Summary

Group of three mounted medals, World War I, engraved "1721 R.E.S. SMITH CKS MATE".

The medals comprise a 1914-15 Star; a British War Medal 1914-18 mounted on a Victory Medal ribbon; and a Victory Medal mounted on a War Medal ribbon.

Awarded to Reginald Edward Strickland Smith of the Royal Australian Navy. Leading Cook Smith was born on 31 July 1895 in Warracknabeal; his Next of Kin was St Heliers, Derby St, Kew. He joined the Navy on 1 June 1912, and served for seven years.

The 1914-15 Star was authorised in 1918 to be awarded to those who saw service between 5 August 1914 and 31 December 1915 (excluding those who were eligibile for the 1914 Star) - 2,350,000 were issued.

"The British War Medal 1914-1920, authorised in 1919, was awarded to eligible service personnel and civilians alike. Qualification for the award varied slightly according to service. The basic requirement for army personnel and civilians was that they either entered a theatre of war, or rendered approved service overseas between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. Service in Russia in 1919 and 1920 also qualified for the award." (National Archives, UK) A total of 350,000 British War Medals were issued.

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

Three mounted medals with ribbons.

Reverse Description

Three mounted medals with ribbons. Hand stitched top edge.

Significance

From National Archives of Australia; B2455 World War One service records: 1721 Leading Cook Reginald Edward Strickland Smith, born 31 July 1895, Warracknabeal, NOK: St Heliers, Derby St, Kew, Joined 1 June 1912 for 7 years.
References:
http://www.naa.gov.au/The_Collection/Defence/Conflicts/ww1/ww1.html

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