2051/1920. British War Medal Award of Naval Clasps.
(C.W. 6154. 7.7.1920.)
His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of Naval Clasps to the British War Medal under the following conditions, viz. :
The particular services for which clasps will be awarded are as follows :
(A) General Actions at Sea.
Under this head the following clasps will be awarded :
"Heligoland, 28 Aug. 14."To be awarded to the Officers and men of those ships actually engaged.
"Falkland Islands, 8 Dec. 14."To be awarded to the Officers and men of all ships of Vice Admiral Sir F. C. D. Sturdee's squadron, which left Port Stanley on December 8th 1914, with the intention of engaging the enemy, also to Officers and men of H.M.S. "Canopus."
"Dogger Bank, 24 Jan. 15."To be awarded to all ships which took part in the action resulting in the sinking of the "Blcher," 24th January, 1915.
"Jutland, 31 May 16.To be awarded to the Officers and men of those ships and vessels named in the list attached to Admiral Sir John Jellicoe's Despatch.
(B) Single Ship Actions.
Under this head the following clasps will be awarded :
" 'Cap Trafalgar,' 14 Sept. 14." To be awarded to the Officers and men of H.M.S. "Carmania," present in the action.
" 'Emden,' 9 Nov. 14." - To be awarded to the Officers and men of H.M.A.S. "Sydney," present in the action.
" 'Knigsberg,' July 15."To be awarded to the Officers and men who served on board the "Severn" and "Mersey," and in the aeroplanes, in the Rufigi River on July 6th and 11th 1915, in the operations resulting in the destruction of the "Knigsberg."
" 'Leopard,' 16 March 17."To be awarded to the Officers and men of "Achilles" and "Dundee," present in the action.
"21 April 17."To be awarded to the Officers and men of H.M. Ships "Swift" and "Broke," present in the action.
(C) Fighting at Sea in Particular Areas.
Under this head the following clasps will be awarded :
"North Sea 1914," &c., up to 1918.
"Narrow Seas 1914," &c., up to 1918.
"Home Seas 1914," &c., up to 1918.
"Arctic 1914," &c., up to 1918.
"Baltic 1914," &c., up to 1918.
"Mediterranean 1914," &c., up to 1918.
Limits of Particular Areas .
North Sea.
Southern Limit.A line drawn from Cromer to the Texel.
Eastern Limit.Up the coast of Holland, Germany, and Denmark, down the east coast of Denmark, across the northern exits to the Belts and Sound to the Swedish coast, north along the coasts of Sweden and Norway as far as the meridian of 30 E., and then true north along this meridian.
Western Limit.From Cromer up the east coasts of England and Scotland to Cape Wrath, thence to a position in Lat. 64 N., Long. 30 W., thence true north.
Narrow Seas.
Northern Limit.A line drawn from Cromer to the Texel.
Southern Limit.A line drawn from Dungeness to Boulogne. (Ships based on Boulogne will be included.)
Home Seas.
Eastern Limit.Line joining Cape Spartel and Cape Trafalgar, thence west and north along the coasts of Spain and Portugal, the coast line of the Bay of Biscay, along the French coast to Boulogne, thence to Dungeness, thence along the south and west coasts of England and Scotland to Cape Wrath.
Northern Limit.From Cape Wrath to a position in Lat. 64 N., Long. 30 W.
Southern Limit.From Cape Spartel west true to the meridian of 30 W.
Western Limit.The meridian of 30 W. as far as Lat. 64 N.
Arctic.
Southern Limit.Along the parallel of 60 N. between the meridians of 30 E. and 50 E.
Eastern Limit.The meridian of 50 E.
Western Limit.The meridian of 30 E.
Baltic.
Within the Baltic inside the Northern exits to the Belts and Sound.
Mediterranean.The whole Mediterranean within a line joining Cape Spartel and Cape Trafalgar, including the Black Sea, Sea of Marmora, and the harbour of Port Said, but excluding the Suez Canal.
