to about ten milj lion soldiers aiul sailors. Mr._ Churchill: What we want is to get tho riband out co that it may be worn by our soldiers before tho peoplo have almost forgotten that a war has been'on. The moment that is over there will bo free trade. ; | Replying to Captain Craig, Mr. Churhill announced that at least a distinction would bo mado between the 1014 and 1914-15 medals. It would be achieved by the 1914 inert wearing a silver rosette on the riband similar to that which indicates a bar on other decorations, but the rosette will only be given to those people who in 1914 really took' part in tho fightn/g----—(cheers)—and not distributed among a mass of pooplo who never went beyond Havre. Free issues of tho rcsctte would bo mado in the first instance.