Military Medal 1916, awarded to Pvt. J. Hale between 1916 & 1919
Obverse, a bust of King George V facing left |
Reverse, inscription in centre, with a crown above and a laurel wreath around |
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Obverse, a bust of King George V facing left |
Reverse, inscription in centre, with a crown above and a laurel wreath around |
The Military Medal was instituted in 1916 to reward acts of bravery by NCOs and men in the Army (and at that point the Royal Flying Corps) that were felt worthy of recognition but not of the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Even though instituted halfway through the Great War of 1914-18, the medal was awarded 115,600 times in the remainder of the conflict, and 5796 of these recipients won one or more bars to recognise a second award. The medal was awarded until 1993, when the Military Cross was extended to those of less than officer rank.
This medal was awarded to Private J. Hale of the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles. This unit was comprised of volunteers and existed only between 1914 and 1919, so it is almost certain that Private Hale won his award on the Western Front during the Great War, quite possibly at Ypres or the Somme. Lester Watson acquired the medal at some point before 1928.