Object number
201308.1.8
Title
Miniature Medal Bar
Description
Miniature medal bar of Major General Alan Colquhoun Duff. The miniature medals consist of the following medals:
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Officer (MIL), bestowed upon Colonel Alan Colquhoun Duff in 1941. The OBE is in the form of a cross patonce in silver-gilt. In the centre, within a circle inscribed 'FOR GOD AND THE EMPIRE' are the conjoined left-facing crowned busts of King George V and Queen Mary. The top of the cross is surmounted by a crown. The reverse of the medal has King George V's Royal Cypher surmounted by a crown. The ribbon is rose-pink with pearl-grey edges and a central stripe for the military division.
Companion Order of the Bath C.B. MILY bestowed on Colonel Alan Colquhoun Duff in 1945. The military order is a gold Maltese Cross of eight points, enamelled in white. Each point of the cross is decorated by a small gold ball; each angle has a small figure of a lion. The centre of the cross bears three crowns and a rose, a thistle and a shamrock, emanating from a sceptre on both sides. Both emblems are surrounded by a red circular ring bearing the motto of the Order 'TRIA JUNCTA IN UNO', which are in turn flanked by two laurel branches, above a scroll bearing the words 'ICH DIEN' in gold letters. The ribbon is dark red/burgundy.
Military Cross awarded to Lieutenant Alan Colquhoun Duff. The medal is an ornamental silver cross with straight arms terminating in broad finials decorated with imperial crowns. The royal cypher appears at the centre and the cross is suspended from a plain silver suspension bar. With a ribbon of three equal bars of white, deep purple and white.
The 1914-1915 Star of 2 Lt Alan Colquhoun Duff. The medal is a crowned four-pointed star with crossed swords and a wreath of oak leaves, having the royal cypher of King George V at the foot and a central scroll inscribed 1914-15. The ribbon is of watered silk in red, white and blue.
The British War Medal of Capt Alan Colquhoun Duff. On the obverse of the medal is the uncrowned left-facing profile of King George V by Sir Bertram Mackennal. On the reverse is St George on horseback trampling underfoot the eagle shield of the Central Powers and a skull and cross-bones, the emblems of death. Above the sun has risen in victory. The figure is mounted on horseback to symbolize man’s mind controlling a force of greater strength than his own, and thus alludes to the scientific and mechanical appliances which helped to win the war. The dates 1914 and 1918 are also on the obverse. The ribbon has an orange centre with stripes of white and black at each side and borders of royal blue.
The Victory Medal of Capt Alan Colquhoun Duff. The medal is yellow bronze in colour, on the obverse is the standing figure of Victory holding a palm branch in her right hand and stretching out her left hand. On the reverse is a laurel wreath containing a four-line inscription ‘THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILISATION 1914-1919’. The ribbon is a double rainbow, with indigo at the edges and red in the centre.
1939-1945 Star. A bronze six-pointed star with a circular centre with the GRI/VI monogram, surmounted by a crown and inscribed ‘THE 1939-1945 STAR’ round the foot. With a ribbon of equal stripes of dark blue, red and light blue, symbolizing the Royal Navy, Army and RAF respectively.
The Africa Star. A bronze six-pointed star with a circular centre with the GRI/VI monogram, surmounted by a crown and inscribed ‘THE AFRICA STAR’. With a ribbon of pale buff symbolizing the sand of the desert, with a broad red central stripe, a dark blue stripe on the left and a light blue stripe on the right symbolizing the three services
The Italy Star. A bronze six-pointed star with a circular centre with the GRI/VI monogram, surmounted by a crown and inscribed ‘THE ITALY STAR’. With a ribbon of five equal stripes of red, white, green, white and red.
The Defence Medal. A cupro-nickel or silver medal. On the obverse is the uncrowned effigy of King George VI. On the reverse are two lions flanking an oak sapling crowned with the dates at the sides and wavy lines representing the sea below. The words ‘THE DEFENCE MEDAL’ appear in the exergue. With a ribbon consisting of two broad bars of green (this green and pleasant land) superimposed by narrow stripes of black (the black-out), with a wide band of orange (fire-bombing) in the centre.
The War Medal 1939-45. A cupro-nickel or silver medal. On the obverse is the effigy of King George VI whilst the reverse shows a triumphant lion trampling on a dragon symbolizing the Axis powers. With a ribbon consisting of a narrow red stripe in the centre, with a narrow white stripe on either side, broad red stripes at either edge and two intervening stripes of blue.
Coronation medal 1953: The silver coloured medal’s obverse shows a right-facing bust of Queen Elizabeth II in a Tudor crown and robes of state, the field is otherwise plain. The reverse shows a similar crown over the royal monogram EIIR with the legend QUEEN ELIZABETH II CROWNED 2ND JUNE 1953 round the circumference. The ribbon is dark red with two narrow blue stripes in the centre and narrow white edges.
Two Legion of Merit, Commander awards. Bestowed on Colonel Alan Colquhoun Duff. The Commander Degree of the Legion of Merit Medal is a five-rayed white enamelled cross, edged with red, resting on a green wreath with a gold bow at the bottom. In the centre there is a blue enamelled disk containing 13 white stars, they are arranged in the pattern that appears on the Great Seal of the United States. Between each star point, within the wreath, are crossed arrows pointing outwards. The reverse of the cross is enamelled in white, and the border is crimson. In the centre, a disk for engraving the name of the recipient surrounded by the words "ANNUIT COEPTIS MDCCLXXXII." An outer scroll contains the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.". A gold laurel wreath at the top of the cross connects an oval suspension ring to the neck ribbon, the ribbon is crimson and edged with white. There is a miniature of the decoration in silver on a horizontal silver bar with red enamelled background, with white enamelled edges that is worn on the service ribbon.
The medals are in a long rectangular brown coloured case, with the initials A.C.D. embossed in gold on the lid.
Date
1914 - 1973
Production period
Windsor, 1910-, World War One, 1914-1918, World War Two, 1939-1945
campaign medal,
order,
Order of the Bath,
Victory Medal,
Order of the British Empire,
Military Cross,
1914-15 Star,
British War Medal 1914-1918,
Victory Medal,
1939-45 Star,
Africa Star 1940-43,
Italy Star 1943-45,
Defence Medal 1939-45,
War Medal 1939-45,
Coronation Medal 1953,
Legion of Merit, USA Dimensions
- medal bar 155 mm
- Diameter: 58 mm