British War Medal 1914-20, awarded to Captain Douglas Cutbush, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment)

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. The medal is supended from an orange corded silk ribbon edged with blue and white vertical 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 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.

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