Obverse: Head of King George V (left). Legend: 'GEORGIVS V BRITT : OMN:REX ET IND : IMP:' Reverse: Within a laurel garland in relief, the bow view of a drifter, a ship in the distance (right). Exergue: 'FOR WAR SERVICE MERCANTILE MARINE 1914-1918'. Inscription on edge: 'HERBERT A. VINE'. Fitted with a bar and light green and scarlet watered silk ribbon divided by a narrow white stripe. [Ribbon Missing]. In original envelope of issue. Inscription: 'Mercantile Marine War Medal....BOARD OF TRADE' . The original card box is numbered ZBA8021 which also contains MED1356 and MED1358.

Herbert Augustus Vine (1869-1953) was born in Marylebone, London. In the 1911 census he is described as a 'ship's fireman - sludge vessels'. In 1939, he is described as a 'retired engineer'.
He married Ann Quye or Luye on 25 December 1890 in East Ham and they remained living in Essex. In 1947, he remarried Minnie S. Ham (formerly Cope).