Gerard Oliver Simson

George V General Service Medal, 2nd Type

(Full Size, with Northern Kurdistan Clasp)

傑拉德·奧利佛·西姆森

喬治五世一般服務獎章, 第二型

(官方版,附北庫德斯坦銘牌)

Item number: M347

Year: AD 1939

Material: Silver

Size: 102.2 x 36.1 x 2.9 mm

Weight: 36.7 g

Provenance:

1. JB Military Antiques 2024

2. Dixons Medals 1997

This medal was issued under Army Order No. 3 of AD 1923 to recognise service personnel stationed outside the frontiers of India as well as in regions outside East Africa, West Africa, and Central Africa. In addition to the Army and Air Force, local forces, including the police and the Indian military before AD 1947, were also eligible to receive this medal. Its value is comparable to the Naval General Service Medal issued from AD 1915 to AD 1962, and both were ultimately superseded by the General Service Medal of AD 1962.

The medal is circular in shape, featuring a straight bar with ornate vine patterns, which connects to a ribbon. The ribbon is purple on both sides with a green centre. The ribbon features a clasp inscribed with “Northern Kurdistan.”

The “Northern Kurdistan” clasp was issued in AD 1939 and awarded to members of the Royal Air Force and British advisors serving in the Iraqi military who assisted the Iraqi government in suppressing the Ahmed Barzani Revolt of AD 1932.

Issued between AD 1918 and AD 1962, the General Service Medal was accompanied by various clasps based on service location and operation, with a total of 18 different clasps:

S. PersiaKurdistanIraqN.W. PersiaSouthern Desert IraqNorthern Kurdistan
PalestineBomb and Mine Clearance 1945-49Bomb and Mine Clearance 1945-56S.E. Asia 1945-46Palestine 1945-48Malaya
Berlin Airlift (AD 2015 published)Panama Canal ZoneCyprusNear EastArabian PeninsulaBrunei

The George V General Service Medal exists in two versions, with this artefact belonging to the second type issued between AD 1934 and AD 1936. The obverse features a left-facing half-length portrait of George V adorned in royal robes and wearing a crown, displaying a more elaborate and intricate design compared to the first type. The surrounding Latin inscription, “GEORGIVS V D.G. BRITT. OMN. REX ET INDIÆ IMP.” (“George V, by the Grace of God, King of all Britons and Emperor of India”), also differs from that of the first version. The differences are summarised in the following table:

TypeObverse Style & InscriptionDates
1stCoinage Head/
GEORGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:
AD1918-1934
2ndCrowned Head/
GEORGIVS.V.D.G. BRITT-OMN- REX-ET-INDIAE-IMP.
AD1934-1936

The reverse side of the medal features a winged Victor wearing a Corinthian helmet and holding a trident. The victor is depicted standing, placing a laurel wreath on a sword representing the army and wings symbolising the air force. At the Victor’s feet, the initials “ECRP” are inscribed, denoting the designer Edward Carter Preston.

The edge of the medal is inscribed in sequence with the recipient’s rank, name, and service unit: “MAJOR G.O. SIMSON. 16-LIGHT. CAV.”

During the First World War, Simson served as a staff captain on the fronts in France and Egypt. Following his promotion to major in AD 1928, he joined the British Military Advisory Mission, serving within the Iraqi Army. During the Second World War, he was appointed as the military attaché at the British embassies in Bolivia and Chile.

物件編號: M347

年代: 公元 1939 年

材質:

尺寸: 102.2 x 36.1 x 2.9 mm

重量: 36.7 g

來源:

1. JB 軍事古董 2024

2. 迪生獎章 1997

這枚獎章根據公元1923年第三號陸軍令所發行,以表彰在印度邊境以及東非、西非和中非地區以外的服役人員。除了陸軍與空軍外,包括警察在內的地方部隊,以及公元1947年前的印度軍隊也可以獲得該獎章。其價值等同於公元1915年到公元1962年發行的海軍一般服務獎章,最終皆被公元1962年的一般服務獎章取代。

獎章外觀為圓形,以帶有點壯與藤蔓花紋的直桿懸掛銜接綬帶。綬帶配色兩側為紫色中間為綠色。綬帶上掛著「北庫德斯坦」銘牌。

「北庫德斯坦」銘牌為公元1939年頒布,頒發對象為公元1932年協助伊拉克政府鎮壓艾哈邁德·巴爾札尼起義的英國皇家空軍和服務於伊拉克軍隊的英籍顧問。

在公元1918年到公元1962年發行的一般服務獎章皆附有銘牌,而且依據不同服役地點與項目製作了18個銘牌,分別為:

南波斯庫德斯坦伊拉克西北波斯伊拉克南部沙漠北庫德斯坦
巴勒斯坦公元1945至公元1949年的排雷公元1945至公元1956年的排雷公元1945至公元1946年的東南亞公元1945至公元1948年的巴勒斯坦馬來亞
柏林空運(發行於公元2015年)巴拿馬運河區賽普勒斯近東阿拉伯半島汶萊

喬治五世一般服務獎章總計有兩種版本,該物件屬於公元1934至1936年間發行的第二型。正面為身穿皇袍和戴著王冠的喬治五世左側半身像,相較於第一型的人像更為華麗複雜。外圍拉丁銘文「GEORGIVS.V.D.G.BRITT.OMN.REX.ET.INDIÆ.IMP.」(蒙上帝恩典的喬治五世英國國王和印度皇帝)和第一型也有所不同,差異處整理如下:

類型外觀與銘文外觀與銘文
第一型單純側面肖像/
喬治五世:不列顛群島的國王和印度的皇帝
公元1918-1934年
第二型戴皇冠並穿皇袍的側面肖像/
蒙上帝恩典的喬治五世英國國王和印度皇帝
公元1934-1936年

獎章背面的圖案為戴著科林斯式的頭盔、手持三叉戟擁有雙翅的勝利者,以站立的姿勢為身旁代表陸軍的劍和象徵空軍的翅膀戴上桂冠。在勝利者的腳下,刻有設計師愛德華·卡特·普雷斯頓的名字縮寫「ERCP」。

獎章的側邊,依序鐫刻得獎者的軍階、姓名和服役單位「MAJOR G.O.SIMSON. 16-LIGHT. CAV.」(少校 傑拉德·奧利佛·西姆森 第16輕騎兵)。

西姆森於第一次世界大戰期間,以上尉軍階服役於法國和埃及戰場。公元1928年晉升為少校後,作為英國軍事顧問團的一員於伊拉克軍隊中服務。第二次世界大戰期間則出任英國駐玻利維亞和智利大使館的武官。

類似/相同物件 請看:

英國 科學博物館集團 The Science Museum Group

https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co72485/general-service-medal-1918-1964-military-medals

英國 國家陸軍博物館 National Army Museum

https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1999-10-115-5

更多相關訊息請參考:

John Hayward, Diana Birch and Richard Bishop, British Battles and Medals Seventh Edition (London: Spink, 2006)

E.C. Joslin, A.R. Litherland, B.T. Simpkin, British Battles and Medals (London: Spink, 1988)

http://www.onlinemedals.co.uk/medal-encyclopaedia/ww1-medals/general-service-medal-1918-62

http://www.themenbehindthemedals.org.uk/index.asp?page=full&mwsquery=%28%7BPerson%20identity%7D=%7BHenderson,%20GS%7D%29

https://www.identifymedals.com/database/medals-by-period/interwar-medals-database/the-general-service-medal-1918/

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sir-john-homes-independent-medal-review-2014-update

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