British War Medal 1914-18

Awarded to Jack Sidney Rofe RNVR (1889-1934). Obverse: Head of King George V (left). Legend: 'GEORGIVS V BRITT : OMN : REX ET IND : IMP:' Reverse: A Knight on horseback (right) a short sword in his right hand, trampling on the German shield, skull and cross-bones. Legend: '1914-18': Engraved on the edge: 'LIEUT. J.S. ROFE R.N.V.R.' Fitted with a bar and orange watered silk ribbon edged with blue, black and white stripes. Mounted on a bar with two other medals.

Originally named Jacques Sydney Rofe, Jack Rofe came from a middle class family involved in the import of Egyptian cotton. He joined the RNVR on 1 February 1915 and served in the Royal Naval Divisions in the Hawke, Hood, Drake and Howe battallions in Northern France but suffered persistant ill-health and injuries throughout the war. He was gassed at the end of March 1918 and was demobilized on 10 January 1919 with the rank of Temporary Lieutenant. He married and joined the family's cotton trading business after the war.

Object Details

ID: MED1834
Collection: Coins and medals
Type: War medal
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Mackennal, Edgar Bertram; McMillan, William
Events: World War I, 1914-1918
Date made: 1919
People: Rofe, Jack Sidney
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 36 mm