King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

Lancaster

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 You must seek permission prior to publication of any of our images.


WAR! 1914

Lancaster and The King's Own go to War.

Generously supported by the Sir John Fisher Foundation.

1914 Star

The medal was authorised in 1917 to be awarded to all those who served in France and Belgium between 5th August and 22nd November 1914. Principally an army award, a few Royal Navy personnel also qualified, having served ashore at Antwerp during the qualifying period. A few women also received the award serving in France and Belgium as nurses or auxiliaries during that time.

Around 378,000 Stars were issued.

It was widely, but incorrectly, known as the “Mons Star”, as it was awarded to many more men than just those who fought at the Battle of Mons and the Retreat from the Belgium city of Mons. 

The award of the bar and emblem was authorised in October 1919 to all who had been under fire in France or Belgium between the above dates. The bar bore the dates '5th Aug.: 22nd Nov. 1914' and one emblem, a rosette, was to be worn in place of the bar on the ribbon on the tunic when medals are not worn. The award of the medal was automatic, but in order to gain the bar and emblem a claim had to be submitted and substantiated.

The 1st Battalion was the only one of the regiment whose personnel qualified for the 1914 Star. Nearly 2000 were awarded.


Presentation of the ‘Mons’ 1914 Star by General Parker to men of the 1st Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, in Lancaster on 11th May 1919.
Accession Number: KO1044/03


Recipients of the 1914 Star at Bowerham Barracks, Lancaster, all men of the 1st Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment on the day of the presentation by General Parker, 11th May 1919.
Accession Number: KO2764/13


1914 Star

Other Medals

British War and Allied Victory Medals

All those who received the 1914 Star would have also received the British War and Allied Victory Medals.

The qualifications for the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force differed. For the Army, service overseas in one of the Theatres of War between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918 (inclusive) qualified for both medals.


British War Medal


Allied Victory Medal


1914-15 Star

The 1914 Star is sometimes confused with the 1914-15 Star. This very similar medal was awarded for service principally between the dates of 23rd November 1914 and 31st December 1915 on the Western Front. It was also awarded for service between 5th August 1914 and 22nd November 1914 in Theatres of War other than France and Belgium.

In East Africa, Lieutenant Edward Thorneycroft, a King’s Own officer serving with the 4th Uganda Battalion, King’s African Rifles was killed in action whilst leading his troops against a German invading force at Kisii, Kenya on 12th September 1914. His next of kin received the 1914-15 Star along with his War and Victory Medals and Memorial plaque.

 

© Images are copyright, Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum.
 You must seek permission prior to publication of any of our images.

Only a proportion of our collections are on display at anyone time.  Certain items are on loan for display in other institutions.  An appointment is required to consult any of our collections which are held in store.

© 2014 Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum