British War Medal WWI : Able Seaman E. L. Holman, RAN
Date1914-1918
Object number00045216
NameMedal
MediumMetal, cloth
DimensionsOverall: 94 x 37 x 2 mm, 34.5 g
ClassificationsCoins and medals
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionThis World War I campaign medal was awarded to Able Seaman Edwin Lawrence Holman, born 9 March 1879 in St Mary's, Sussex, England and who served in the Royal Australian Navy in 1915-1916. Holman was formerly an Able Seaman in the British Royal Navy. His service record shows that he served in the Sydney depot ship HMAS PENGUIN and was then sent to HMAS CERBERUS (a guardship and munitions store) in Victoria for training in service in Armed Merchant vessels. His service number was 4888 and he is described as being 5' 8 ½ " tall, with dark brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion; he had tattoo marks on both arms.
Holman's ribbon bar and other medals (1914-15 Star and Victory Medal) are also held in the museum's collection.
HistoryThe British War Medal was awarded to British and Imperial forces for campaign service in World War I. For naval service it was awarded to those who served for 28 days or to those who lost their lives in active operations before completing that period, between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. It was later extended to cover the period 1919-1920 for post-war mine clearing operations. About 6,500,000 were awarded. It is a round cupro-nickel medal with an effigy og King George V on the obverse (front). The reverse has an image of St george on horseback trampling underfoot the eagle shield of the Central Powers, with the skull and cross-bones, the emblems of death; above this is the risen sun of victory. The ribbon has a wide central watered stripe of orange, flanked by two narrow white stripes, which are in turn flanked by two black pin-stripes, further flanked by two outer stripes of blue. The colours are not believed to have any particular significance.
Edwin Holman was born in England to Frederick and Charlotte Holman and was brother to Mabel, Alice and Norah; his father was a tailor. After his service in the Royal Australian Navy is seems he stayed on in Australia and in 1938 married Minnie Iris Newman at Annandale, Sydney, New South Wales; she was 23 years his junior. Minnie was the daughter of David and Catherine Newman; she was born at Boorowa (near Young, New South Wales) in 1902.
Edwin worked for the NSW Tramways and died at Rockdale on 21 January 1956; he is buried at Rookwood cemetery. Minnie died in 1971.
NMC Associated/NMC Associated