English WW1 Medal | British War Medal

Instituted in 1919, the British War Medal was awarded to personnel of the British and Imperial forces who served during the First World War. It stands as one of the key campaign medals issued in recognition of service between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918, with eligibility extending to members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and associated support roles both at home and overseas.

Struck in silver or bronze, the medal features the left-facing, crowned effigy of King George V on the obverse, encircled by the Latin legend "GEORGIVS V BRITT : OMN : REX ET IND : IMP :" (George V, King of all the Britons and Emperor of India). On the reverse is Saint George on horseback trampling the eagle shield of the Central Powers—a striking allegorical representation of victory. It is suspended from a distinctive ribbon of orange with white and black stripes.

A particularly notable feature of this medal is its individually impressed naming on the rim. Each recipient’s rank, name, and service unit were officially engraved, making every piece a unique historical artifact tied to a specific individual’s wartime experience.

Ancient Artifacts guarantees the Authenticity of items sold through a three layer system of protection: 

1. Ancient Artifacts exclusively sources artifacts from trusted and reputable antique distributors, many of whom have been selling Artifacts for decades.  
2. Next, the Artifact is inspected by an expert team member, who is professionally trained in counterfeit detection After the artifact passes inspection, the Certificate of Authenticity is signed and the Artifact is packaged. 
3. Finally, Ancient Artifacts gives an additional layer of protection by promising a full refund with no questions asked, in the extremely unlikely event that a counterfeit slips through our vetting process.

Your medal will look very similar to the one shown in the photos. There will always be some variety, given our items are unique historical pieces.If for whatever reason you get anything that does not fit this description you are entitled to your money back! 

It is relatively easy to own a British World War I War Medal today because it was issued in vast numbers—millions were awarded to servicemen and women across the British Empire. Unlike rarer decorations given only for acts of gallantry or specific campaigns, the War Medal was granted to anyone who met the basic requirement of 28 days of service during the war, regardless of rank, role, or theater of operations. This wide eligibility means that these medals are not rare, and many survive in excellent condition due to the relatively recent nature of the conflict and the use of durable materials in their production.

Most of the War Medals available today come from estate sales, antique shops, militaria dealers, or descendants of veterans who have chosen to part with them. Because they were generally issued unnamed, there is usually no identifying mark tying them to a specific individual unless the original owner had it privately engraved. This lack of personalization, along with the sheer number produced, keeps prices low and availability high. As a result, collectors, history enthusiasts, and even casual buyers can easily acquire one, either as a standalone piece or as part of a broader set of World War I medals.