Archive Lots

Great Britain, George V, British War Medal Silver Medal (36 mm, 29.09 grams) with hanger, Obv. GEORGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:, (Georgius V Britanniarum Omnium; Rex Et Indiae; Imperator - “George 5th of all the Britons (British people); King of India; Emperor”), head of King George V. facing left, Rev. 1914 - 1918, a man riding on a rearing horse. The man shown is Saint George, the patron saint of England. He is shown naked and is holding a short sword. This was supposed to symbolize the mental and physical strength that was needed to win the First World War. The horse is trampling a shield that shows the emblem of Prussia and the Axis Powers, which were the enemies the British and other Allies were fighting during World War One (the First World War). The horse is also trampling on a skull and cross-bones, and the rising sun, known as the Victory Sun can be seen by St. George’s head. The British War Medal was a medal given to people who had fought in the First World War. The medal was originally meant to be for people who had fought in the war between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918, but this was later changed to the years between 1914 and 1920. This was because a lot of people still lost their lives in the armed forces even after the war had ended because they were clearing landmines or mines at sea.The British War Medal (often shortened to BWM) was awarded to both officers and men of the Royal Marines, Royal Navy, the Army, and also the Dominion and Colonial Forces. The Dominion and Colonial Forces were the armed forces for the rest of the British Empire. To qualify for (be allowed to have) the medal, a member of the fighting forces had to have left his native country in any part of the British Empire whilst on military duty.There were over six and a half million British War Medals given out. Most of them are made of silver, but some rarer ones are made of bronze instead. They are all circular and have different designs on each side.

India British, King George V, India General Service - Afghanistan N.W.F - 1919, Silver Medal, with ribbon mount, Awarded to NO 3075 SEPOY KANNAE/22/PIONRS, Obv. bust of King George V, legend around “GEORGIVS V KAISAR-I-HIND”, Rev. the fortress at Jamrud in the Khyber pass, with the name “INDIA” in a wreath at the foot, 41.90 grams, 54.03mm, about very fine, Scarce.

India British, King George V, India General Service - Afghanistan N.W.F - 1919, Silver Medal, with ribbon mount, Awarded to 80 L. NK. RAM RIKH, 2/69/PJBS. Obv. bust of King George V, legend around “GEORGIVS V KAISAR-I-HIND”, Rev. the fortress at Jamrud in the Khyber pass, with the name “INDIA” in a wreath at the foot, 41.90 grams, 54.03mm, about very fine, Scarce.

British India, North West Frontier Province, General Service Medal, 1930-31 Silver Medal, with ribbon mount, Awarded to 8966 SEP. MOHAN SINGH. 2-11 SIKH R. 32mm, Calcutta mint, Obv. crowned head of King George V facing left with the inscription ‘GEORGIVS V D: G: OMN; REX ET INDIAE IMP:’, Rev. the fortress at Jamrud in the Khyber pass, with the name “INDIA” in a wreath at the foot, 41.9g, 54.03mm, about very fine, Scarce.

India British, Victory Medal, Bronze, with ribbon mount, 39 mm (1.5 in) wide, Awarded to 5965 SPR RATNAM, 2 S & M. Obv. the winged, full-length, full-front, figure of ‘Victory’ (or ‘Victoria’) with her left arm extended and holding a palm branch in her right hand, similar to the statue surmounting the Queen Victoria Memorial, in front of Buckingham Palace in London. Rev. Legend “THE GREAT / WAR FOR / CIVILISATION / 1914–1919” in four lines, all surrounded by a laurel wreath, Edge. recipient’s name, rank, service number, and unit were impressed on the edge of the medal, Scarce.

British India, North West Frontier Province, General Service Medal, 1936-37 Silver Medal, with ribbon mount, 32mm, Calcutta mint, Awarded to 12408 L-NAIK RANIK, 6-13 F.F.RIF. Obv. crowned head of King George VI facing left with the inscription ‘GEORGIVS VI D: G: OMN; REX ET INDIAE IMP:’ Rev. side view of a tiger standing astride a mountain range with the word ‘INDIA’; above, The claw mount attaching the medal disc to the suspension - Calcutta Mint version, a plain curved style.

India British, Defence Medal, George VI, 1939-1945, Nickel, Obv. crowned head of King George VI facing left with the inscription ‘GEORGIVS VI D: G: OMN; REX ET INDIAE IMP:’, Rev: Two standing Lions facing backwards holding a crown in each hand and raising another hand above as a sign of victory and tree below the crown, Scarce.

(a) India, Long Service Medal-20 years, Bronze, Awarded to 1219546 HAV P. KUNHAMMAD, ARTY. Obv. Ashoka Emblem with Satyameva Jayate in Nagari below and besides “Long Service – 20 Years” in English and “Dirgh Seva – Vish varsh” in Hindi, Rev. Rising Sun at the top, Eagle flying with spread wings and set of two swords behind, Scarce (b) India, Sangram Medal, Obv. Ashoka Emblem with Satyameva Jayate in Nagari below and besides “Sangram Medal” in English and Hindi. Rev. Rising Sun, around a wreath of leaves, Scarce.

India, Police (Special Duty) Medal (2 nos.), Punjab, Bronze, with ribbon mount, Obv. Ashoka Emblem, around flower wreath, below Satyameva Jayate in Nagari legend, Rev. Mountain scenery, Police Kathin Seva Padak in Nagari at the top, Scarce.

India, Long Service, and Good Conduct Medal, with ribbon mount, Bronze, Awarded to 2535021 L-NK. KUTTY, MADRAS R. Obv. Ashoka Emblem with Satyameva Jayate in Nagari below and design on borders, Rev. within Flower Wreath “For Long Service and Good Conduct” in English and Nagari Legend, Scarce.