Medal commemorating the Battle of the Falkland Islands, 1914

Medal commemorating the Battle of the Falkland Islands, 1914. Obverse: Three busts, right-hand one turned three-quarters left, the Admiral's hands resting on his sons' shoulders. Thin laurel wreath along edge. Above centre 'MAXI-MILIAN'; (right) 'OTTO'; (left) HEINRICH.' Exergue: 'GRAFEN VON SPEE.' Palm branch each side. Below this: 'AVF DER "SCHARNHORST' DER VATER" ADMIRAL VNTER SEINEM KOMMANDO EIN GESCHWADER' ~ KLEIN AN DER ZAHL ~ DER AELTERE SOHN' AVF DER "GNEISENAV" LEVTNANT OTTO' ALS SOLCHER AVF DER "NVERNBERG" STAND BEIDEN FALKLANDS INSELN AVF HOHER SEE LIEGEN' DEVTSCHE HELDEN ' LIEGEN DREI GRAFEN SPEE'. (Maximilian, Otto, Henry, Counts von Spee. On board the 'Scharnhorst', the father, Admiral. Under his command a squadron, small in numbers. The elder son serving on board the 'Gneisenau' as Lieutenant. Otto similarly on board the 'Nurnberg'. Off the Falkland Islands, on the high sea, lie German heroes, lie three Counts Spee.) Reverse: An eagle flying over the sea, carrying a laurel branch in his talons. High islands on the distance. Laurel wreath along edge. Above: '8 . DEZEMBER 1914'.

Object Details

ID: MEC2347
Collection: Coins and medals
Type: Medal
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Goetz, Karl
Places: Germany
Events: World War I: Battle of the Falkland Islands, 1914; World War I, 1914-1918
Vessels: Gneisenau fl.1914 (German); Nurnberg (1906) Scharnhorst fl.1914
Date made: 1914
People: Hubertus, Maximilian Johannes Maria; Hubertus, Maximilian Johannes Maria Spee, Heinrich vond Spee, Otto vond Spee, Otto vond Spee, Heinrich vond Goetz, Karl
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 103 mm