British War Medal 1939-45 awarded to Sergeant Herbert Frederick Chambers, Royal Armoured Corps and Special Boat Service (SBS)

Circular, cupro-nickel campaign medal with, on the obverse. crowned head of King George VI, with the inscription, 'Georgivs VI D: G: BR: Omn: Rex et Indiae Imp:'; on the reverse, a lion standing on the body of a double-headed beast with the heads of a dragon and eagle, representing Germany and Japan, with the dates '1939' and '1945'. The reverse also bears the initials, 'ECRP', for the designer, Edward Carter Preston. The ribbon has a central narrow red stripe, flanked by narrow white stripes, broad red stripes at either edge with two intervening blue stripes.

The British War Medal 1939-45 was awarded to all full time service personnel of the Commonwealth Armed Forces wherever their service during World War Two (1939-1945) was rendered, provided they had completed 28 days service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945.

Chambers joined the Army in 1932, serving in India for four years. At the outbreak of World War Two, while serving in the Royal Armoured Corps in the Near East, Chambers was recruited into the special forces. Following victory in North Africa SBS and Long Range Desert Group personnel were transferred to the Aegean where they took part in a series of raids. In July 1944 during a raid on Crete Chambers led one of a number of demolition teams attacking German fuel and ammunition dumps. SBS units went on to serve in Italy and take part in the liberation of Greece and it was in the latter campaign that Chambers won his Military Medal. Chambers went on to be mentioned in despatches in 1945.

From a medal group awarded to Sergeant Herbert Frederick Chambers, Royal Armoured Corps and Special Boat Service (SBS), including, Military Medal, 1939-45 Star, Africa Star 1940-43, Italy Star 1943-45, and Defence Medal 1939-45.