Skip to main content
The Mercantile Marine War Medal Obverse The Mercantile Marine War Medal Reverse

The Mercantile Marine War Medal

Overview

The Mercantile Marine War Medal, instituted in 1919, was awarded to all members of the Merchant Navy who had undertaken one or more voyages through a war or danger zone during the First World War.

Throughout the British Empire, approximately 133,000 Mercantile Marine War Medals were awarded. 

Description

The Mercantile Marine War Medal was issued in bronze.  The obverse bears the uncrowned left-facing profile of King George V by Sir Bertram Mackennal. The reverse depicts a steamship ploughing through an angry sea, with a sinking submarine and a sailing vessel in the background.  A laurel wreath encircles the image. Below the waves is the inscription "FOR WAR SERVICE MERCANTILE MARINE 1914-1918".

The ribbon has a narrow central white stripe bordered by a wide green stripe on the left and a wide red stripe on the right, symbolising the port and starboard steaming lights.

Eligibility

Personnel of British and Imperial forces who received the British War Medal and also served at sea on at least one voyage through a danger zone. The medal was also awarded to those who had served at sea for at least six months between 4 August 1914 and 11 November 1918.

Queries & requests

  • Related publications

    For more information about First World War medals the following books are recommended:

    • Alec A. Purves. The Medals, Decorations and Orders of the Great War 1914-1918. 2nd revised edition (1989)
    • Captain H. Taprell Dorling. Ribbons and Medals. 20th edition (1983). Edited and revised by Alec A. Purves

  • Wearing this medal

    The Mercantile Marine War Medal is worn as a war medal in the New Zealand Order of Wear.  First World War Medals are worn in the following order:

    • The 1914 Star
    • The 1914-15 Star
    • The British War Medal
    • The Mercantile Marine War Medal
    • The Victory Medal

    For more information on how to wear and care for honours, medals, and awards:

  • Checking eligibility and applying for this medal

    Most First World War medals have been issued to service members or their descendants. NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals (PAM) holds only a few remaining First World War medals. 

  • Checking if this medal was issued

    Most of the war medals for service in the First World War were issued to New Zealand recipients between 1920 and 1924, including to the next-of-kin of the more than 18,000 New Zealand service personnel who died as a result of war service. Nearly all the remaining medals were claimed by the individuals or their immediate family before 1970.

    You can check the medal entitlements of a relative who served in the First World War by looking at the online version of their military service file held by Archives New Zealand.(external link)  Search the site using the full name of your relative.  Once you have downloaded the file, you can find the medal entitlement and the dates the medals were issued on the History Sheet.

    If a First World War medal has been issued but cannot be found, the NZDF cannot replace it and does not sell replica (copy) medals.  Duplicate or replacement medals can be purchased from various medal dealers in New Zealand -- search online for "replica medals country:nz".  Miniatures of First World War medals can also be purchased online directly from our supplier, Eng Leong Medallic (ELM).

    IMPORTANT NOTE:  Medals issued to descendants of servicemembers after the digitalisation of service records at Archives New Zealand will not be recorded on the digitised service record.