Defence medal awarded to Able Seaman Alfred Miles (1899-1989). Obverse: Head of King George VI. Legend: 'GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX : F:D : IND : IMP'. Reverse: An oak tree and Royal crown supported by lions rampant, their heads turned away. Inscription: '1939', '1945'. Exergue: 'THE DEFENCE MEDAL' The medal is fitted with a bar and orange ribbon with pale green edges divided by a narrow black stripe. It is mounted on a bar with nine others. It was awarded to members of Civil Defence Services in areas which came under air attack.

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.