Victory Medal

item details

NameVictory Medal

ProductionRoyal Mint; maker/artist; 1919; England
William McMillan; designer; 1919

Classificationmedals

Materialsbronze, silk

Materials SummaryBronze medal with ribbon

Techniqueslacquering

DimensionsOverall: 38mm (width), 150mm (height), 4mm (depth)

Registration NumberNU006135

Overview

This Victory Medal was awarded to Driver John Aloysius Fernandos, New Zealand Field Artillery, 1st New Zealand Expeditionary Force. John Fernandos was born in 1889. He served in Egypt, France, and Flanders, and died in Wellington on 15 October 1917.

Establishment
The Victory Medal was awarded to all ranks of the Allied fighting forces, civilians under contract, and those employed in military hospitals who served in a theatre of war between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. It was always issued with the British War Medal, never alone.

Details
The Victory Medal is made of a gold-coloured metal (lacquered bronze) and was issued with a double-rainbow patterned ribbon. Each medal was inscribed around the rim with the recipient's name and service number. The front, or obverse side, depicts the figure of Athene Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, with her left arm extended and her right hand holding a palm branch. On the reverse side is the legend 'THE GREAT/ WAR FOR/ CIVILIZATION/ 1914-1919' surrounded by a wreath.