Inter-allied Victory medal from WW1 Page 2

Adornments on the ribbon of the Inter Allied Victory Medal

Throughout the British Empire/Commonwealth

As an outward sign to denote that a serviceman or servicewoman had been "Mentioned in Despatches" approval was given by the King for an oak leaf emblem in bronze to be worn on the ribbon of the Victory Medal by all personnel borne on the strength of the British, Dominion, Colonial, and Indian Expeditionary Forces, who had been "mentioned" once or more in military despatches during the war by the commander in the field.

The oak leaf was issued in two sizes.

The larger is worn with the medal and is affixed to the centre of the ribbon at an angle of sixty degrees from the inside edge of the ribbon, stem to the right of wearer; the smaller is worn, when the wearer is in service dress, transversely across the ribbon (British Army Order 3/1920).

United States of America

US Army Battle clasps were awarded for:
Cambrai	(20 May - 4 December 1917);
Somme, Defensive	(21 March - 6 April 1918);
Lys	(9-27 April 1918);
Aisne	(27 May - 5 June 1918);
Montdidier-Noyon	(9 June - 13 June 1918);
Champagne-Marne	(18 July - 6 August 1918);
Aisne-Marne	(18 July - 6 August 1918);
Somme, Offensive	(8 August - 11 November 1918);
Oise-Aisne	(18 August - 11 November 1918);
Ypres-Lys	(19 August - 11 November 1918);
St Mihiel	(12-16 September 1918);
Meuse-Argonne	(26 September - 11 November 1918);
Vittorio-Veneto	(24 October - 4 November 1918); and
Defensive Sector.

Army Service clasps were awarded to personnel who served overseas in one of the following areas and were not entitled to a battle clasp:
England	(6 April 1917 - 11 November 1918);
Siberia	(any service in Siberia);
Italy	(6 April 1917 - 11 November 1918);
Russia	(any service in European Russia); and
France	(6 April 1917 - 11 November 1918).

This is a genuine US Inter-allied Victory Medal with 8 battle clasps awarded to an Army man (rounded end clasps. USN & USMC had square ended clasps).

The USA was the only country that issued battle clasps for the Victory Medal.

This was done because they did not issue any other campaign medal for WW1 so the Victory Medal has to fill several roles.

Most US clasps were full backed and slid over the ribbon, however here is one that was split backed and clamped onto the ribbon.

15mm Bronze lapel button given to all US Army soldiers that served in the Great War and entitled to the Victory Medal.

To be worn on civilian clothes and noted on their discharge when given. The same lapel pin in silver means the veteran was wounded.

Presentation set, US Victory medal

4 variations of clasps for the US Victory medal. Note the difference between the USN and Army clasps

Reverse of the US Victory medal

Along with the Victory Medal and the Victory lapel pin US servicemen were issued with an "Honorable Discharge" lapel pin.


Bronze Victory Lapel Button for Wounded Veterans (1)	Bronze Victory Lapel Buttons for Discharged Veterans (2)	Silver Victory Lapel Buttons for Discharged Veterans	American Legion "Silver" Victory Lapel Button for Wounded Veterans

Design rules and details

Within months of the 11 Nov. 1918 armistice ending the First World War, the concept of a Victory Medal was approved and an Inter-allied Military Commission was meeting in France formulated a set of recommendations that would evolve into the Victory Medal we know today.

The name originally proposed for the medal, the "Allies' Medal," was rejected by the Commission because the name technically excluded the U.S. (America was an Associated power not an Allied power) and Germany, ironically, could issue a medal by the same name. The following design-related resolutions were adopted by the Commission and were to apply to the separate Victory medals created by the 16 Allied and Associated nations:

1. A medal of the Great War shall be created and be called the Victory Medal.
- A French General is credited with suggesting the name.

2. It shall be distributed under conditions to be determined by each government.

3. The ribbon, identical for all countries, will represent two rainbows placed in juxtaposition in such a manner as will bring the red in the middle.
- An American, Army Col. T. Bentley Mott, is credited with the ribbon design.

4. The medal shall be bronze, round, its diameter 36 mm.

5. The final design of the medal itself shall be left up to the respective countries.
- a. On the obverse will be represented a figure of Victory -- winged, standing, full length and full face. The background and border will be plain and bear no inscription or date.
  - Japan alone refused to use "Winged Victory" and used a male warrior.
- b. The reverse will bear the inscription "The Great War for Civilization" in the language of the country concerned and will show the names of the various Allied and Associated nations or indicate their coats of arms.
  - Britain ignored the second part of this section as did many others.
- c. The edge will be plain.


Unusual riband for US Victory medal.	US 75th Anniversary of WW1 medal

World War 2 Victory Medal, USA

The World War II Victory Medal was awarded by Act of Congress 6 July 1945 to all members of the United States Armed Forces who served at least one day active Federal service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946.