British War Medal 1914-18

Obverse: Head of King George V (left). Legend: 'GEORGIVS V BRITT : OMN : REX ET IND : IMP:' Reverse: A Knight on horseback (right) a short sword in his right hand, trampling on the German shield, skull and cross-bones. Legend: '1914-18'. Engraved on the edge: 'S. LIEUT. J.L.YOUNGHUSBAND. R.N.' Fitted with a bar and orange watered silk ribbon edged with blue, black and white stripes. Mounted on a bar with seven other medals.

John Leslie Younghusband was born in 1899 in India, the son of Captain Leslie Napier Younghusband, Bengal Lancers. Entering the Royal Navy in 1912, he gained experience in destroyers during World War I. Between 31 July 1939 and 22 August 1940, he saw active service in command of HMS 'Wild Swan', landing a demolition party to destroy oil reserves in the Netherlands and France. 'Wild Swan' also assisted in the evacuation of British troops from Northern France. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and was mentioned in despatches. He spent the remainder of the war in shore commands, retiring with the rank of commander in on 8 September 1944. He had married Catherine Beatrice Hamilton Fisher in 1927. He died in Winchester on 4 September 1966.

Object Details

ID: MED1230
Collection: Coins and medals
Type: War medal
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Mackennal, Edgar Bertram; McMillan, William
Events: World War I, 1914-1918
Date made: 1919
People: King George V; Younghusband, John Leslie
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 36 mm
Close

Your Request

If an item is shown as “offsite”, please allow eight days for your order to be processed. For further information, please contact Archive staff:

Email:
Tel: (during Library opening hours)

Click “Continue” below to continue processing your order with the Library team.

Continue