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: 'J.72232 P.S.N.SMITH. BOY 1. R.N.' Fitted with a bar and orange watered silk ribbon edged with blue, black and white stripes. Mounted on a bar with seven other medals.

Philip Stroud Nisbet Smith (1901-1966) was born in Skegness, the son of pharmacist Philip Smith, he was working as a factory hand before he joined the Royal Navy in 1917 as a Boy 2nd class. He served throughout the interwar period and was rated Petty Officer in 1928. During his service 1940-41 in HMS 'Lynx', the shore base of the Dover Patrol, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for 'For outstanding zeal, patience and cheerfulness'. He married Lily Jeans Toms in Dover in 1940 and was pensioned out of the service on 8 June 1941. He died in Canterbury in 1966.

Object Details

ID: MED1197
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; Smith, Philip Stroud Nisbet
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 36 mm