Awarded to Admiral Sir William Reginald Hall (1870-1943). Eight-pointed, gold-rimmed white enamel cross, a gold ball on each point. A green enamel wreath round the cross. Obverse: A gold Belgion lion on a black central disc. On a red band round the centre medallion: 'UNION FAIT LA FORCE'. Reverse: Monogram 'L R' in the centre in gold on a black medallion within a red band with a gold wreath. Badge suspended from a purple ribbon by a crown above two crossed swords. In fitted case of issue.

William Reginald Hall entered the Navy via HMS 'Britannia' at Dartmouth which he joined in 1884. He was commissioned as lieutenant in 1890 and served as a gunnery specialist. He was appointed captain of the new battle cruiser 'Queen Mary' in 1913 and saw action in the battle of Heligoland Bight in 1914. Later in the same year, Hall was appointed director of the intelligence division at the Admiralty, a position in which he excelled. His intimidating appearance and manner were an advantage in this role. During this war code-breaking and aerial photography began to be used as a source of intelligence and the data needed to be analysed and exploited. This is where Hall’s management skills were deployed to advantage. Hall’s activities were occasionally controversial and he sometimes clashed with his superiors. He retired at the end of the war, by then with the rank of rear-admiral, and was further advanced to admiral (retired) in 1926. Hall was elected as a conservative MP for seats in Liverpool and Eastbourne during the post-war period. During World War II, he was a member of the Home Guard.