Qualifying Service for "Area" or "Service" Clasps."
- One clasp to be given for each calendar year, 1914-1918.
- Qualifying service to be one month for 1914, and three months for the other years. Service in bona fide seagoing ships only to count. Service in Dpt ships and other vessels which occasionally go to sea from port to port not to be regarded as qualifying service.
- Service within the calendar year need not be continuous.
- Only one "Area" or "Service" clasp to be given for any one year. If an Officer or man qualifies in more than one area in any one year, he shall receive the clasp for the area in which he has served the longest.
- In the case of any Officer or man who has been killed or mortally wounded in action, the clasp for that year will be granted irrespective of the length of service.
(D) Special Services not confined to Particular Areas.
Under this head the following clasps will be awarded :
"Minesweeping."To be awarded as follows :
- To each rank and rating who formed one of the official crew of a vessel employed regularly as a minesweeper between 4th August 1914 and 11th November 1918, provided that the applicant's vessel formed one of a Minesweeping Unit which swept up enemy's moored mines when the applicant was present in that vessel.
- To each rank and rating who formed one of the crew of a vessel temporarily employed on minesweeping for clearing or ensuring a passage in the Dardanelles.
Note. Auxiliary Patrol and other vessels fitted for minesweeping who occasionally passed their sweeps in conjunction with their patrol duties not to be entitled to the Minesweeping clasp.
"Minelaying."To be awarded to Officers and men who made ten minelaying trips within the undermentioned areas, including Officers and men serving in Submarine E.24 when that vessel was lost :
1. Within the British Notified Area, i.e., the area comprising all the waters except the Netherlands and Danish territorial waters lying to the southward and eastward of a line commencing 3 miles from the Coast of Jutland on the parallel of Lat. 57 08' N., and passing through the following positions :
- (1) Lat. 57 08' N., Long. 6 00' E.
- (2) Lat. 56 00' N., Long. 5 10' E.
- (3) Lat. 54 45' N., Long. 4 17' E.
- (4) Lat. 53 29' N Long. 4 04' E.
- (5) Lat. 53 00' N., Long. 4 10' E.
thence along the parallel of Lat. 53 00' N. to a position 3 miles from the Netherlands coast, thence to the northward and eastward following the limit of Netherlands territorial waters.
2. Within 20 miles of the Belgian coast between Zeebrugge and Nieuport ; also within a radius of 20 miles from (A) Zeebrugge Mole, (B) Nieuport Harbour.
3. Between lines drawn east true from the Skaw and Syr Point, Lasso Island, to the Swedish coast. (Admiralty chart No. 2114.)
4. Within 20 miles of the eastern shore of the Adriatic.
5. The area enclosed between the meridians of 28 30' E. and 25 45' E., and the parallels of 36 50' N. and 40 30' N.
"'Q'Ships."To be awarded to all Officers and men who served during the war in "Q" or "Decoy" ships, employed on anti-submarine duties, and were in action in its widest sense with enemy submarines.
"Submarines."To be awarded to Officers and men who served in submarines for not less than twelve months during the war.
"Baltic S/Ms."To be awarded to Officers and men who served in submarines in the Baltic within the limits for the Baltic shown under head (c).
To be held in lieu of and not in addition to "Submarines" clasp.
"Heligoland Bight S/Ms."To be awarded to Officers and men who operated in submarines in the Heligoland Bight within the British Notified Area. (See Area 1, under "Minelaying." )
To be held in lieu of and not in addition to "Submarines" clasp.
"Marmora S/Ms."To be awarded to the Officers and men of all submarines who penetrated through into the Sea of Marmora and operated there between midnight, 18th and 19th February 1915 and 8th January 1916. The award to include Officers and men of Submarine "B.ll," which torpedoed the "Messudieh" on 31st December 1914, and Submarine "E.15," which made the pioneer attempt and grounded on Kephez Point in the Dardanelles on 15th April 1915.
To be held in lieu of and not in addition to "Submarines" clasp.
