6. Royal Naval Medal Roll 1914-1920
These records are a transcription of The National Archives document classes ADM/171/89 to ADM/171/93 (inclusive) and ADM/171/139, which comprise the complete WW1 Campaign Medal Rolls to 53,000 Officers of all branches of the Royal Navy. Added to the transcript are service details for a large number of Officers, particularly those killed in action or died of wounds during WW1 and in many cases post-war deaths and WW2 deaths are noted.
The medals covered by the rolls are: The 1914 Star, the Clasp to the 1914 Star, the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Each Officer's entry is linked to display the original Medal Roll page image. For recipients of the 1914 Star, two or more images are provided, from the original handwritten 1914 Star Roll (ADM/171/139) and the later typewritten Rolls.
Search the Royal Naval Medal Roll now
Qualification for Naval Campaign Medals
The 1914 Star was authorized in April 1917 and awarded to those who served in France & Belgium on the strength of a unit, or service in either of those two countries between 5th August 1914 and midnight on 22/23 November 1914. Recipients of the 1914 Star automatically qualified for the British War & Victory Medals, but were ineligible for the 1914-15 Star.
The Clasp to the 1914 Star was sanctioned by King George V in October 1919, to be awarded to all who had been under fire in France or Belgium between 5 August 1914 and midnight on 22/23 November 1914.
The 1914-15 Star was authorized in 1918 and awarded to those who saw active service between 5 August 1914 and 31 December 1915. Recipients of the 1914-15 Star automatically qualified for the British War and Victory Medals. Recipients of the 1914 Star were ineligible for the 1914-15 Star.
The British War Medal was authorized in 1919 to mark the end of the Great War.
The Admiralty differed from the War Office in their allowance for qualification to the British War Medal.
The Admiralty granted the issue of the British War Medal to all ranks who had completed 28 days' mobilised service between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918.
The War Office would only issue a British War Medal for UK Home Service in exceptional circumstances, such as the men killed in the German Battlecruiser bombardments on the East Coast in 1915. Normally, UK Home Service in the Army did not qualify. As a result of this 'kindness' on the part of the Admiralty, the Rolls were increased to a very large extent in listing those men entitled to the British War Medal only.
The Victory Medal was authorized in 1919 to commemorate the victory of the Allies over the Central Powers. It was awarded to all who embarked on active service at sea or on land in a Theatre of Operations between midnight 4/5 August 1914 and midnight 11/12 November 1918. Recipients of the Victory Medal automatically qualified for the British War Medal.
Those mentioned in despatches between 4 August 1914 and 10 August 1920 were entitled to wear a bronze oak leaf emblem on the ribbon of their Victory Medal. Only one oak leaf emblem could be worn on the ribbon, regardless of the number of times mentioned in despatches. For those mentioned in despatches but not entitled to the Victory Medal, the oak leaf emblem was worn on the ribbon of their British War Medal. For those mentioned in despatches but not entitled either the British War or Victory Medal, the oak leaf emblem was worn on their jacket.
Origins of the rolls
The Rolls were compiled around 1930 to amalgamate existing sources (Index cards) and provide a Master list for easy access and reference. The Rolls consist of four large books (ADM/171/89 to ADM/171/93) and greatly simplified the task of the naval clerks in administering the issue of medals to claimants for the next 60 years, up until the Rolls were finally deposited with The National Archives in 1991.
The original handwritten 1914 Star Roll (ADM/171/139) was incorporated into the new Rolls around the same time (1930), but during the transfer of details a few mistakes were made, also a few omissions, but the greatest loss was that of the issue dates for the 1914 Star and the Clasp. This has been rectified by the transcription of all the issue dates, plus other information contained in the original 1914 Star Roll. The original images may be viewed to confirm the various entries.
The 1914 Star issue and resulting complications
As Admiralty policy was to issue campaign medals to claimants only, this dispensed with the requirement to prepare named medals prior to claims. The 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were all 'made to order' as and when the claimant applied. The Naval 1914 Stars, however, were all minted, named and ready for issue by early 1919. The majority of the 1914 Stars were issued to claimants between 1919-1921, but issues continued up until early 1934, when the remaining unclaimed stock were returned to the Royal Mint (presumably for destruction).
As already stated, the majority of 1914 Stars were issued between 1919 and 1921. The accompanying two medals, the British War Medal and Victory Medal, to which all 1914 Star recipients were also entitled, however, were not available until mid-1921. Most 1914 Stars were, therefore, issued singularly, the claimant apparently having to make a second application for his British War and Victory Medals.
This second claim was not made in a large number of cases and it is, therefore, quite normal to find a Naval 1914 Star without the accompanying British War and Victory Medals. This is especially true for single 1914 Stars issued to a deceased Officer's next of kin between 1919 and 1920. The Roll makes allowance for this contingency by separately listing the 1914 Star entitlement in the space above that shown for entitlement to the British War and Victory Medals. Normally the full medal entitlement is given in one single line.
