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'. Inscription on edge: 'LT. COMMR F.H. TAYLOR, R.N.' On a bar with three others. Fitted with a bar and orange watered silk ribbon edged with blue, black and white stripes.

Awarded to Captain Frederick Henry Taylor C.B.E., D.S.C., RN. Captain Frederick Henry Taylor RN (1888-1953) entered the Royal Navy on 15 January 1903 and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1909. From 1913 he commanded submarines and in 'C24' he sunk 'U-40' off Aberdeen on 23 June 1915. He continued in the service after the end of the war and was promoted Captain on 30 June 1930, retiring in 1936. He was re-employed at the beginning of the war as Captain RN (retired) commanding the armed merchant cruiser HMS 'Rajputana' on convoy escort duties in the North Atlantic. 'Rajputana' was sunk off Iceland by 'U-108' in on 13 April 1941. Taylor was on board but survived and continued to serve on escort duties during the rest of the Battle of the Atlantic. He was mentioned in despatches on 15 August 1944 and was awarded the CBE on 11 December 1945. Official reports of his character and competence are generally favourable but mention a 'hot temper easily aroused.' He married Elaine Muriel Bell on 11 October 1919 at Westminster.

Object Details

ID: MED1414
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; Taylor, Frederick Henry
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 36 mm
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