Allied Victory Medal 1914-1919 (British), awarded to Cpt. T. M. Monk, 1919
Image["Victory Medal 1914-1919 (British), 1919"]Obverse, Victory looking to the sky and holding aloft a wreath and a palm
Image["Victory Medal 1914-1919 (British), 1919"]Reverse, inscription in border
Allied Victory Medal 1914-1919 (British), 1919 (Great War 1914-1918)
When the Great War of 1914-1918 had ended, there was a genuine feeling among the victorious Allies that their military efforts had been instrumental in preserving modern civilization, and this and the united spirit of the Alliance were commemorated in a combined issue of medals to those who had seen active service during the conflict. 13 nations in all issued a variety of this medal; all shared the rainbow ribbon and suspension, and all but the
Japanese, who lacked a comparable symbolic figure, used a form of Victory on the obverse and a legend on the reverse.
Those who had fought in the British Armed Forces were already entitled to the
British War Medal, of course, and if they had served since early on, the
1914 or
1914-15 Stars. The Victory Medal thus became an additional award in Britain, but for many other countries it was the sole badge of participation in the War.
This medal was awarded to Captain T. M. Monk, and is part of what the catalogue of the Watson Collection considers
Group 6. Its provenance is therefore considered
with the others of that group.