Awarded to Leading Seaman, James Herrish Allen. A uniface star of four points, the upper covered by a crown, with two crossed swords entwined by a short scroll. Inscription: '1914-15.' An oak garland superimposed upon the whole. Inscription: 'G'. with a 'V' within it. Inscription Reverse: 'J.11609, J.H.ALLEN, A.B., R.N.' Fitted with a ring and red, white and blue watered-silk ribbon. Mounted on a bar with two others.

James Herrish Allen was born in Bristol, the son of Arthur James Allen, a decorator. James Herrish signed up for twelve years naval service on 12 September 1912 - he was then a boy seaman. He was rated Able Seaman two years later, when serving in HMS 'Roxburgh' armoured cruiser, patrolling the North Sea as part of the 3rd cruiser squadron, Grand Fleet. Allen left her before she was torpedoed by 'U-38' on 20 June 1915. By that time he was in HMS 'Carysfort' where he remained for the rest of the war. She was initially part of the 4th light cruiser squadron, Grand Fleet and from April 1916 in the 5th light cruiser squadron guarding the eastern approaches to the English Channel. As flagship of Commodore Reginald Tyrwhitt, commander of the Harwich Force, she was actively involved in deterring various German sorties into the North Sea. From May 1918, she was flagship of the 7th light cruiser squadron. Allen was promoted Leading Seaman on 17th February 1917. In 1920 he was invalided out of the Navy with amoebic dysentery. He had married Gladys Elizabeth Sweet in 1918 in Bristol. By 1939 the couple were living in Bournemouth where James Herrish Allen was working as a painter and decorator. He died in that area in 1985.