The British War Medal 1914 -
1920
Instituted in 1919 to commemorate the successful
conclusion of the Great War, and the arduous services rendered by
His Majesty's Forces. The Medal was later extended to include
service in North and South Russia, Eastern Baltic, Siberia, the
Black Sea and the Caspian, and mine clearance post armistice up to
1920.
Award Criteria
Royal Navy.
Awarded
to those of the under mentioned classes who performed twenty-eight
days' mobilized service, or lost their lives in active operations
before completing that period, between 5th August 1914 and 11th
November 1918, both dates inclusive.
(a) Officers, warrant officers, petty officers, non-commissioned
officers and men of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Naval Air
Service, Royal Indian Marine, Royal Naval Reserve (including Trawler
and Fishery Sections), Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and Dominion
and Colonial Naval Forces.
(b) Mercantile Marine officers and men serving in His Majesty's
commissioned ships and auxiliaries on Special Naval Engagements.
(c) Officers and enrolled members of the Women's Royal Naval
Service who proceeded and served overseas.
(d) Members of Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service and
Royal Naval Nursing Service Reserve, and recognized official nursing
organizations, who served in a hospital ship at sean the award.
"
German
east Africa
" To be awarded to the Officers and men
of H.M. Ships employed off the coast and outlying islands of East
Africa between Mombasa and Delagoa Bay, both inclusive, throughout
the war; also to those Naval ranks and ratings serving on the
African Lakes.
"German
S.W. Africa" To be awarded to the Officers and men
of H.M. Ships employed on the coast of German S.W. Africa between
Luderitz Bay and Swakopmund between September 15th 1914 and July 9th
1915.
"
pacific islands
" To be awarded to all Naval
Officers and men who took part in the following operations :
New Britain ( Sept. 11 - 21st
1914.)
New Ireland (Sept. 6 - Oct. 8th
1914.)
Kaiser Wilhelm Land (Sept. 24th
1914.)
Admiralty Islands (Nov. 21st
1914.)
Naura (Nov. 6th 1914.)
German Samoa (Aug. 29th 1914.)
"
Cameroons "
To be awarded to the Officers and men of all H.M. Ships, vessels and
boats, including the Nigerian Marine personnel, who were present on
the Cameroons' waters and rivers between 29th August 1914 and 31st
January 1916 inclusive.
(G) services in Serbia and Russia, and post armistice operations
Under this head the following clasps
will be awarded :
"
north Russia, 1918/19
" To be awarded to all naval ranks and ratings who served afloat
or ashore in North Russia, within the area specified below, between
midnight, 11-12th November 1918 and 12th October 1919.
Southern Limit Along the parallel
of 60° N. between the meridians of 30° E. and 50° E.
Eastern Limit The meridian of 50°
E.
Western Limit The meridian of 30°
E.
"
eastern Baltic, 1918-19
" To be awarded to all naval ranks and ratings who
served within the Gulf of Finland and in the Baltic east of 20° E.
between midnight,11-12th November 1918, and midnight, 31st December
I919-1st January 1920.
"
mine clearance, 1918-19
" To be awarded to those Officers and men who actually signed a
Mine Clearance Contract, and were accepted and employed under the
terms M.0.972/19. Limiting
dates and areas as follows :
(a) In Home
Waters, including North Sea European littoral, between 11th November
1918, and midnight, 30th September-1st October 1919.
(b) Within the Mediterranean,
between 11th November 1918, and midnight, 30th November-1st December
1919.
(c) Within the Baltic, between 11th
November 1918, and midnight, 30th November-1st December 1919.
(d) In other foreign areas where
British vessels have carried out mine clearance, between 11th
November 1918, and midnight, 31st July-1st August 1919.
"
SERBIA " To all those in the Naval contingent, and
in the attached hospital, serving under the orders of Rear Admiral
Sir E. C. T. Troubridge during the defence of Belgrade, and the
subsequent retreat through Serbia across the Albanian frontier to
the sea, between 14th December 1914, and 1st January 1916, and who
are eligible for no other clasp for the same service.
"
SIBERIA, 1918-19
" (a) To the naval personnel of the British Naval Mission in
Siberia under Commander J. Wolfe Murray, up till 13th September
1919, and who are eligible for no other clasp for the same service.
(b) To the personnel of the naval
detachment who were employed on the Kama River, Siberia, up till
28th June 1919, and who are eligible for no other clasps for the
same service.
"
RUSSIA " (a)
To-naval ranks and ratings who were employed with the armoured cars
serving with the Russian forces throughout the war, and who are
eligible for no other clasp for the same service.
(b) To members of the Naval Mission
who were serving in South Russia 1919-1920, and who are eligible for
no other clasp for the same service. The determining dates in this
case will be announced later.
" BLACK SEA,
1918-20 " To be awarded to Officers and men serving on
board H.M. Ships and vessels which operated in the Black Sea or in
the Bosphorus within the line joining Stefano Point and Farnar Burnu
(at the Sea of Marmora exit from the Bosphorus) subsequent to 11th
November 1918. The terminal date will be announced later.
This clasp is not to be held in
addition to the clasp for "
Russia " by members of the Naval Mission mentioned in
paragraph (b), " Russia," above.
"
CASPIAN " To be awarded to all Naval
Officers and men who were employed in the Caspian Sea, or on the
shores thereof,
between July 1918 and 27th August 1919
see also:
Admiral Sir John
Jellicoe's Despatch on the Battle of Jutland.
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