Defence Medal 1939-45, awarded to Corporal William Cutler, 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own)

Circular campaign medal with, on the obverse (designed by Thomas Humphrey Paget), the head of King George VI and the inscription, 'Georgivs VI D:G:Br:Omn: Rex F:D:Ind:Imp.'. On the reverse (designed by Harold Parker), the Royal Crown on an oak sapling, with lion and lioness supporters flanked by the dates, '1939' and '1945', above stylised waves and the medal name, 'The Defence Medal', within the exergue.

Struck in cupro-nickel or silver, the Defence Medal 1939-45 was instituted in May 1945 and was more widely distributed than the 1939-45 Star. Its recipients included personnel who had served for at least three years in Britain during World War Two (1939-1945). The medal was awarded to non-operational service personnel and for certain civilian services, such as Civil Defence. Commonwealth and Colonial personnel in some services, deployed away from their homes, were also eligible.

From a medal group awarded to Corporal William Cutler, 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own).