Croix de Guerre 1914-18 with bronze palm awarded to Admiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick Charles Doveton Sturdee (1859-1925) on 15 February 1918. It was noted in the 'London Gazette' on 14 February 1919.

The Croix de Guerre (1914-18) was established in 1915 and was awarded to all ranks of the armed services and citizens of France who had been mentioned in despatches. It was also awarded to personnel of the Allied forces. The medal is in the form of a bronze cross pattée superimposed on two crossed swords. The central medallion on the obverse bears the symbolic head of the Republic (Marianne). Inscribed, 'REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE'. Inscribed on the reverse, '1914', '1917'. Suspended from a watered silk ribbon, green with narrow red edges and five narrow vertical stripes on which is attached a bronze palm. It is mounted on a bar with six others- Egypt Medal bar Alexandria (MED2430), 1914-15 Star (MED2431), British War Medal (MED2432), Victory Medal (MED2433), George V Coronation Medal (MED2434) and Khedive Star (MED2436). The museum also holds Admiral Sturdee’s decorations.

Admiral Sturdee entered Britannia as a naval cadet in 1871. He was promoted to midshipman in 1873 and to sub lieutenant in 1878. In 1880 he was promoted lieutenant and took part in the operations at Alexandria in 1882. He was promoted commander in 1893 and served as a torpedo specialist in the Admiralty for four years. He was promoted captain, created CMG in 1899 and CVO in 1906. In 1908 he reached flag rank and was promoted to Vice Admiral in 1913 having been created KCB the same year. He was appointed Commander-in-Chief in the South Atlantic and after the victory of the Falkland Islands in 1914 was rewarded with a baronetcy in 1916. After the battle of Jutland he was created KCMG and promoted to admiral in 1917. After the war he became President of the Society for Nautical Research and much involved in the restoration of HMS ‘Victory’.