Note. Officers and men of Minelaying Submarines to be also eligible for "Minelaying" clasp in addition to any submarine clasps, under the conditions laid down above.
(E) Actions with Enemy's Land Forces.
Under this head the following clasps will be awarded :
"Belgian Coast."To be awarded to the Officers and men serving in ships which operated between 4th August 1914 and midnight 19th-20th October 1918 (the date of the enemy's evacuation) in an area within twenty miles of the Belgian coast between Zeebrugge and Nieuport; also within a radius of 20 miles from (1) Zeebrugge Mole, (2) Nieuport Harbour.
N.B.The "Belgian Coast clasp not to be awarded for the operations at Zeebrugge, 23rd April 1918, and Ostend, 23rd April and 10th May 1918. (See below.)
"Dardanelles."To be awarded to the Officers and men of H.M. Ships which took part in the operation in the Dardanelles from midnight, February 18-19th 1915 to midnight, March 18-19th 1915. Those eligible shall be the Officers and men serving in the ships mentioned in the despatches of Vice-Admirals Carden and De Robeck, dated March 17th 1915 and March 26th 1915. (See "London Gazette," 31322, 7th Supplement, April 29th 1919.)
"Gallipoli Landing."To be awarded to all naval ranks and ratings who left transports with a view to landing ; to the Officers and crews of those small ships, vessels, and boats which worked inshore or actually assisted in the disembarkation of troops; and to all ranks and ratings of the Royal Navy and Mercantile Marine on board the "River Clyde" ; between midnight, April 24-25th and midnight, April 26-27th 1915. Off-shore covering vessels, transports, &c., not to be included.
Note.Transports for this purpose are held to mean all floating craft that carried troops.
"Gallipoli."To be awarded to the Officers and men of all ships employed off the Gallipoli Peninsula within the area mentioned below from midnight, March 18-19th 1915, to the date of the final evacuation, January 8th 1916.
Area.To the eastward of a line drawn from Yukyeri Point (Lat. 39 50' 40' N., Long. 26 9' 45' E. approx.) through a point in Lat. 39 53' N., Long. 26 O' E., thence direct to Cape Gremea (Lat. 40 35' N., Long. 26 6' E. approx.).
"Tsingtau."To be awarded to the Officers and men of all ships employed off Tsingtau during the operations resulting in its capture, north of Lat. 35 30' N. and between the meridians of 120 and 121 E.
"Suez Canal."To be awarded to the Officers and men of those ships and vessels which took part in the engagement on February 2nd to 4th 1915, resulting in the repulse of the Turkish attack, that is, to ranks and ratings serving in ships which operated between a position 2 miles north of Kantara and the northern end of the Bitter Lakes.
"Zeebrugge. Ostend."To be awarded to the Officers and men present in the ships and vessels named in Article 45 of Sir Roger Keyes' amended despatch of May 9th 1918. published in "London Gazette," No. 31189, of 19th February 1919.
"Ostend, 10 May 1918."To be awarded to the Officers and men present in the ships named in the Appendix to Sir Roger Keyes' despatch dated 15th June 1918.
(F) Operations in connection with those on Land.
Under this head the following clasps will be awarded :
"Mesopotamia."To be awarded to all Naval Officers and men who served in the Persian Gulf within the Straits of Ormuz, from November 1st 1914, the date of Turkey's entry into the War, until noon, October 31st 1918.
"Red Sea."To be awarded to the Officers and men of H.M. Ships who were actually stationed in the Red Sea or the Suez Canal, north of and including Aden, and south of the Mediterranean, excluding the harbour of Port Said, between November 1st 1914 and noon on October 31st 1918. Ships proceeding through the Suez Canal or Red Sea on passage not to be included in the award.
"German East Africa."To be awarded to the Officers and men of H.M. Ships employed off the coast and outlying islands of East Africa between Mombasa and Delagoa Bay, both inclusive, throughout the war ; also to those Naval ranks and ratings serving on the African Lakes.
