Frederick Treacher served throughout the first world war in the Royal Navy, and was awarded the following medals, which were nicknamed Pip, Squeak and Wilfred after popular cartoon characters. The medals would have been worn in that order from left to right, but in the photographs the medals are in the order Squeak, Pip and Wilfred
The British War Medal (Squeak), for those who served overseas from 1914 to 1918.
This medal was instituted to record the successful conclusion of the First World War, but it was extended to cover the period 1919 - 20 and service in mine clearing at sea as well as participation in operations in North and South Russia, the Eastern Baltic, Siberia, the Black Sea and Caspian. The medal is a circular, silver medal, 1.42 inches in diameter. The obverse shows the King George V, bareheaded coinage effigy, facing left, with the legend: GEORGIVS V BRITT : OMN : REX ET IND :
IMP : This profile is by Sir Bertram Mackennal. On the reverse is a horseman (St. George, naked), armed with a short sword (an allegory of the physical and mental strength which achieves victory over Prussianism). The horse tramples on the Prussian shield and the skull and cross-bones. Just off-centre, near the right upper rim, is the sun of Victory. The dates 1914 and 1918 appear in the left and right fields respectively. The medal has a plain, straight, non-swivelling suspender with a
single-toe claw. The watered ribbon is 1.25 inches wide, and consists of seven stripes: blue (0.125"), black (0.0625"), white (0.125"), orange centre (0.625" wide), white (0.125"), black (0.0325"), and blue (0.125"). The recipient's name, number and rank is engraved on the rim for the first issue.
The 1914-15 Star (Pip)
The star was awarded to all who saw service an any theatre of war against the central powers between 05 August 1914 and 31 December 1915 except those eligible for the 1914 Star.
The medal is a bronze four-pointed star, 1.75 inches wide and 2.25 inches top to bottom, with its uppermost point replaced by crown. Across the face of the star are two crossed swords, (blades upward) with the blades and hilts protruding to form four additional points of the star. In the centre of the obverse side is a scroll with 1914-15. This is surrounded by a laurel wreath and on the bottom is the Royal Cypher GV (large G with smaller V inside). The reverse is
plain, but is engraved with the recipient's number, rank and name. A suspension ring at the top of the crown is stamped out solid with the star. The watered ribbon (1.25" wide), is shaded left to right: red, white, and blue.
The Victory Medal (Wilfred), for those who served in an overseas theatre of war.
The medal, in yellow bronze, was awarded to all ranks of the fighting forces, to civilians under contract, and others employed with military hospitals who actually served on the establishment of a unit in a theatre of war between 05 August 1914 and 11 November 1918 (inclusive). It was also awarded to members of the British Naval mission to Russia 1919 - 1920 and for mine clearance in the North Sea between 11 November 1918 and 30 November 1919. This medal was never issued alone, it was
issued to those that already had the 1914 or 1914 - 15 Stars and most of those who had the British War Medal. It is often known as the Allied War Medal because the same basic design and double rainbow ribbon were adopted by thirteen other Allied nations (though the US alone issued it with campaign clasps). The Union of South Africa produced a version with a reverse text in English and Dutch. Only the Mentioned-in-Despatches multiple-leaved emblem is worn on this medal when it was awarded
for WWI. There were no other bars. The medal is a circular, copper medal, lacquered bronze, 1.42 inches in diameter. The obverse shows the winged, full-length, full-front, figure of Victory, with her left arm extended and holding a palm branch in her right hand. The reverse shows the legend THE GREAT / WAR FOR / CIVILIZATION / 1914 - 1919 in four lines, surrounded by a wreath, with dots below the words. A ring (0.5" diameter) passes through a loop fixed to the
top of the medal. The ring moves forwards and backwards but not sideways. The watered ribbon is 1.5 inches (38 mm) wide, and consists of nine coloured stripes: violet, blue, green, yellow, red (centre), yellow, green, blue, and violet. (Double Rainbow)
DATES The recepient's name, number and rank are engraved on the rim for the first issue.
Underneath the medals in the first photo is Frederick's hatband from HMS Imogene, on which he served from 27 January 1905 to 26 January 1907.
Despatches
Frederick Treacher was mentioned in despatches during WWI and his name appears in the Supplement to the London Gazette in 1919, but the reason why he was mentioned is not known.
The mention would have entitled him to wear an oak leaf cluster on the Victory Medal. Unfortunately, the cluster has been lost, but the hole where it would have been attached is visible in the photograph above of the obverse sides of the medals.
The image of the Victory Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster shown below is by kind permission of Sarah Jane Framing and Medals. The second thumbnail is the Royal Navy record of the mention and of the sending of the Victory Medal and the second is the gazette entry.
Key to docs -
A.B. is Able Seaman
O.N. is Official Number
215148 is his service number
Po. is Portsmouth
Party - sent to recipient.
X in Service Column - No longer in Service.
Service Record
Frederick served in the Royal Navy from 1901 to 1919.
General information on service records can be found on the
National Archives site