Obverse: Busts of their Majesties, crowned (left). Reverse: Royal cypher 'GRI'. Legend: 'GEORGE VI QUEEN ELIZABETH'. Inscription: 'CROWNED 12 MAY 1937'. Mounted on a bar with seven other medals. Awarded to Capt. E.Wigram. DSO, RN.

Vice-Admiral Ernest Wigram (1877-1944) entered the Royal Navy in 1891. During World War I he took part in the Falkland Islands campaign, the Dardanelles, operations on the Belgian coast and the raid on Zeebrugge. The following dispatch was sent by Vice-Admiral Reginald Bacon, ‘On the evening of the 24th September, I dispatched HMS ‘Prince Eugene’ (Captain E. Wigram, R.N.) and one other monitor and the requisite auxiliary craft to bombard the following morning, the coast of Knocke, Heyst, Zeebrugge and Blankenberghe (east of Ostende)…’ ‘London Gazette’ 12 January 1916.

Wigram was also Mentioned in Dispatches for services in action between 19 February and 24 April 1915 and was later awarded the DSO (‘London Gazette’ 12 January 1916). He was created Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for his part in the raid on Zeebrugge in 1918, ‘This officer was in command of HM Monitor ‘Prince Eugene’. He led his division well inside the allotted range in order to bring the secondary armament of the vessel into action. This brought the ships under a heavy fire from the shore batteries, and undoubtedly contributed considerably to the success of the operations.’ The Dispatches of Vice-Admiral Sir Roger Keyes.

Wigram was promoted Rear-Admiral on 7 August 1926 having been appointed Aide-de-Camp of King George V on 7 July the same year. He was appointed Vice-Admiral on 2 April 1931.