RARE WW1 ERA MEDAL OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE (MILITARY) IN CASE OBE

Description

Offered is an original and rare Medal of the Order of the British Empire (Military), a rare award, in which only 2,014 people were award, 800 of whom were from foreign countries, between 1917 and 1922.

The medal obverse shows a seated figure of Britannia facing right, her left arm extended and her right holding a trident, with the inscription FOR GOD AND THE EMPIRE round the upper part of the circumference. The reverse depicts the royal and imperial cypher GRI surmounted by a Tudor crown, the whole enclosed in a cable circle. Un-named as issued, in exceptionally fine condition, with unmounted original ribbon, in the original gilt embossed John Pinches of London, fitted case, showing the embossed ‘M’ denoting this (and the ribbon) as a military issue award.

The Medal of the Order of the British Empire was established in June 1917, along with the Order of the British Empire of which it was a part, and could be awarded for either meritorious service or for gallantry. It was awarded to 2,014 people, 800 of whom were from foreign countries, with the award of the Military Division introduced in December 1918.