British War Medal 1914-18

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': Inscription on edge: '233455 T. BOUTTELL. P.O. R.N.' Fitted with a bar and orange watered silk ribbon edged with blue, black and white stripes. Mounted on a bar with three other medals.

Chief Petty Officer Thomas Bouttell (1888-1960) entered the navy in 1906. He was awarded the Royal Humane Society Medal and the Stanhope Gold Medal for rescuing a passenger from drowning during the catastrophic fire which destroyed the SS 'Sardinia' in 1908. During the First World War, Boutell served as leading seaman on 'Irresistable' during the Dardanelles Campaign until she sank following damage by a mine on 18 March 1915, when he transferred to HMS 'Prince George'. He left the navy in 1929 but was briefly called up again in 1938.

Object Details

ID: MED1125
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: King George V; Bouttell, Thomas
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 36 mm