World War I Victory Medal (United States)

The World War I Victory Medal (originally known as the Victory Medal) was a United States World War I service medal designed by James Earle Fraser.[1]

For other uses, see Victory Medal.

World War I Victory Medal
TypeMedal
Awarded for"service between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, or with either of the following expeditions:
DescriptionA medal of bronze 36 millimeters in diameter. On the obverse is a winged Victory standing full length and full face. On the reverse is the inscription The Great War for Civilization and the coat of arms for the United States surmounted by a fasces, and on either side the names of the Allied and Associated Nations. The medal is suspended by a ring from a silk moire ribbon 1 3/8 inches in length and 36 millimeters in width, composed of two rainbows placed in juxtaposition and having the red in the middle, with a white thread along each edge.
Presented byDepartment of War and Department of the Navy
EligibilityMilitary personnel only
MottoThe Great War for Civilization
StatusObsolete
Established1919 (1919)


Precedence
Next (higher)Mexican Border Service Medal
Next (lower)Army of Occupation of Germany Medal

Award of a common allied service medal was recommended by an inter-allied committee in March 1919.[2] Each allied nation would design a 'Victory Medal' for award to their military personnel, all issues having certain common features, including a winged figure of victory on the obverse and the same ribbon.[3]

The Victory Medal was originally intended to be established by an act of Congress. The bill authorizing the medal never passed, however, thus leaving the military departments to establish it through general orders. The War Department published orders in April 1919, and the Navy in June of the same year.[4]

Criteria

The Victory Medal was awarded to military personnel for service between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, or with either of the following expeditions:

Design

The front of the bronze medal features a winged Victory holding a shield and sword on the front. The back of the bronze medal features "The Great War For Civilization" in all capital letters curved along the top of the medal. Curved along the bottom of the back of the medal are six stars, three on either side of the center column of seven staffs wrapped in a cord. The top of the staff has a round ball on top and is winged on the side. The staff is on top of a shield that says "U" on the left side of the staff and "S" on the right side of the staff. On left side of the staff it lists one World War I Allied country per line: France, Italy, Serbia, Japan, Montenegro, Russia, and Greece. On the right side of the staff the Allied country names read: Great Britain, Belgium, Brazil, Portugal, Rumania (spelled with a U instead of an O as it is spelled now), and China.

Devices

To denote battle participation and campaign credit, the World War I Victory Medal was authorized with a large variety of devices to denote specific accomplishments. In order of seniority, the devices authorized to the World War I Victory Medal were as follows:

Citation Star

The Citation Star to the World War I Victory Medal was authorized by the United States Congress on February 4, 1919.[6] A ​3⁄16 inch silver star was authorized to be worn on the ribbon of the Victory Medal for any member of the U.S. Army who had been cited for gallantry in action between 1917 and 1920. In 1932, the Citation Star ("Silver Star") was redesigned and renamed the Silver Star Medal and, upon application to the United States War Department, any holder of the Silver Star Citation could have it converted to a Silver Star medal.

The Navy Commendation Star to the World War I Victory Medal was authorized to any person who had been commended by the Secretary of the Navy for performance of duty during the First World War. A ​3⁄16 inch silver star was worn on the World War I Victory Medal, identical in appearance to the Army's Citation Star. Unlike the Army's version, however, the Navy Commendation Star could not be upgraded to the Silver Star medal.[4][7]

Army Battle Clasps

The following battle clasps, inscribed with a battle's name, were worn on the medal to denote participation in major ground conflicts.[1]

Army Battle Clasps
Major Ground Conflict Start Date End Date
Aisne May 27, 1918 June 5, 1918
Aisne-Marne July 18, 1918 August 6, 1918
Cambrai May 12, 1917 December 4, 1917
Champagne-Marne July 15, 1918 July 18, 1918
Lys April 9, 1918 April 27, 1918
Meuse-Argonne September 26, 1918 November 11, 1918
Montdidier-Noyon June 9, 1918 June 13, 1918
Oise-Aisne August 18, 1918 November 11, 1918
St. Mihiel September 12, 1918 September 16, 1918
Somme-Defensive March 21, 1918 April 6, 1918
Somme-Offensive August 8, 1918 November 11, 1918
Vittorio-Veneto October 24, 1918 November 4, 1918
Ypres-Lys August 19, 1918 November 11, 1918

For general defense service, not involving a specific battle, the "Defensive Sector" Battle Clasp was authorized. The clasp was also awarded for any battle which was not already recognized by its own battle clasp.

The World War I Victory Medal bears the clasps of the battles the U.S. Army participated in across the ribbon. Not all battles are shown on the bar clasps. Only the battles designated as battles that would have bars issued were shown on the medal. The famous Battle of Chateau Thierry to hold the Chateau and the bridge as a joint effort between the US Army and the US Marines against the German machine gunners did not get awarded clasps.

