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and 1050 bronze medals. These totals include 92 silver and 230 bronze medals to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. The AVMs in World War I British medal groups are generally not named.

An example of a bronze AVM is in a group to Fitter Staff Sergeant Roland Mundy, 155th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery (Figure 12). His bronze medal has the official hallmark of the crowned Z over F.G, but is not named. Mundy’s mention in despatches emblem on his Victory Medal ribbon was earned previously in France. Fortunately, this group came with Mundy’s original citation:

On October 26th-27th 1918, the two gun fitters of his

battery having fallen ill, he gave proof of the greatest bravery, keeping the guns in action all alone, being made a target to heavy enemy fire: he shifted and moved the battery, adapting it to the enemy’s fire and heavily fired on the enemy. His bravery served as a praiseworthy example to his subordinates. Signed at Lovadina, October 26th/27th1918.

A typical AVM award to the Royal Navy is shown in the partial group of John Henry Atherton (Figure 13). His Long Service and Good Conduct medal is rim engraved 345921 J.H. ATHERTON, SHIPT 1CL, HMS GLORIOUS. A shipwright by trade, Atherton joined the Royal Navy in 1903 and was transferred to HMS Warrior in 1912. At the battle of Jutland that armored cruiser was mortally

Figure 10: Obverse of a World War I group with a bronze AVM.

Figure 11: Reverse of a World War I group with a bronze AVM.

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damaged by German shellfire. His medal has the crowned Z over F.G hallmark, and is also not named. Atherton’s AVM citation from the Admiralty Archives reads:

At the battle of Jutland, 31st May 1916, he was aboard HMS Warrior, which ship was subsequently lost, and he was noted for his untiring zeal and ability in shoring up the bulkheads and holes continually during the night.

Atherton also received the Russian St. George Medal, 4th class, No. 1272455. This double award for the same action was apparently an unintentional oversight, since the enlisted ranks decorated for Jutland received either the Italian or the Russian medal. Of the 801 Russian St.

George 4th class awards to the Royal Navy and Marines for Jutland,17 only seven cases of this double award have been identified. Atherton next served on HMS Glorious and was pensioned in 1925.

WORLD WAR 1 -- AN AVM TO AN AMERICAN

The 1918 United States entry into World War I focused American manpower and resources on the Western Front in France and Belgium. Only a token force and various support units were sent to Italy. Consequently, the 1924 Report of the Secretary of War lists only 22 AVM awards to Army personnel: one gold, 12 silver, and 9 bronze medals. One other silver AVM was awarded to Captain

Figure 12: Obverse of the World War I group with bronze AVM to Fitter Staff Sergeant Mundy.

Figure 13: Obverse of the World War I group with bronze AVM to Shipwright 1st Class Atherton, Royal Navy.

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Figure 14: Certificate for the silver AVM to Captain Wilkins of the American Red Cross.