Miniatures of Commander Harry Thring Bennett World War I service medals

Date1914 - 1919

Object number00003830

NameMedals

MediumMetal, ribbon

DimensionsOverall: 50 x 65 mm, 0.05 kg

ClassificationsCoins and medals

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from J Bouvy

Terms

DescriptionMedals awarded to Commander Harry Thring Bennett for his service in World War I. Featured from left to right are the Distinguished Service Order, World War I with bar; 1914-1915 Star; British War Medal 1914-1918; and Victory medal 1914-1919 with oak leaf. These are Bennett's miniatures - to be worn on formal mess or evening dress or in civilian clothes at evening functions.HistoryHarry T Bennett DSO served in the Royal Navy during World War I and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order; he then transferred to the Royal Australian Navy where he spent most of the 1920s in the Hydrographic Branch undertaking surveys of northern waters and of the Great Barrier Reef. He retired in 1929 but was recalled during World War II where he served firstly as Commander of HMAS PLATYPUS and then as Staff Officer in Sydney of the DEMS (Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships). From left to right as shown in photograph: Distinguished Service Order (awarded to officers for distinguished service during war) - a gold cross, enamelled in white, the centre is enamelled red with the imperial crown upon it and enclosed in a wreath enamelled green. On the reverse is the Royal Cypher also on an enamelled red background with a green wreath. The ribbon is red with blue edges. 1914-14 Star (awarded for service in specific areas between August 1914 and December 1915) - four-pointed star with the upper covered by a crown and two crossed swords upon it entwined by a scroll reading '1914-15'. An oak wreath is superimposed over the whole with a G with a V (King George V) within it. A red, white and blue watered-silk ribbon. British War Medal 1914-18 (awarded for general service in WWI) - on the obverse is the head of King George V. On the reverse a knight on horseback with a sword in his hand is featured trampling on the German shield, skull and crossbones. Ribbon with a wide central stripe on orange, flanked by white stripes, flanked by black stripes, with dark blue outer stripes. Allied Victory Medal 1914-19 with oak leaf (commemorates the Allied Victory at the end of WWI; a bronze oak leaf signifies that the recipient received a mention in despatches) - The winged Victory is featured. On the reverse, 'THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILISATION 1914-19' is circled by a wreath. It has a double rainbow ribbon.SignificanceThese medals represent the distinguished naval service of Commander Harry T Bennett during World War I .