Summary

Victory Medal 1919-1920, one of two medals awarded to Pte. David Petrie, who served in the British regiment the Gordon Highlanders (aka 'Gordons') - regimental number S/42500.

Private Petrie died as a pauper in Melbourne, and his medals were given to the Brunswick Police. They in turn donated them to the RSL in 1982, who transferred them to Museum Victoria in the same year.

According to information supplied by the Gordon Highlander's Museum, regimental numbers within the Gordons beginning with S/40,000 do not begin until September 1916. This series of regimental number usually indicates that a soldier had transferred to the Gordons from another regiment or directly from training where he may have held a separate number. Petrie appears to have been in the latter category and his regimental number suggests that he joined the Gordons circa August-October, 1917. As his name does not appear on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission or the Gordon Highlander's WWI Roll of Honour, he lived until at least 1921.

Further biographical and military information for Private David Petrie S/42500 is not available.

The Gordon Highlanders raised 21 battalions in World War I, principally from Aberdeen and north-east Scotland.

The Victory Medal was authorised in 1919 and was awarded to army, navy and air force personnel who served in a theatre of war between midnight 4th-5th August 1914 and midnight 11th-12th November 1918. The Allies resolved that, if they wished to issue a Victory Medal, it would share a common feature of a depiction of Victory on the obverse and a ribbon of red, yellow, green, blue and violet merged into a rainbow pattern. This medal, that of Great Britain, was awarded to personnel from countries in the British Empire (some 5,725,000 were issued). The other Allied countries that issued Victory medals were: Belgium, Brazil, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Romania, Thailand, Union of South Africa and the United States of America.

Obverse Description

Figure of Victory facing three-quarters right with wings spread; in her right hand she holds a palm branch, her left hand is extended and open. The artist's initials, W.McM. (W. McMillan) are above the ground line on the right.

Reverse Description

The words, 'THE GREAT . WAR FOR . CIVILISATION 1914-1919' within a circular wreath of laurel.

Edge Description

Text; 'S-42 500 PTE. D. PETRIE GORDONS'.

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