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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Merchant Navy medals


BillyH

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Could someone please clarify two questions for me regarding the medals issued to Merchant Seamen in the Great War.

1.) I have a medal card showing entitlement to the Mercantile Marine Medal and the British Medal. Is the 'British Medal' the exact same medal as the British War Medal that was issued to the army?

2.) Would their next of kin have also received a Memorial Plaque?

Thanks in advance,  BillyH. 

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Thanks to both.  BillyH.

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  • 3 months later...

The Board Of Trade (responsible for the Mercantile Marine) was only able to get approval from the Admiralty to supply the Next of Kin with a plaque in 1920 (the announcement was made public in October of that year).

The first order for 1500 plaques, in alphabetical order was placed by the Board of Trade on the 29th September 1921 and these were allocated with the production numbers of 950,500 - 950,999 and 956,000 - 956,999 (this is one of the few records to survive concerning plaque production).

Therefore all these plaques were made at the Woolwich Arsenal, and not at Acton, and the vast majority (all...??) will have a narrow H (as in HE DIED). The plaques would not have been issued until 1922/3 as so many plaques were required. The Mercantile Marine plaques were among the last to be made in mainstream production

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