Victory Medal 1914-18

Awarded to Ship's Corporal William Pugh (1869-1938). Obverse: Winged Victory standing (front), a palm branch in her right hand, her left arm outstretched. Reverse: Within a laurel garland, Inscription: 'THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILIZATION. 1914-1919'. Inscription on edge: '135876 W.PUGH, SH. CPL. R.N.' Fitted with a ring and watered silk ribbon of rainbow hues. Mounted on a bar with three others.

William Pugh was born in Canterbury, Kent, the son of a cathedral verger. He joined the Royal Navy on 6 October 1887 and saw service on the China Station in HMS 'Rosario' being awarded the campaign medal for the China War of 1900. At the beginning of World War I, he served on Apollo-class cruiser HMS 'Brilliant'. In October 1914 she shelled German troops on the Belgian coast and later that year she changed her base from Dover to at Sheerness where she served as a guardship. From November 1915, Pugh served on destroyer depot ships 'Diligence' and 'Woolwich'. He was demobilised on 18 April 1919.

Object Details

ID: MED1729
Collection: Coins and medals
Type: War medal
Display location: Not on display
Creator: McMillan, William
Events: World War I, 1914-1918
Date made: 1919
People: Pugh, William
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 36 mm