Summary

Victory Medal 1914-1919 with ring mount and ribbon presented on behalf of Pte. Edward Pummeroy, service number 2224, 58th Battalion, A.I.F. Private Pummeroy was killed on active service during World War I.

Private Edward Pummeroy was born in Caulfield, Melbourne, and was a gardener before he joined on 19 April 1916, aged 39 years and 6 months. He embarked from Melbourne on 1 August 1916 on HMAT Orsova. In September 1917 he joined a unit in France and was declared missing in action on 26 September 1917. It was later confirmed Private Pummeroy had been killed. He was buried in the vicinity of Polygon Wood. He was batman to Lieutenant Kennedy Smith, who was killed by a shell when going into action for a 'stunt'. Private Pummeroy's father was William John Pummeroy of Rosberry St, Ascot Vale.

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.

Part of a collection of material donated to Museum Victoria in 1988 by Miss Ida Murphy in memory of her brother William Murphy, who died during World War II, and her uncle Edward Pummeroy.

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; '2224 PTE. E. PUMMEROY . 58 BN. A.I.F.'.

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