There are also many instances, however, of Victory Medals being issued after the British War Medal, or the British War and Victory Medals being issued after the 1914-15 Star. In all eventualities of staggered issues of whichever combination of medals, this is shown by the division of the medal entitlement, listing on two lines instead of the normal single line.
The Clasp to the 1914 Star
The Clasp to the 1914 Star is another complication to the above. Roll accuracy regarding entitlement to the Clasp to the 1914 Star is not totally reliable. Further research may be necessary to establish Clasp entitlement for a number of 1914 Star recipients, as many Clasp entitlements remained unclaimed.
The Clasp was not available for issue until June 1920 and many Clasps were issued singularly between June 1920 and May 1921. The 1914 Star and Clasp recipient may, therefore, have made three separate applications for his full entitlement (i.e., 1914 Star issued June 1919, Clasp issued July 1920, British War and Victory Medals issued July 1921).
Late issue and duplicate medals
Contrary to popular belief, WW1 campaign medals to the Naval Forces were not issued automatically. Admiralty policy required claims to be made by the man himself, his Legatees or Next-of-Kin.
The War Office infamously despatched medals to all Army 'Other Ranks' recipients, regardless of their preference, although Army Officers were required to claim their medals, as per the Admiralty's policy.
Naval medals were, therefore, issued as and when they were applied for from 1919 onwards. A supplementary volume recording all WW1 Naval Campaign Medals issued from January 1936 to April 1975 can be found at The National Archives under class ADM/171/196. Unfortunately, supplementary records for the issue of medals pre-1935 and 1975-1991 are missing. All medals issued up to 1989, however, are recorded in the Rolls. Medals issued from 1933 onwards were classed as either '1st issue to Late Claimants' or 'Duplicates' to replace those lost or stolen. Duplicate issues were clearly recorded as such in the Rolls.
The Admiralty employed a six-figure reference number system, beginning at '392000', for recording the 1st issue of medals to Late Claimants after January 1933. This six-figure number referred to the 'Medal Issue Paper' (M.I.P.) and was entered on the Roll in the 'How Disposed of' column. (It is believed that the number 392000 was used as a starting point because this was the approximate total of Naval Medal claimants up to 1932).
Below is a link to list of M.I.P. numbers and the corresponding dates taken from the Rolls and ADM/171/196. Numbers in brackets are the approximate total of 1st issue medal claims that year.
View the Medal Issue Paper (M.I.P.) Number Series here (PDF 130kb)
As can be calculated from the above list, nearly 4000 men claimed their 1st issue medals between 1933 and 1962. The start of the Second World War saw an increase in claims, with many former WW1 Naval personnel returning to service. A small increase also occurred prior to and after the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
From 1 September 1962, the six-figure M.I.P. number system was supplanted by a new 'M' prefix number reference for 1st issue medals. This same new 'M' prefix number system also replaced the old Duplicate number system from January 1962.
Duplicate medal issues employed a separate numbering system and these numbers were recorded on the Rolls from late 1931 to 1961. Duplicate medal issue numbers were also recorded in the ADM/171/196 medal issue book 1936-1961, along with the six-figure M.I.P.s for 1st issue medals.
View a list of duplicate medal issue numbers and the corresponding dates taken from the Rolls and ADM/171/196 (PDF 113kb)
Unclaimed medals
The ADM/171 series of Naval Medal Rolls are primarily a record of the medal entitlement of individuals and only secondly record basic details for the issue of the medals. Blank entries in the 'How issued or disposed of' column are given in the transcription as 'No entry' and this normally indicates that the medal or medals were unclaimed. If a given column field is empty, the transcription is blank, but in the case of the 'How issued or disposed of' column, it was thought necessary to show the lack of issue details by the use of the term 'No entry'. (The term 'No entry' has also been used in other columns where an expected entry was missing).
Known problems and errors
Aside from the Clasp entitlement already referred to, the compilation of such a large listing in the late 1920s, without the benefit of our modern computer aids, was an awesome task. It is, therefore, understandable that many errors and omissions crept in. All identified errors in names and ranks are corrected in the transcript, with an accompanying note of the error correction in the text notes. The medal entitlement column, however, is listed exactly as is given in the Rolls, even if in error, and the correct medal entitlement is shown in the text notes.
Explanatory notes for information fields
Service branch
Information in this field shows which service branch of the Royal Navy the Officer was commissioned in. Please note that a large number of Officers transferred to the R.A.F. in 1918 and this Roll may, therefore, be useful in tracing R.A.F. Officers with former Naval Commissions.
Rank
The Rank given on the Roll is not necessarily the final Rank achieved. Many 1914 and 1914-15 Stars carried a lower Rank to that shown on the British War and Victory Medals.
Forename
The original Roll usually lists only the first Forename in full, with initials for other given names, but many are listed with initials only. The Author has in many cases found and completed full given names.
Surname
Those who served under an alias are cross-referenced to their true name.
Awards
Some gallantry awards are given on the original Roll, but the Author has added a large number of awards granted for gallantry, distinguished, or meritorious service. These are given in the standard abbreviated format (e.g., VC, DSC, DSO, DSM, etc.).