Navy battle clasps were issued for naval service in support of Army operations and had identical names to the Army battle clasps. There was a slight variation of the criteria dates for the Navy battle clasps, as listed below.[4]

Navy Battle Clasps
Major Ground Conflict Start Date End Date
Aisne June 1, 1918 June 5, 1918
Aisne-Marne July 18, 1918 July 20, 1918
Meuse-Argonne September 29, 1918 October 10, 1918
Meuse-Argonne October 25, 1918 November 11, 1918
St. Mihiel September 12, 1918 September 16, 1918
Ypres-Lys (Service in support of the Northern Bombing Group)

The Defensive Sector Clasp was also authorized for Navy personnel who had participated in naval combat but were not authorized a particular battle clasp.

Defensive Sector Clasp on Ribbon

For sea-related war duty, the Navy issued the following operational clasps, which were worn on the World War I Victory Medal and inscribed with the name of the duty type which had been performed:[4]

Navy Operational Clasps
Operation Start Date End Date
Armed Guard: Merchant personnel(freighters, tankers, and troop ship) April 6, 1917 November 11, 1918
Asiatic: Service on any vessel that visited a Siberian port April 6, 1917 November 11, 1918
Asiatic: Port visit must have exceeded ten days in length November 12, 1918 March 30, 1920
Atlantic Fleet: Service in the Atlantic Fleet May 25, 1918 November 11, 1918
Aviation: Service involving flying over the Atlantic Ocean May 25, 1918 November 11, 1918
Destroyer: Service on destroyers on the Atlantic Ocean May 25, 1918 November 11, 1918
Escort: Personnel regularly attached to escort vessels on the North Atlantic April 6, 1917 November 11, 1918
Grand Fleet: Personnel assigned to any ship of the “United States Grand Fleet” December 9, 1917 November 11, 1918
Mine Laying: Service in mine laying sea duty May 26, 1918 November 11, 1918
Mine Sweeping: Service in mine sweeping sea duty April 6, 1917 November 11, 1918
Mobile Base: Service on tenders and repair vessels April 6, 1917 November 11, 1918
Naval Battery: Service as a member of a naval battery detachment July 10, 1918 November 11, 1918
Overseas: Service on shore in allied or enemy countries of Europe April 6, 1917 November 11, 1918
Patrol: War patrol service on the Atlantic Ocean May 25, 1918 November 11, 1918
Salvage: Salvage duty performed on the seas April 6, 1917 November 11, 1918
Submarine: Submarine duty performed on the Atlantic Ocean May 25,1918 November 11, 1918
Submarine Chaser: Anti-submarine duty performed on the Atlantic Ocean May 18, 1918 November 11, 1918
Transport: Personnel regularly attached to a transport or cargo vessel April 6, 1917 November 11, 1918
White Sea: Service on any vessel which visited a Russian port or war patrols in the White Sea not less than ten days November 12, 1918 July 31, 1919

Unlike the army, the navy only allowed one clasp of any type to be worn on the ribbon. Members of the marine or medical corps who served in France but was not eligible for a battle clasp would receive a bronze Maltese cross on their ribbons.[4]

Army Service Clasps

For non-combat service with the army during the First World War, the following service clasps were authorized to be worn with the World War I Victory Medal. Each service claps was inscribed with a country or region name where support service was performed. The U.S. Army issued the following service clasps:[1]

Army Service Clasps
Country or Region Start Date End Date
England April 6, 1917 November 11, 1918
France April 6, 1917 November 11, 1918
Italy April 6, 1917 November 11, 1918
Siberia November 23, 1918 April 1, 1920
Russia November 12, 1918 August 5, 1919

The U.S. Navy issued similar service clasps to the Army for service in the following regions during the following periods:[4]

Navy Service Clasps
Region Start Date End Date
England April 6, 1917 November 11, 1918
France April 6, 1917 November 11, 1918
Italy April 6, 1917 November 11, 1918
Russia November 12, 1918 July 31, 1919
Siberia November 12, 1918 March 30, 1920
West Indies April 6, 1917 November 11, 1918

Campaign Stars

Since battle and service clasps could only be worn on the full-sized World War I Victory Medal, 3/16 inch bronze service stars were authorized for wear on the award ribbon. This was the common method of campaign and battle display when wearing the World War I Victory Medal as a ribbon on a military uniform.

Maltese Cross device on U.S. WWI Victory Medal

Maltese Cross

Medals issued to U.S. Marines were issued with a Maltese cross device affixed to the ribbon.

Distribution

The World War I Victory Medals were awarded after the end of World War I, so they were mailed to the servicemen instead of awarded in person. For example, the boxes containing the Victory Medals for United States Army World War I veterans were mailed out by the depot officer at the General Supply Depot, U.S. Army, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in April 1921. An outer light brown box with an address label glued to it and its postage area marked "OFFICIAL BUSINESS, Penalty for private use $300" contained an inner white box stamped with the bars the serviceman was supposed to receive on his medal. The inner white box contained the medal, which was wrapped in tissue paper.

