British War Medal 1914-1920, awarded to Major Oliver Stewart of the Royal Flying Corps

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.

Stewart served with 2/9th Battalion The Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in 1915, receiving his Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate on a Maurice Farman biplane at Military School, Thetford, in March 1916. Serving with 54 Squadron, flying the Sopwith Pup in 1917, he was credited with despatching five German aircraft, qualifying him as an ace.

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 Major Oliver Stewart, Royal Flying Corps.