Victorious - First World War Victory Medal
- Last updated: 12/12/2024
After the First World War ended in November 1918, the Allied nations created various medals that were unique to their armed forces, such as the British War Medal. One type, however, had a common meaning to all Allied nations - the Victory Medal. Believed to have been originally suggested by the French Marshal, Ferdinand Foch, it came to be a universally recognised award and featured a ‘rainbow’ medal ribbon that was the same for all countries. The design of the medal, however, was different from one country to another, as each variant included symbols of national identity. For veterans wearing the medal, the distinctive ribbon acted as a sign that at some time between 1914 and 1918, they had served in the war.
In total, 16 countries were in a position to strike their own version of the Victory Medal, but in the end, only 14 did so. For example, China did not issue a Victory Medal and only later would Poland issue a commemorative medal. The British version of the Victory Medal was awarded to troops of the Commonwealth and Dominion states within the British Empire who had fought, including South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, India and Canada.
Get collecting
Interest in WWI remains very strong and some collectors of memorabilia from that period have set themselves the task of acquiring as many different types of Victory Medal as possible. For example, the American version was produced by three companies - the Arts Metal Works Inc., S.G. Adams Stamp and Stationary Co., and Joseph Meyer, with collectors seeking an example from each of these factories.
Collecting different versions of the medal is not as easy or as straightforward as one might think because acquisition is driven by availability, which, along with condition, affects the price paid. In the case of France and America, both of which issued over two million, the numbers are dwarfed by Britain’s issue of more than 6.3 million, making them easy to acquire. In the case of countries, such as Brazil and Cuba, which issued 2,500 and 6,000 respectively, collectors face a challenge. In the case of Siam, modern-day Thailand, acquiring an original and authentic example of the country’s Victory Medal is virtually impossible because only 1,500 were ever issued. The Greek version, designed by Henry-Eugene Nocq, was issued to around 200,000 veterans and consequently, it is another unusual example.
A closer look
Some types of the medal, such as the British and American versions, were cast using gilt-washed bronze, with the obverse of each design featuring a winged female form depicting ‘Victory’. Other types, like the ones from Italy or Japan, are plain bronze castings.
Qualification for the medal varied from one country to another. In the case of Britain, in order for a serviceman to qualify for the Victory Medal, he had to have served in a theatre of war between 5 August 1915 and 11 November 1918. Women who served as nurses in these theatres also qualified for the medal. Personnel serving in the post-war British Naval Mission to Russia between 1919 and 1920 were eligible for the medal, as were those crews engaged in clearing naval mines after the cessation of hostilities up to 30 November 1919. The female figure of ‘Victory’ that appeared on some medal designs may be allegorical and is often shown holding a sword or a laurel. In the case of Belgium, she is holding both, while on the American version, she holds a sword and a shield.
Interest in WWI remains very strong and some collectors of memorabilia from that period have set themselves the task of acquiring as many different types of Victory Medal as possible.”
The diameter of the medals varies slightly from one country to another, and they can be relatively thin, except for the British and American, which are quite thick. This allowed the British medals to be engraved with the name and details of the recipient, a move not followed by other countries, such as France, Belgium and Romania. Instead, these countries issued certificates with their medals. Unfortunately, many have been lost over time or the paper has disintegrated. In most cases, the Victory Medal did not have any clasp for campaigns, but the British version is sometimes seen with a bronze oak leaf attached, signifying that the recipient was ‘Mentioned in Despatches’ (MID) for having performed some duty which was worthy of being mentioned in reports. The American version, designed by James Earle Fraser, can be found with clasps such as Lys, Aisne and St. Mihiel, which will affect the price paid by the collector. In fact, there were 13 clasps for the army versions and the US Navy had several clasps. The war ended with an Armistice or ceasefire in November 1918, but the date of 1919 appears on some versions to take into account that the formal surrender was not signed by Germany until 28 June that year. The French version bears the inscription: “La Grande Guerre Pour La Civilisation 1914-1918”, which is shared on the American version in English, but lacks the dates. The more common types of Victory Medal, such as British or French, can be bought from dealers as a single item or as part of a group. The condition does affect price, as does the regiment. For example, a front-line fighting unit, such as a Guards regiment, will be more than the price paid for one of the support units such as the Army Service Corps. That does not detract from the importance of the man’s role in the war. If any paperwork is included, or the group features an award for bravery, then the value will be increased. It all comes down to what a collector is looking for. The diary dates section contains dates of militaria fairs that are useful to the collector, and the dealers’ adverts in the pages of Gun Mart will also yield results. Replicas It is worth being aware that high-quality replica copies are now in circulation, despite the large numbers of originals, and although an experienced collector will be able to tell the difference, novice collectors should be mindful. If in any doubt, ask for advice. This applies to all versions, from the millions of British and French examples to the unusual types such as the Cuban, Portuguese and Brazilian ones. For anyone thinking of becoming a numismatist, don’t let this put you off, and although not all versions are rare, the Victory Medal is always worth adding to a collection. Check out www.historicalmedalsociety.org.uk