Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object ID # |
2018.033.002ab |
Object Name |
Medal |
Other Name |
Medal, British War / Medal, Service |
Title |
British War Medal of Lieut. W. C. (Clarence) McFaul |
Date |
1919 |
Year Range from |
1919 |
Year Range to |
1919 |
Place of Origin |
England, United Kingdom |
Description |
British War Medal (and its original ribbon) issued posthumously to the family of Lieutenant W. C. McFaul (his rank and name is engraved on the edge). It is a circular, silver medal. It still has its striped silk blue/black/white/orange ribbon with it. There is a leftwards-facing uncrowned head portrait of George V, with the Latin legend GEORGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP: The reverse side has a naked horseman (St. George, representing England) with a short sword. The design is an allegory of physical and mental strength overcoming Prussianism, as the horse tramples on the Prussian shield and the skull and cross-bones. There is also a "sun of victory" motif, as well as "1914" and "1918". |
Provenance |
It was issued in 1919 to the family of Lieutenant W. C. McFaul who was born at Owen Sound, Grey County, on March 27, 1891. He served with the 19th Battalion. He was killed on the last full day of the First World War, November 10, 1918, at Mons, Belgium. The next day, November 11, 1918, was the Armistice. He was usually known as "Clarence" by family and friends. His next-of-kin was his father, Alexander Wesley McFaul, who had a grocery store along main street (2nd Avenue East) in Owen Sound. This item was later passed down to one of Lieutenant McFaul's brothers, Robert Cecil McFaul. It was last kept by Cecil's son, Robert Wesley McFaul. |
Collection |
Military, 20th-c Collection |
Material |
Metal/Ribbon/Silver/Dye |
Dimensions |
W-3.6 L-12.5 D-0.4 cm |
Found |
Sauble Beach, Bruce County |
People |
McFaul, Wesley Clarence McFaul, Alexander |
Subjects |
Medals World War I (First World War/The Great War) Soldiers |
Search Terms |
19th Battalion |
Function |
The British War Medal was to go to all personnel who (from Canada) had seen active duty for at least 28 days in the period between August 5, 1914 and November 11, 1918. This date was expanded until 1920 to include the troops that served in the Caspian and Baltic area during the expeditions against the Bolsheviks in Russia. There were a total of 6,500,000 of them awarded. This medal issue was in the First World War trio of medals, nicknamed "Pip, Squeak, and Wilfred". They were named for characters in a cartoon strip. Sometimes they were called "Mutt & Jeff" medals, also after cartoon characters. There were 6,500,000 of these medals made up after the medal was authorized in July,1919, with 427,993 being issued to Canadians. Sources: -Angus, Ian, MEDALS AND DECORATIONS, p. 41 -Blatherwick, F. J., CANADIAN ORDERS, DECORATIONS AND MEDALS, 3rd Edition, page 32 -Edgar, Donald, BRITAIN'S ROYAL FAMILY IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY: KING EDWARD VII TO QUEEN ELIZABETH II, p. 69. -Veteran's Affairs Canada website |