1914 Star with clasp, '5th Aug- 22nd Nov 1914', awarded to Corporal William Cotter VC, 6th (S) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)

Bronze four-pointed star surmounted by a crown, with two crossed swords beneath a scroll bearing the inscription, 'Aug 1914 Nov', within a wreath of oak leaves bearing the royal cypher for King George V, 'G V'. The reverse is unadorned save for the recipient's number, rank, name and unit and the word, '(Replacement)'. The medal ribbon has red, white and blue watered and shadowed stripes.

Acting Corporal William Richard Cotter (1882-1916) served with the 1st and 6th Battalions of The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) between 1902 and 1916. He served in India (1902-1903), Aden (1903-1904), and on the Western Front during World War One. He was serving with the 6th Battalion, part of 37th Brigade, 12th Eastern Division, when he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery in action on 6-7 March 1916, near the Hohenzollern Redoubt at Loos, France. Cotter died in hospital of his wounds at Lillers on 14 March 1916, aged 33.

The 1914-15 Star was established in December 1918 and over 2,300,000 were awarded to British and Imperial soldiers who participated in World War One between 5 August 1914 and 31 December 1915.