Object Record
Images
Additional Images [2]
Metadata
Object ID # |
2016.026.004ab |
Object Name |
Medal |
Other Name |
Medal, British War / Medal, Service |
Title |
British War Medal for Cpl. James Mobbs |
Date |
1919 |
Place of Origin |
England, United Kingdom/Ottawa, Ontario |
Description |
British War Medal - a circular, silver medal. Engraved at the edge is 838331 CPL. J. MOBBS 4-C.M.R." It still has its blue/black/white/orange striped silk ribbon with it. The front face has a leftwards-facing uncrowned head portrait of George V, with the Latin legend GEORGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP: The reverse face has a nude 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 |
Issued to/used by Corporal James Mobbs in 1919, to commemorate his service in the First World War. The item was last owned by one of his grand-daughters, Patricia Morrison (Pat A. Morrison). |
Collection |
Military, 20th-c Collection |
Material |
Metal/Ribbon/Silver/Dye |
Found |
Ontario |
People |
Mobbs, James (Jimmy) |
Subjects |
World War I (First World War/The Great War) Soldiers Military service Military parades & ceremonies Medals |
Search Terms |
147th Grey Battalion 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles Regiment Kemble |
Function |
A service medal that was mailed to a veteran of the Great War from the Milita Office at Ottawa (they were mailed out with the Inter-allied War Medals (Victory Medals), and also were sent with a form-printed thank you letter from the King. This one was issued to a Kemble, Grey County veteran. 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 |