"German S.W. Africa."To be awarded to the Officers and men of H.M. Ships employed on the coast of German S.W. Africa between Luderitz Bay and Swakopmund between 15th September 1914 and July 9th 1915.
"Pacific Islands."To be awarded to all Naval Officers and men who took part in the following operations :
- New Britain - - - - - - - Sept. ll-21st 1914.
- New Ireland - - - - - - - Sept. 6-Oct.-8th 1914.
- Kaiser Wilhelm Land - - Sept. 24th 1914.
- Admiralty Islands - - - Nov. 21st 1914.
- Naura - - - - - - - - - Nov. 6th 1914.
- German Samoa - - - - - -Aug. 29th 1914.
"Cameroons."To be awarded to the Officers and men of all H.M. Ships, vessels, and boats, including the Nigerian Marine personnel, who were present in the Cameroons waters and rivers between 29th August 1914 and 31st January 1916 inclusive.
(G) Services in Serbia and Russia, and Post Armistice Operations.
Under this head the following clasps will be awarded :
"North Russia, 1918/19."To be awarded to all naval ranks and ratings who served afloat or ashore in North Russia, within the area specified below, between midnight, ll-12th November 1918 and 12th October 1919.
Southern Limit.Along the parallel of 60 N. between the meridians of 30 E. and 50 E.
Eastern Limit.The meridian of 50 E.
Western Limit.The meridian of 30 E.
"Eastern Baltic, 1918-19."To be awarded to all naval ranks and ratings who served within the Gulf of Finland and in the Baltic east of 20 E. between midnight, ll-12th November 1918, and midnight, 31st December 1919-lst January 1920.
"Mine Clearance, 1918-19."To be awarded to those Officers and men who actually signed a Mine Clearance Contract, and were accepted and employed under the terms A.F.O. 972/19. Limiting dates and areas as follows :
- In Home Waters, including North Sea European littoral, between November 11th 1918, and Midnight, September 30thOctober 1st 1919.
- Within the Mediterranean, between November 11th 1918, and Midnight, November 30thDecember 1st 1919.
- Within the Baltic, between November 11th 1918, and Midnight, November 30thDecember 1st 1919.
- In other foreign areas where British vessels have carried out mine clearance, between November 11th 1918, and Midnight, July 31stAugust 1st 1919.
"Serbia."To all those in the Naval contingent, and in the attached hospital, serving under the orders of Rear Admiral Sir E. C. T. Troubridge during the defence of Belgrade, and the subsequent retreat through Serbia across the Albanian frontier to the sea, between December 14th 1914, and January 1st 1916, and who are eligible for no other clasp for the same service.
"Siberia, 1918-19."
- To the naval personnel of the British Naval Mission in Siberia under Commander J. Wolfe Murray, up till September 13th 1919, and who are eligible for no other clasp for the same service.
- To the personnel of the naval detachment who were employed on the Kama River, Siberia, up till June 28th 1919, and who are eligible for no other clasp for the same service.
"Russia."
- To naval ranks and ratings who were employed with the armoured cars serving with the Russian forces throughout the war, and who are eligible for no other clasp for the same service.
- To members of the Naval Mission who were serving in South Russia 19191920, and who are eligible for no other clasp for the same service. The determining dates in this case will be announced later.
"Black Sea 1918-20."To be awarded to Officers and men serving on board H M. Ships and vessels which operated in the Black Sea or in the Bosphorus within the line joining Stefano Point and Farnar Burnu (at the Sea of Marmora exit from the Bosphorus) subsequent to November 11th 1918. The terminal date for services qualifying for the award has been fixed as 4th September 1920.
This clasp is not to be held in addition to the clasp for "Russia" by members of the Naval Mission mentioned in paragraph (b), "Russia," above.
"Caspian."To be awarded to all Naval Officers and men who were employed in the Caspian Sea, or on the shores thereof, between July 1918 and August 27th 1919.
