1914 Star

The 1914 Star, colloquially known as the Mons Star, is a British World War I campaign medal for service in France or Belgium between 5 August and 22 November 1914.

1914 Star
Obverse and reverse of the 1914 Star
TypeCampaign medal
Awarded forCampaign service
Country United Kingdom
Presented bythe Monarch of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India
EligibilityBritish, Indian and Canadian forces
Campaign(s)France and Belgium 1914
Clasps5th AUG.–22nd NOV. 1914
EstablishedApril 1917
Total378,000
Ribbon bar without and with rosette
Order of wear
Next (higher)India General Service Medal (1909)
Next (lower)1914–15 Star
Related1914–15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Territorial Force War Medal

Institution

The 1914 Star was authorised under Special Army Order no. 350 in November 1917 and by an Admiralty Fleet Order in January 1918,[1] for award to officers and men of the British and Indian Expeditionary Forces who served in France or Belgium between 5 August and midnight of 22–23 November 1914.[2][3][4] The former date is the day after Britain's declaration of war against the Central Powers, and the closing date marks the end of the First Battle of Ypres.

Altogether 378,000 1914 Stars were awarded.[5]

Clasp

A clasp was instituted in 1919, as published in Army Order no. 361 of 16 October 1919. The clasp, together with two small silver roses, was awarded to those who had served under fire or who had operated within range of enemy mobile artillery in France or Belgium during the period between 5 August and 22 November 1914.[5] An order for 350,000 clasps to be manufactured was placed by the War Office.[6][2] Approximately 145,000[7][8] to 150,000[9] clasps were issued, although the exact number is unknown since the clasp had to be claimed personally by the recipients, of whom a large number had either died before 1919 or neglected to apply.[4][10] Those Army units and formations that were eligible were listed in the appendix to Army Order no. 361 of 16 October 1919.[10]

Admiralty Fleet Order 4036 dated 17 December 1919 concludes with a similar list of formations in paragraph 6, albeit those that are not eligible and therefore do not qualify for the clasp. Paragraph 4 was explicit that 'clasps earned by deceased Officers and men will be issued to their Legatees or Next of Kin entitled to receive them'.[11] [12]

When the ribbon bar alone was worn, recipients of the clasp to the medal wore a small silver rosette button on the ribbon bar.[4]

Recipients

The 1914 Star was principally an Army award, although some Royal Navy personnel who served ashore at Antwerp during the qualifying period received the medal.[5] A few women who served in France and Belgium as nurses or auxiliaries during the qualifying period were also awarded the medal.[13][14]

The majority of recipients were officers and men of the pre-war British army, specifically the British Expeditionary Force, also known as the Old Contemptibles, who landed in France soon after the outbreak of the War and who took part in the Retreat from Mons, hence the medal's nickname "Mons Star".[15]

Approximately 1,000 were awarded to members of the Royal Flying Corps, of whom 300 received the clasp.[15] One hundred and sixty medals were awarded to members of the 2nd Canadian Stationary Hospital who served with the British Expeditionary Force, beginning on 6 November 1914. In addition a few Canadians who were attached to British units also received the medal.[7]

The 1914 Star was never awarded singly. Recipients also received the British War Medal and Victory Medal, but did not qualify for the very similar 1914–15 Star since no person could receive both Stars.[5] These three medals, with either Star included, were sometimes irreverently referred to as "Pip, Squeak and Wilfred", after three comic strip characters, a dog, a penguin and a rabbit, which were popular in the immediate post-war era.[4][16][17]

Description

The medal is a four-pointed star of bright bronze, ensigned with a crown, with a height of 50 millimetres (2.0 in) (62 millimetres (2.4 in) with the ring suspension included) and a width of 44 millimetres (1.7 in). The medal and suspension assembly was struck in one piece.[5][14]

Obverse

The obverse has two crossed gladii (swords) with their blades upwards, the points and hilts of which form what might appear to be four additional points to the star. The swords are overlaid by a wreath of oak leaves, with the Royal Cypher of George V at the base of the wreath and a central S-shaped scroll inscribed "AUG 1914 NOV".[4][14]

