British War Medal 1914-20, awarded to Gunner Thomas W Bage, Durham Royal Garrison Artillery (Territorial)

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.

On 16 December 1914 five German Navy battle cruisers from the First High Seas Fleet shelled the towns of Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby, killing 130 people and wounding another 592. The incident caused outrage in Britain and was used by propagandists as a recruiting tool. Gunner Bage took part in the defence of Hartlepool.

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. In special recognition of the action at Hartlepool, the medal was awarded to all members of the Durham Royal Garrison Artillery, the only coastal defence unit to engage the enemy in action throughout World War One (1914-1918).