THE VICTORY MEDAL

How did the colours and name for this medal come about?

A conference was held at Paris in March 1919. There were representatives from numerous countries who were present at this conference, to deal with medal questions. One of the first things to be decided was whether a medal could be produced for all the Allies, and if this was to be the case, what was it to be called.

A proposal was made by one of the representatives, that it could be called the "Allies Medal", but the American delegate objected, arguing that America was not an Ally, but an Associated Power. The French delegate suggested "Victory Medal" as this was a name that the Germans could not use. This suggestion was finally agreed upon.

The next hurdle to overcome, was who would design the medal and where would it be made. After lengthy discussions, it was finally decided that all the nations would have the same ribbon colour, made from the same metal and of the same design. Each country would manufacture its own medals with a figure symbolic of Victory holding a palm.

The last problem to overcome, was what colours were to make up the ribbon and how would these colours appear. After a number of suggestions, it was finally decided that the ribbon would compose of all the colours contained in the rainbow. As the British Army already had a ribbon for the 1914 Star, which they felt was a rainbow, the British delegate objected to the suggestion. The French delegate agreed with this objection and so proposed that it be a double rainbow. All the representatives agreed. It was from this conference that the Victory Medal was determined.

It is believed that in the vicinity of six million Victory Medals were produced and the same basic design was used by thirteen other Allied nations. The ribbon is 38mm wide, has indigo edges with a red centre. The reverse of the medal has the words 'THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILISATION 1914-1919". The front of the medal has a figure with angel wings and left hand out stretched. The metal itself is a yellow bronze.