Victory Medal WWI : Private Charles Frederick Taylor RAN Bridging Train

Date1914-1918

Object number00050453

NameMedal

MediumBronze, fabric

DimensionsOverall: 116 x 35 mm

ClassificationsCoins and medals

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionWorld War I Victory medal awarded to Charles Frederick Taylor for service in the Royal Australian Navy Bridging Train (RANBT) and ANZAC Provost Corps. The Victory medal was authorised in 1919 to commemorate the victory of the Allied Forces over the Central Powers. Each of the Allied nations issued a Victory Medal to their own nationals with all of these having the figure of Victory on the obverse as a common feature. Australians were awarded the medal issued by Great Britain. This medal is part of a World War I trio to Charles Frederick Taylor for service in the Royal Australian Navy Bridging Train (RANBT) and ANZAC Provost Corps; Taylor was deployed with the RANBT to Gallipoli and Suvla Bay, and to the Egyptian Theatre with the Provost Corps. HistoryThe Royal Australian Navy Bridging Train (RANBT) was an Australian military unit of World War I, composed of Royal Australian Naval Reservists who served in the Gallipoli Campaign. Despite often serving in close proximity with ANZAC Forces, the RANBT seldom operated in conjunction with them, usually supporting the British IX Corps. The Train was the most decorated RAN Unit of World War I, with more than 20 decorations awarded to its sailors for their work in Gallipoli and Palestine. During its five months of existence, the Train made two amphibious landings (Gallipoli and El Arish,) Lt Commander Bracegirdle was Mentioned in Dispatches three times and awarded the Distinguished Service Order; 16 others were also Mentioned in Dispatches; 25 sailors lost their lives.