Defence Medal issued for service in the British Army during World War II

Identifier
irn520468
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 2000.226.3
Dates
1 Jan 1940 - 31 Dec 1945
Level of Description
Item
Languages
  • Latin
  • English
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

overall: Height: 4.750 inches (12.065 cm) | Width: 1.500 inches (3.81 cm) | Depth: 0.125 inches (0.318 cm)

Archival History

The medal was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2000 by Joan Ringelheim.

Acquisition

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Joan Ringelheim

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on access

Conditions Governing Reproduction

No restrictions on use

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Circular, silver colored cupro-nickel alloy medal with a striped grosgrain ribbon. On the front is an embossed image of a male head in left profile, the uncrowned effigy of George VI, with Latin text circling the border and artist's initials, HP, below the bust. The reverse has an embossed image of the Royal crown resting on a stylized oak tree supported on either side by a heraldic lion, with the dates to the left and right. Below are embossed wavy lines to represent the sea and English text. At the top of the medal is a suspension with a cylindrical top bar through which the ribbon is inserted. The vertically striped ribbon has a wide, central orange stripe flanked by 2 broad stripes of green with superimposed narrow black stripes. The colors symbolize enemy attack during the war: orange for the fires of the Blitz, green for the green and pleasant land, and black for the Blackout. The ribbon is frayed and unsewn at tthe top.

Corporate Bodies

Subjects

Genre

This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.