1914-15 Star, awarded to Captain Douglas Cutbush, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment)

Bronze four-pointed star surmounted by a crown, with two crossed swords beneath a scroll bearing the medal's year range, '1914-15', 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 rank, name and unit. The medal is suspended from a ribbon with red, white and blue watered and shadowed stripes.

Douglas Cutbush attended Tonbridge School in Kent. Initially judged medically unfit for military service, Cutbush worked with Belgian refugees in north London in 1914. He managed to gain a commission with the Special Reserve of the Duke of Cambridge's Own Middlesex Regiment in 1915 and went to France attached to a regular battalion in October 1915.

Cutbush was wounded near Armentieres in January 1916. After recuperating in hospital he returned to the Front. He was awarded the Military Cross for his actions in November 1916 during an advance on Beaumont Hamel (recorded in the 'London Gazette', 3 March 1917). Cutbush took command of two companies that had lost most of their officers to heavy enemy fire. He consolidated an exposed position and having been ordered to withdraw, he oversaw the destruction of enemy trenches, before successfully leading his men back to British lines.

Douglas Cutbush was killed in action near Monchy during the Battle of Arras. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records his death in France, aged 21, on 10 April 1917. He is commemorated at the Level Crossing Cemetery at Fampoux.

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.

From a medal group awarded to Captain Douglas Cutbush, MC, The Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment).