War Medal 1939-45

Awarded to Admiral of the Fleet, Lord John Tovey (1885-1971). Obverse: head of King George VI. Legend: 'GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX : F : D : I NDIAE : IMP'. Reverse: A lion standing (left) on a prostrate dragon, its right paw resting on the latter's head. Inscription above: '1939 1945'. Fitted with a bar and blue ribbon with wide red borders and a narrow central red stripe with white borders.

During World War I, Tovey commanded the destroyer HMS 'Jackal' at the Battle of Dogger Bank, HMS 'Onslow' at the Battle of Jutland and 'Ursa' at the Battle of Heligoland Bight. By the start of World War II, he was a Rear-Admiral in command of the destroyer flotillas of the Mediterranean Fleet, promoted to Vice-Admiral on 3 May 1939 and later Second in Command of the Mediterranean Fleet. From November 1940 as Commander-in Chief of the Home Fleet, he organised the pursuit and sinking of the 'Bismarck' and the escort of Arctic convoys. From June 1943 he was Commander-in-Chief, The Nore, involved with the invasion of Sicily and the Normandy Landings. He was ennobled on 15 February 1946 at the time of his retirement as 1st Baron Tovey of Langton Matravers.

Object Details

ID: MED2200
Collection: Coins and medals
Type: War medal
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Metcalfe, Percy; Carter-Preston, Edward
Events: World War II, 1939-1945
Date made: circa 1945
People: Tovey, John Cronyn
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 36 mm
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