2. The clasps earned by Officers and men deceased will be issued to their legatees or next of kin entitled to receive them.
3. The only post-armistice operations for which clasps to the British War Medal will be awarded are those specifically referred to in Section (G), and it is to be understood that in the case of all other clasps, the period of qualifying service definitely ends on the 11th November 1918. In particular the final date of qualification for the "Area" or "Service" clasps referred to in Section (C) is the
11th November 1918.
A further announcement as to the issue of the clasps will be made in due course, and no applications should be made pending such notification.
(A.F.O.s 27691/20 and C.A.F.O. 1456/27.)
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AFO 933/1921.British War Medal Award for Post-Armistice Operations.
(C.W. 5380/21.20.4.1921.)
It has been decided that service in a Post-Armistice Operation Area which qualifies for the Award of Clasps to the British War Medal shall also be considered as qualifying for the award of the Medal itself provided that 28 days service was rendered in the area in respect of which the Medal is claimed.
(A.F.0. 2769/20.)
3974/1919.- Victory Medal- Award.
(C.W. 35482.- 10.12.1919.)
His Majesty the King having been pleased to recognise by the grant of a distinctive
medal the services rendered by His Majesty's Forces in operations of war
since the 5th August 1914, the following regulations for the award of the medal
as regards the Navy are issued for information :-
- The medal, which will be designated the "Victory Medal," will be similar in design to that issued by the other Allied and Associated Powers for corresponding services, and will obviate the interchange of Allied Commemorative War Medals. It will be in bronze and will be attached to the riband by a ring. No clasp will be issued with it.
- The riband will be red in the centre, with green and violet on each side shaded to form the colours of two rainbows.
- Provided the claims axe approved by the Admiralty, the medal will be granted to the under-mentioned classes who were mobilised and rendered approved service either
- (i) at sea between midnight 4-5th August 1914 and midnight 11-12th November 1918, or
- (ii) on the establishment of a unit within a theatre of military operations :-
- All Officers and men of the R.N., R.M., R.N.A.S., R.I.M., R.N.R., R.N.V.R., R.N.A.S.B.R., and Dominion and Colonial Naval Forces. Trained pilots and observers and men of the R.N.A.S. employed in actual flying from Naval Air Stations at home on oversea patrols will be eligible.
- Mercantile Marine Officers and men serving under special Naval engagements (Form T.124 and its variants, including T.299) in H.M. Ships of War and Commissioned Fleet Auxiliaries.
- Members of Queen Alexandrafs Royal Naval Nursing Service, and Royal Naval Nursing Service Reserve.
- Officers and enrolled members of the W.R.N.S.
- Canteen Staffs who served in a Ship of War at sea.
- The following services are not approved as qualifying :-
- Service in Depot Ships, except those which go to sea ; Boom Defence Vessels, Examination Vessels, and other craft employed on harbour service.
- Service at Shore Bases and Depots, except those within theatres of active military operations.
- Services of a temporary and special nature at sea, or in theatres of military operations, e.g., casual inspections and inquiries, purchase of material, trials, passage, &c.
- Service at sea, subsequent to midnight 11-12th November 1918, except in certain specified cases, with regard to which a further announcement will be made.
- Desertion or dismissal with disgrace since the date of the qualifying service forfeits the decoration.
- The decorations earned by Officers and men deceased will be issued to their legatees or next-of-kin entitled to receive them.
- A further announcement as to the issue of the riband will be made in due course, and no application should be made pending such notification.
- For the purposes of this Order the definition of "theatres of military operations" is as in Appendix A.
APPENDIX A.
For the purpose of this order "theatres of Military Operations" are defined as under :-
- Western European Theatre.- To include all operations in :-
- France and Belgium, between midnight 4-5th August 1914 and midnight ll-12th November 1918.
- Italy, between midnight 17-18th April 1917 and midnight 4-5th November 1918.
- Balkan Theatre.- To include all operations in :-
- Greek Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria and European Turkey, between midnight 4-5th October 1915 and midnight ll-12th November 1918.
