Comined Medal Ribbon

[Matthew]

I have recently been given this which belonged to my wife's great uncle. It appears to be a combined set of ribbons (Victory, 1914-15 and General Service) reduced to the size of an individual ribbon. Its very faded as you can see and I imagine it was something worn in civvies after the war.

Thought it might be of interest.

M

[Pavster1980]

Hello M

Is it not the 14 0r 14/15 star, not the general service medal? The general service medal ribbon is purple with a central green stripe I think.

Rich

P.S. - Either way I like it!

[Matthew]

Rich,

I know the GSM you're thinking of and I may have mis-described this set. You're thinking of the post war medal that was issued for things like NI. This set is for the standard three Great War medals though.

M

[Philip Wilson]

This is a miniature ribbon bar. You are holding them upside down - when reversed:

They should read 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

[HarryBettsMCDCM]

Contemporarily the BWM was known as the "GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL",as the original intention was to have Battle,Theatre, etc; Clasps awarded to it,making it a "Proper" GSM,some contemporary accounts refer to it as the "General Service Medal"[National Roll;Gordons, etc;} so the original description of Star; General Service Medal & Victory Medal are in fact correct.[iirc the original card mount for these miniature ribbon bars do call it the General Service Medal on the splurge on the card reverse.

...& yes these Mini bars of ribbon were for "Mufti" wear on the lapel

[Pavster1980]

ah I see, I stand corrected

Every day's a school day

Rich

[Philip Wilson]

The book Ribbons and Medals of the Great War by Commander Taprell Dorling RN published in 1920 provides a comprehensive account of the circumstances leading up to the approval of both the Allied Victory Medal and the British War Medal in 1919. Yes there had been an intention to issue clasps for the British War Medal 1914-18 covering different actions and theatres, 79 being recommended for the British Army and 68 for the Royal Navy but these were abandoned as impractical - no doubt on cost grounds.

Here is an extract from the colour plate in Ribbons and Medals of the Great War as published in 1920 - the ribbon was authorised as the British War Medal. Clearly any confusion as to its alternative name arises from those who made a mistake when producing the card mounts.

The General Service Medal - ribbon purple with a central green stripe was sanctioned in 1923 for both the Army and Royal Air Force with clasps covering the period 1918 -1962.

[Matthew]

so the original description of Star; General Service Medal & Victory Medal are in fact correct.

...course I knew that all along....

Interesting stuff about the GSM.

Thanks

[bigjohn]

Hi All

Just museing wonder if the makers produced rosettes and oak leaves to scale for these ribbons?

regards

John