Medals and War Badges:
The total number of 1914 Stars, 1914/15 Stars, British War Medals and Victory Medals issued amounts to some 14,778,805 and every medal was individually stamped with the name, rank and serial number of the soldier they were awarded too. This is in contrast to the medals of the 2nd World War which were issued unnamed. Shown here are some of the medals and badges awarded and issued in the 1st World War to both soldiers and civilians, some of which form part of my medal and war badge collection.

The 1914 "Mons" Star::

  
In addition to the Victory Medal, British Medal and the 1914/15 Star there was also the 1914 Star. This medal was issued to members of the British Expeditionary Force who had served in France and Belgium during the period the 5th August to the 22nd November.

In 1919 a clasp bearing those dates was authorised and given to those individuals who had actually been under fire between the prescribed dates. The 1914 Star is also known as the "Mons Star". The 1914 Star is inscribed AUG-NOV 1914 whereas the 1914/15 Star has a scroll inscribed with 1914 - 15.  Click on the image for more information.

The 1914/15 Trio::

  
Shown here are the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal of Gunner 1597 Charles George Thomas Barnes. Enlisting in Worthing on the 29th August 1914, Gunner C.G.T. Barnes served in India and Iraq before being discharged due to "in consequence of surplus to military requirements, having suffered impairment since entry into the service paragraph 392 (XVIa) Kings Regulations after serving five years, 105 days in the Colours and nil years and days in the Territorial Force". His medals, being in the safe keeping of his nephew Colin were presented to myself by Colin on the occasion of our attendance of the 90th Anniversary of the Armistice at Thiepval 2008.   

Territorial Force Medal::

  
The Territorial Force War Medal 1914-1919 was authorised by Army Order 143 and awarded to members of the Territorial Force and the Territorial Nursing Service who had volunteered for overseas service no later than 30th September 1914 (i.e. signed Army Form E624) - but to qualify for the medal they had either to be serving with the Territorial Force prior to the 4th of August 1914 or have had not less than four years service with the Territorial Force prior to that date and have rejoined the force and volunteered for overseas service prior to September 30th. Additionally, they must not have been eligible for either the 1914 or 1914-15 Star and they must have had eligibility for the British War Medal (but not necessarily the Victory Medal). Therefore you wouldn't see a 1914 or 1914/15 Star trio with the Territorial Force Medal.  Approximately 34,000 were issued. The Territorial Force was renamed the Territorial Army in 1921. The Territorial Force Medal is valued between £150 and £600.

Imperial Service Badge::

  
The Imperial Service badge was issued to those members of the Territorial Force that had volunteered for service overseas. Click on the image for more information.
 

National Reserve::

  
The National Reserve was created prior to 1914 and was, in essence, a register maintained by Territorial Force County Associations of all those who had military experience, but who had no other reserve obligation. Click on the image for more information. 

Silver War Badge::

  
The Silver War Badge, instituted in September 1916 and sometimes wrongly called the Silver Wound Badge was issued to soldiers who had been honourable discharged under Kings Regulations 392; xvi. No longer physically fit for war service or xvia. Surplus to military requirements (having suffered impairment since entry into the service).  This may have been due to wounds received or illness contracted while on active service. Each badge is uniquely numbered on the reverse and has the words "For King and Empire" and "Services Rendered" around the rim. In the centre is a voided cipher of King George V and Crown.  On the back is a vertical pin. The badge is not hall marked.  Click on the image for more information.

The Official "On War Service" Badges::

  
"On War Service" badges were issued to those workers engaged on essential war work and many unofficial badges were issued by companies until  the first official badge "The Admiralty War Service Badge" was issued to workmen who were indispensable for the construction of HM Ships and Armaments in late 1914.  The other badges were the “1915” War Office (Ministry of Munitions) issue (two types), and the “1916” War Office (Ministry of Munitions) issue which was for female workers.  Click on the image for more information.

The Wound Stripe::

  
A wound stripe was awarded to Allied soldiers who had been wounded in combat. It was worn by British soldiers on the left sleeve of their uniform, the lower end of the stripe being three inches from the end of the sleeve. The wound stripe was introduced in July 1916 and was a vertical bar of gold "Russia braid" about 3mm wide and 50mm long.    

National Savings::

  
In 1915-1916, the National Savings movement was created to encourage Britons to lend the government their savings to help pay for the war. The movement fulfilled two purposes; to channel the public's money into funding the war effort and encourage the public to put spare cash into the fund rather than spending it on scarce items. There was something very interesting about the National Savings Movement - click here to discover what it was ! CLICK HERE

The German Wound Badge::

  
The German Wound Badge was equivalent to the British "Wound Stripe". It was first established on the 3rd March 1918 by Kaiser Wilhelm II and was the first German Military Wound Badge (Verwundetenzbzeichen). There were three grades of wound badge; black, silver and gold. On June 3rd, 1918, the Bavarian War Ministry declared that the Wound Badge was an “award” not a “decoration” and on June 24th the Kaiser introduced the Naval Wound Badge, which was to be awarded in the same grades as the Army and under the same regulations. For more information about the German Wound Badge click here or on the picture.

German 1st World War Veterans Badge::

  
The stick-pin shown in the photograph (click on the photograph for a larger image and more information) is either a 1st World War Veteran's pin issued during World War II or a World War II Third Reich Veteran's Association stick pin.

There are other stick-pins which are similar in design and size. Some indicate membership of the SA, SS or the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP). 

How or when it came into the family's possession is not known.