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: 'Lt. COMMR. H.J.G. LAWRENCE. R.N.' Fitted with a bar and orange watered silk ribbon edged with blue, black and white stripes.

Obverse Bust of Queen Victoria, crowned and veiled, with order (left) Legend: 'VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX'. Reverse: Britannia standing wearing a helmet (right), a flag in her left hand, holding out a wreath in her right hand towards troops on the march, ships in distance. Legend: 'SOUTH AFRICA'. Inscription on edge: 'LIEUT. H.J.C. LAWRENCE R.N. H.M.S. RAMBLER' Fitted with a bar and orange ribbon edged with red, with two narrow blue stripes. Mounted on a bar with MED1178.

Henry John Griffiths Lawrence (1878-1924) was born in Kensington, London, the son of James Lawrence, a civil engineer. He entered the Royal Navy as a 'Britannia' cadet on 15 July 1890. He served in HMS 'Rambler' between 1897 and 1901 during the South Africa War, a ship which contributed men to a naval brigade which served on shore at Graspan and Magersfontein. Although a good signals officer, Lawrence sometimes attracted unfavourable comments from his senior officers regarding his judgement, energy and sobriety. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 30 June 1899 and retired with the rank of Lieutenant Commander on 30 June 1907. He served at RNVR training establishment HMS 'Eagle' during the latter years of World War I before reverting to the retired list in 1919.

He married Mabel Annie Hatcher at Portsmouth in 1897.

Object Details

ID: MED1178
Collection: Coins and medals
Type: War medal
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Saulles, George William de; Mackennal, Edgar Bertram McMillan, William
Events: World War I, 1914-1918
Date made: ca.1900; 1919
People: King George V; Lawrence, Henry John Griffiths
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 36 mm