Reverse

The reverse is plain and is impressed with the recipient's number, rank, name and regiment or unit.[4][14]

Clasp

The clasp, inscribed "5th AUG.–22nd NOV. 1914", was struck in bronze and is 31 millimetres (1.2 in) wide and 5 millimetres (0.20 in) high, while the ribbon bar rosettes are in silver. The clasp was sewn onto the ribbon.[4][10][14]

Ribbon

The ribbon is 32 millimetres (1.3 in) wide and has the red, white and blue colours of the flag of the United Kingdom in shaded and watered bands. The same ribbon was used for the 1914–15 Star.[14]

Order of wear

The order of wear of the First World War campaign stars and medals is as follows:[18]

References
  1. Fevyer & Wilson 1995, p. 3.
  2. Hayward, Birch & Bishop 2006, p. 497.
  3. Duffy, Michael. "1914 Star". firstworldwar.com. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  4. "Award – 1914 Star". Archived from the original on 27 April 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  5. Joslin; Litherland; Simpkin (1988). British Battles and Medals. London: Spink. p. 226. ISBN 0-907605-25-7.
  6. Williamson 2011, p. 52.
  7. Veterans Affairs Canada – 1914 Star (Accessed 28 March 2015)
  8. "War Decorations: 14,000,000 Medals & 1,800 Miles Ribbon". The Northern Daily Mail . 19 April 1923. Figures given by the War Office show that the following decorations have been engraved and issued to officers, nurses, rank and file in the time stated: — 360,000 1914 Stars… 145,000 Clasps to StarsCS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  9. Hampden 1935, p. 137.
  10. "The Bar or Clasp for the 1914 Star". NortheastMedals. Retrieved 31 March 2015. Transcription of Army Order no. 361 of 16 October 1919
  11. "1914 Star with Clasp only". Great War Forum. 1 May 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2020. Transcription of Admiralty Fleet Order 4036
  12. "Admiralty Fleet Orders: 1919". Royal Navy. 1919. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  13. Dorling, H. Taprell (1956). Ribbons and Medals. London: A.H.Baldwin & Sons. p. 80. OCLC 930416375.
  14. "The King's Own Royal Regiment Museum, (Lancaster), 1914 Star". Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  15. Mussell, John, ed. (20 September 2014). Medal Yearbook 2015. Honiton, Devon: Token Publishing Ltd. p. 177. ISBN 978-1-908828-17-0.
  16. "Pip, Squeak and Wilfred". First World War.com. Archived from the original on 11 May 2008. Retrieved 26 June 2008.
  17. "Pip, Squeak and Wilfred". The Long, Long Trail. Archived from the original on 27 February 2008. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  18. "No. 38663". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 July 1949. p. 3404.

Bibliography
  • Dorling, H. Taprell (1956). Ribbons and Medals. London: A.H.Baldwin & Sons. OCLC 930416375.
  • Fevyer; Wilson (1995). The 1914 Star to the Royal Navy & Royal Marines. Uckfield: Naval & Military Press. ISBN 978-1-897632-34-5.
  • Hampden, Gordon (1935). The War Office. London: Puttnam. p. 137. OCLC 464097374.
  • Hayward; Birch; Bishop (2006). British Battles and Medals (7th ed.). London: Spink. ISBN 1-902040-77-5.
  • Joslin; Litherland; Simpkin (1988). British Battles and Medals (6th ed.). London: Spink. ISBN 0-907605-25-7.
  • Mussell, John, ed. (20 September 2014). Medal Yearbook 2015. Honiton, Devon: Token Publishing Ltd. p. 177. ISBN 978-1-908828-17-0.
  • Williamson, Howard J. (2011). The Great War Medal Collectors Companion Volume I. privately published by Anne Williamson. ISBN 978-0-9527544-4-2. The book includes: – Campaign Medals. Full history of each medal, including Army Orders, Army Council Instructions & award criteria.
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