British War Medal, 1914-20 awarded to Corporal Henry Eggleston, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) and the 16th Battalion, The Machine Gun 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.

Henry 'Harry' Eggleston enlisted with The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) in October 1914, he was transferred to the newly formed Machine Gun Corps in 1915. He was with the first shipment of this unit sent to France in February 1916 and served in France and Belgium until April 1917, at which time he was recalled to England to instruct recruits. He was sent to France again in June 1918. Corporal Eggleston was demobilised in Belgium in June the following year.

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.