British War Medal 1914-18
Awarded to Able Seaman Alfred Miles (1899-1989). 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: 'J.392663 A. Miles. A.B. R.N.' The medal is fitted with a bar and orange watered silk ribbon edged with blue, black and white stripes. Mounted on a bar with nine others.
Miles came from a modest background, most of the female members of his family were engaged in domestic service and Miles's occupation on joining the Navy is given as 'waiter'. He spent a couple of years as a boy seaman from 5 May 1915 and being rated ordinary seaman on 12 June 1917 signed on for 12 years. In 1918 he was rated Able Seaman. He spent most of the First World War in HMS 'Dominion' based at Sheerness. The ship was unsuccessfully attacked by a German submarine in May 1916. Miles left the Navy when his twelve years was up, but rejoined during the Second World War. He was awarded the Albert Medal for bravery in saving life on HMS 'Saltash' on 1 December 1940.
Miles came from a modest background, most of the female members of his family were engaged in domestic service and Miles's occupation on joining the Navy is given as 'waiter'. He spent a couple of years as a boy seaman from 5 May 1915 and being rated ordinary seaman on 12 June 1917 signed on for 12 years. In 1918 he was rated Able Seaman. He spent most of the First World War in HMS 'Dominion' based at Sheerness. The ship was unsuccessfully attacked by a German submarine in May 1916. Miles left the Navy when his twelve years was up, but rejoined during the Second World War. He was awarded the Albert Medal for bravery in saving life on HMS 'Saltash' on 1 December 1940.
Object Details
ID: | MED2094 |
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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: | Miles, Alfred |
Credit: | National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London |
Measurements: | Overall: 36 mm |