Medals and clasps earned
Entries in this column, the primary function of the Roll, are limited to five basic entitlements:
- 1914 Star and Clasp, Victory and British War Medals
- 1914 Star, Victory and British War Medals
- 1914-15 Star, Victory and British War Medals
- Victory and British War Medals
- British War Medal
There are cases where an Officer qualified for both the 1914 Star and the 1914-15 Star. In all such cases, however, the initial 1914 Star entitlement was forfeited and the Officer qualified for the 1914-15 Star by subsequent service (between November 1914 and December 1915). No Officer could legally hold both the 1914 and 1914-15 Stars, as entitlement to the 1914 Star automatically disqualified the man from entitlement to the 1914-15 Star.
How issued or disposed of
Entries in this column record brief details of to whom or where the medals were issued. If the medal or medals were unclaimed, the column is blank, but the transcription will give 'No entry'.
If an Officer claimed his medal entitlement after leaving Naval service, the entry reads 'Self' (issued to the man himself at a private address).
If an Officer claimed his medals whilst still in Naval service, the entry will give the Shore Establishment or Ship to which the medals were issued (e.g., R.N. Barracks, Chatham, HMS 'Impregnable' or R.N. Staff College, Greenwich).
If an Officer died during service or after discharge and his Next-of-Kin claimed, then one of a large number of entries could be recorded: Mother, Father, Sister, Brother, Daughter, Uncle, Cousin, Widow, Executor, Executrix, Legatee, Universal Legatee, Administrator, Legal Representative, etc.
Entries which read 'Issued to War Office for disposal to man' indicate that the Officer was in serving in the Army after discharge from Naval Service, the medals being transmitted to him via the War Office.
Similarly 'Issued to Air Ministry for disposal to man' indicates the Officer was serving in the Royal Air Force after discharge from Naval Service, the medals being transmitted to him via the Air Ministry.
Entries which read 'Issued by War Office (for service in Army)' indicate that the Officer transferred to the Army during WW1 and the War Office became responsible for his medal issue.
Similarly 'Issued by Air Ministry (for service in RAF)' indicates that the Officer transferred to the Royal Air Force during WW1 and the Air Ministry became responsible for his medal issue.
'Forfeited' is self-explanatory and the reason for the forfeiture is given in the 'Remarks' column (usually by desertion).
Remarks
Entries in this column are many and varied. In the main, the following standard entries will be encountered:
Victory and British War Medals issued by War Office (for service in Army): Indicates the Officer transferred to the Army during WW1 and the War Office became responsible for the issue of his Victory and British War Medals, but a 1914 Star or 1914-15 Star was to be issued by the Admiralty for Naval service.
Victory and British War Medals issued by Air Ministry (for service in RAF): Indicates the Officer transferred to the Royal Air Force during WW1 and the Air Ministry became responsible for the issue of his Victory and British War Medals, but a 1914 Star or 1914-15 Star was to be issued by the Admiralty for Naval service.
Run: Indicates the Officer deserted H.M. Service and his medal entitlement was forfeited.
I.C.1000/1914 (etc.): This entry is always applicable to a deceased Officer. It refers to the 'Index Casualty' number in the Naval Records for Wills and allowed reference to the Legatee named in the Officer's Will.
D.D. 29/12/15 (etc.): This entry always accompanies a deceased Officer's entry. It shows the date (sometimes in error) that the Officer died (Discharged Dead) and always accompanies entries where the medals were not claimed. Late claims by next of kin (post-1933), however, are found in a few of these cases and the 'D.D.' entry will be found together with the date and details of the late issue to the next of kin.
1914st. Ret'd Mint DNA 1428 35: This entry shows that the 1914 Star, held on stock and unclaimed since early 1919, was returned to the Mint in March 1934.
Notes
This column contains all the Author's notes on the Officers' service history and any error corrections in the transcript or corrections to medal entitlement.
Unit
Information in this column is exclusively for those who died in service. The unit in which they were serving when they died is shown.
Date of death
Information in this column is usually for those who died in Military Service. Many post-war or WW2 deaths, however, were found during compilation. For deaths which occurred after discharge and where no exact date is known, the format of the 'month quarter & year' as given in the GRO indexes for civil deaths, is shown (e.g., 00/03/1922). It was not practical to purchase death certificates for all, but the full GRO death certificate reference is given in most cases.
Cause of death
Shows all the known details of the Officer's death from original service records or death certificate.
Acknowledgments
Captain Roy SWALES R.N. as representative of the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton, who provided many hours of his time investigating and checking queries, thereby enabling accurate corrections in this project.
Mary LEONG, of The National Archives, in providing a very efficient and conscientious service of document copying and supply.
View a transcript of the abbreviations accompanying the Naval Medal Rolls (PDF 106kb). All abbreviations have been expanded in the transcript, so reproduction of this is purely informative: Abbreviations used in Great War Medal Roll (1914-1920)
View a glossary for these records (PDF 65kb).
Search the Royal Naval Medal Roll now
Jack Marshall © 2010back to overseas and military | top of page