Only after filling out the application form A.G.O. No. 740 with the help of an authorized officer could it be officially forwarded to the Philadelphia Quartermaster Intermediate Depot for the veteran then to receive his medal by mail. The Army started issuing Victory Medals on June 21, 1920, not April 1921 as listed above. The Navy had a late start due to production issues and started in August 1920.[8]

Name change

In 1945, the "Victory Ribbon" was created as an award for those who served in World War II. Between 1945 and 1947, the World War I award continued to be known by its original name, the "Victory Medal", and the World War II award was known as the "Victory Ribbon". In 1947, the Victory Ribbon became a full-sized medal as the World War II Victory Medal, at which point the World War I Victory Medal adopted its current name. However, some military records as late as the 1950s continued to annotate the World War I decoration by its previous name, and the medal was often referred to as "Victory Medal (WWI)".

An international award

Not only did the United States issue a Victory Medal, but so did a significant number of Allied and associated countries involved in the conflict against the Dual Alliance between Austria and Germany.

The proposition of such a common award was first made by French Maréchal Ferdinand Foch who was supreme commander of the Allied Forces during the First World War. Each medal in bronze has the same diameter (36 mm) and ribbon (double rainbow), but with a national design representing a winged victory.[lower-alpha 1]

Country Designer Manufacturer Number issued
Belgium Paul Du Bois (1859–1938) — 300,000–350,000
Brazil Jorge Soubre (1890–1934) approximately 2,500
Cuba Charles Charles
  • Etablissements Chobillon
 6,000–7,000
Czechoslovakia Otakar Španiel (1881–1955)
  • Kremnice Mint
 approximately 89,500
France Pierre-Alexandre Morlon (1878–1951)
  • Monnaie de Paris
 approximately 2,000,000
France [lower-alpha 2] Charles Charles
  • Etablissements Chobillon
 —
France[lower-alpha 2]
  • M. Pautot
  • Louis Octave Mattei
 — —
United Kingdom[lower-alpha 3] William McMillan (1887–1977)
  • Woolwich Arsenal
  • Wright & Son
 6,334,522 plus
Greece Henry-Eugène Nocq (1868–1944)
  • V. Canale
 approximately 200,000
Italy Gaetano Orsolini (1884–1954)
  • Sacchini-Milano
  • S. Johnson-Milano
  • F. M. Lorioli & Castelli-Milano
 approximately 2,000,000
Japan[lower-alpha 4] Shoukichi Hata
  • Osaka Mint
 approximately 700,000
Poland[lower-alpha 5] .... Vlaitov
  • Mint Kremnica
 —
Portugal João Da Silva (1880–1960)
  • Da Costa
 approximately 100,000
Romania .... Kristesko — approximately 300,000
Siam (Thailand) Itthithepsan Kritakara (1890–1935) — approximately 1,500
South Africa[lower-alpha 6] William McMillan (1887–1977)
  • Woolwich Arsenal
 approximately 75,000
United States James Earle Fraser (1876–1953)
  • Arts Metal Works Inc.
  • S. G. Adams Stamp & Stationary Co.
  • Jos. Mayer Inc.
 approximately 2,500,000

Main source:[9]

See also

Notes
  1. Except Japan and Siam where the concept of a winged victory was not culturally relevant. The Interallied Victory Medals of World War I by Alexander J. Laslo, Dorado Publishing, Albuquerque. 1986 edition.
  2. Unofficial. The Interallied Victory Medals of World War I by Alexander J. Laslo, Dorado Publishing, Albuquerque. 1986 edition.
  3. Awarded not only to British combatants but as well to those from the dominions of Canada, Australia, Newfoundland, New Zealand and those from the Empire of India. The Interallied Victory Medals of World War I’’ by Alexander J. Laslo, Dorado Publishing, Albuquerque. 1986 Edition
  4. On the obverse the winged figure of Victory was replaced by a warrior holding a spear. The Interallied Victory Medals of World War I by Alexander J. Laslo, Dorado Publishing, Albuquerque. 1986 edition.
  5. For reasons still not known, Poland did not proceed with the manufacture of the medal at their mint. The medal shows a clearly visible “MK” ( Mint Kremnica). The medal may possibly be an unofficial strike by a veteran’s group. The Interallied Victory Medals of World War I by Alexander J. Laslo, Dorado Publishing, Albuquerque. 1986 edition.
  6. The text on the reverse is in English and Dutch. The Interallied Victory Medals of World War I by Alexander J. Laslo, Dorado Publishing, Albuquerque. 1986 edition.

References
  1. "World War I Victory Medal". The Institute of Heraldry: Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the ARMY. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  2. The Type I Victory Medal 1914-19. Richard Flory. Orders & Medals Research Society Journal, September 2009, page 145
  3. Joslin, Litherland and Simpkin. British Battles and Medals. pp. 230-1. Published Spink, London. 1988.
  4. "World War I Victory Medal". Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  5. 578.54 World War I Victory Medal
  6. Institute of Heraldry, Silver Star; Citation Star
  7. Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual, NAVPERS 15,790 Rev. 1953.
  8. World War I, Victory Medals, By James P Michels Jr, Createspace/Amazon.com, 2014 and the 2016 expanded edition, page 29.
  9. The Interallied Victory Medals of World War I by Alexander J. Laslo, Dorado Publishing, Albuquerque. 1986 edition.
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