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Description: | A complete copper alloy (bronze) WW1 Victory medal (also known as the Inter-Allied Victory medal).The obverse depicts a Victory standing with left arm outstretched and right hand holding a palm frond. The reverse bears the legend: THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILISATION 1914 - 1918 within a laurel wreath. An inscription is present around the edge of the medal, reading: 4491 PTE.F.FORD. 58-BN. A.I.F. This identifies as belonging to Private Frederick Ford, of the 58th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force.The Victory medal was one of a set of three issued to all combatants, at the end of WW1, along with the British War Medal and either the 1914 Star/ 1914-15 Star. These three medals were sometimes irrevelantly referred to 'Pip, Squeak & Wilfred', after a long running cartoon strip in the Daily Mirror.The medal has a diameter of 36.7 mm and is 3.9 mm thick. It weighs 29.2 g.Further information on Private Frederick Ford has been found using the war records of the National Archives of Australia.Frederick was born in Moyston, Victoria (Australia), and enlisted in the AIF on 16th August 1915, aged 24 years and 8 months. Prior to signing up, his occupation was a labourer.Frederick spent several stays in various hospitals due to injuries obtaining during the course of his duties. It was probably during his stay at the 2nd Birmingham War Hospital at Northfields between 16th May 1917 and 7th June 1917, that he met his soon-to-be wife, Olive Sealey. Olive lived in Redditch. Their marriage was registered in December 1917.Following his marriage, Frederick changed his will on 20th January 1918 away from his mother, Alice Ford; to make his new wife, Olive Ford of Bealey Road, Redditch, Birmingham, his beneficiary. They were not married long as he was hit by a bomb whilst he was serving out in France. The bomb injured his right arm and both legs on 2nd March 1918. He died from his wounds the following day and was buried in Baolleul Cemetery, France. Following his death, his belonging were sent to his now widow, Olive.Olive received Frederick's three medals (The 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal & the Victory Medal) on 22nd October 1922.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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