British War Medal 1914-20, Corporal James McCarthy, Royal Irish Regiment

Silver campaign medal with a portrait of King George V facing left with the inscription, 'Georgivs V Britt: Omn: Rex Et Ind Imp:', on the obverse and an equestrian figure of St George, trampling a shield bearing the Prussian eagle, on the reverse. Additional designs on the reverse include the years, '1914' and '1918', a skull and crossed bones representing death and a rising sun, representing victory. Orange corded silk ribbon edged with blue and white vertical stripes.

Corporal James Francis McCarthy was serving in Palestine during World War One (1914-1918). He was in a bivouac when a grenade that was being cleaned by a young and inexperienced soldier was activated. McCarthy had a few brief moments in which to decide his course of action. Captain Blanckenzee, 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment, reported that 'In the few seconds between the detonator's crack and the explosion of the grenade McCarthy realised that wherever he threw it there would be severe casualties among his comrades. He placed their lives before his own.'.

McCarthy chose to use his body to shield the other men from the explosion, sacrificing his life to save his comrades from certain death. McCarthy received the Albert Medal for his action. Only the fact that this incident did not take place in the face of the enemy prevented him from being recommended for the Victoria Cross.

The British War Medal was awarded to all members of the British and Imperial military forces who completed 28 days mobilised service during 1914-1918. Although World War One ended in 1918, the qualification period for this medal was extended to cover post-war ordnance clearance and service in Russia during 1919-1920. Over six million of these medals were issued to British and Empire soldiers.

From a medal group awarded to Corporal James McCarthy, Royal Irish Regiment, World War One, Egypt and Palestine (1914-1918).