Summary
Victory Medal 1914-1919 with ring mount and ribbon awarded to Cpl. Harry Watkins, service number 657, 5th Battalion, A.I.F.
Corporal Watkins was born in Newmarket, Melbourne. He resided at 12 Little Moray Street, South Melbourne and was a 26 year old labourer when he joined on 28 January 1914 at South Melbourne. His wife was Mrs M. Watkins of 136 Cubitt Street, Richmond and it is believed they married around 1916. Watkins Next of Kin prior to this was his mother. Watkins was sent to Egypt, then the Dardanelles in July 1915. He was injured at Anzac in August 1915 and was hospitalised in Egypt. He rejoined his unit in February 1916. Watkins was in France in June 1916, suffered from trench fever in May 1917 and in March 1918 was sent to England prior to returning to Australia. Corporal Watkins was discharged in August 1918.
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; '657 CPL. H. WATKINS. 5 BN. A.I.F.'.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation & Subsequent Transfer from Victorian Branch, Returned & Services League of Australia Limited (RSL), Mrs I. M. Cahill, May 1983
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Date Issued
1919 AD
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Issued By
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Mint
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Artist
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Awarded To
Corporal Harry Watkins, Australia, 1919
657 Cpl H. Watkins, 5th Battalion, A.I.F. -
Inscriptions
Obverse; 'W.McM.' (W. McMillan- artist). Reverse; 'THE GREAT . WAR FOR . CIVILISATION 1914 - 1919'. Edge; '657 CPL. H. WATKINS. 5 BN. A.I.F.'.
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Material
Bronze
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Axis
12
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
50 mm (Height), 36 mm (Outside Diameter)
Height to top of ring.
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Shape
Round with loop and ribbon
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References
References: [Link 1]
[Book] Joslin, E C., et al. 1988. British Battles and Medals., 230 - 1 Pages
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Keywords