- Gallipoli and islands of Aegean Sea, between midnight 24-25th April 1915 and midnight 9-10th January 1916.
Officers and men of the Plymouth and Chatham Battalions, R.M.L.I., who
took part in the landing at Seddul Bahr and Kum Kale on the 4 th March 1915
are eligible.
- Russian Theatre.-To include all operations in Russia since midnight 4-5th August 1914.
- Egyptian Theatre.- To include all operations
- In Egypt, between midnight 4-5th November 1914 and midnight 18-19th March 1916, but excluding operations for which the Sultan's Sudan Medal has been awarded.
- Conducted by the Egyptian Expeditionary Force between midnight 18-19tb March 1916 and midnight 31st October-lst November 1918, but excluding operations for which the Sultanfs Sudan Medal has been awarded.
- African Theatre.-To include all operations as set forth below but excluding local military operations against native tribes or rebels for which the African G.S. Medal is awarded.
- In British, German, and Portuguese East Africa, Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia, between midnight 19-20th August 1914 and midnight 25-26th November 1918.
- In German South-West Africa and on the adjacent borders of the Union of South Africa between midnight 19-20th August 1914 and midnight 9-10th July 1915
- In Kamerun and on Eastern and Northern Frontiers of Nigeria between midnight 23rd-24th August 1914 and midnight 18-19th February 1916.
- In Nigeria between midnight 4-5th January 1917 and midnight 15-16th May 1917.
- In Togoland between midnight 6-7th August 1914 and midnight 26-27th August 1914.
- Asiatic Theatre.-To include all operations.
- In Hedjaz, between midnight 4-5th November 1914 and midnight 13-14th January 1919.
- In Mesopotamia, from midnight 5-6th November 1914.
- In Persia and in the Persian Gulf, from midnight 5-6th November 1914.
- In trans-Caspia, from midnight 18-19th July 1918.
- At Shaik Said (South-West Arabia), on 10th and 11th November 1914 and at Perim on 14th and 15th June 1915.
- Conducted by the Aden Field Force, between midnight 2nd-3rd July 1916 and midnight 13-14th January 1919.
- In the Frontier regions of India, carried out by forces which actually took the field between 5th August 1914 and the 31st October 1918.
- At Tsing-Tau, between midnight 22nd-23rd September 1914 and midnight 7-8th November 1914.
- Australasian Theatre.-To include all operations against the German Pacific Dependencies as follows:.
- New Britain, from midnight 10-11th September 1914 to midnight 21st-22nd September 1914.
- New Ireland, from midnight 15-16th September 1914 to midnight 18-19th October 1914.
- Kaiser Wilhelm-Land, on 24th September 1914.
- Admiralty Islands, on 21st November 1914.
- Nauru, on 6th November 1914.
- German Samoa, on 29th August 1914.
(A.F.O. 2769/20.)
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AFO 2769/1920.Victory MedalAward for Post-Armistice Operations.
(C.W. 15695/20. 22.9.1920.)
It has been decided that post-Armistice operations which qualify for the award of a Naval Clasp to the British War Medal shall also be regarded as qualifying for the award of the Victory Medal.
2. Services on shore within theatres of military operations, which took place after the Armistice and which qualify for the award of the Victory Medal under the War Office Regulations, will be regarded as qualifying also in the case of Naval personnel serving on shore.
3. The only post-Armistice services which have so far been definitely decided by the Army Council to be qualifying services for the Medal are services in the following theatres of operations, but certain other services, particulars of which have not yet been announced, will also be regarded as qualifying :
Russian Theatre.
All operations in North Russia and Siberia, between midnight 4th-5th August 1914, and midnight 12th-13th October 1919.
Asiatic Theatres.
All operations in Trans-Caspia between midnight 18th-19th July 1918, and midnight 16th-17th April 1919.
(A.F.O.s 3974119, 2051/20 and 933/21.)
Crown Copyright
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