World War One Medal Index Cards, 1914-1922

The World War One Medal Index Cards, 1914-1922, contain the records for approximately 5.5 million British soldiers, almost all of whom were entitled to one or more campaign medals for performing military service.

This collection covers a wide range of surnames from all alphabetical ranges and is searchable by first and last name, corps, unit or regiment.

All medal entitlements were recorded by The Army Medal Office (AMO) in lists called 'Medal Rolls'. Index cards arranged by regiment were produced for each soldier and included a reference to the appropriate Medal Roll and other useful information such as rank, number and the regiment or corps.

These cards became known as 'The Medal Index Cards'.

The Medal Index Cards were initially held by The National Archives and later removed to the care of The Western Front Association (WFA), an organisation dedicated to furthering interest in the period 1914-1918.

In partnership with WFA, Ancestry.co.uk has for the first time digitised in colour both sides of the 5.5 million cards.

	1914 Star -'Mons Star' awarded to those who had been exposed to enemy fire ashore in France and Flanders between 5 August and 22 November 1914.		1914/15 Star (Bronze or Silver) awarded to both military and civilian personnel who entered a theatre of war between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. Service in Russia in 1919-20 also qualified.
	British War Medal (Bronze or Silver) awarded to both military and civilian personnel who entered a theatre of war between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. Service in Russia in 1919-20 also qualified.		Silver Rendered Badge (War Badge) awarded to all military personnel discharged through sickness or as a result of wounds, either at home or abroad.
	Mercantile Marine Medal 1914-15 awarded to merchant seamen who made one or more voyages on a merchant vessel through an active war zone		Memorial Plaque (Bronze) given to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in war service both during and for a short time after the war.
	Canadian Memorial Cross was issued by the Canadian Government in addition to the Memorial Plaque and was also known as the ‘Mothers Cross’.		Bronze Oakleaf was awarded to those mentioned in despatches between 4 August 1914 and 19 August 1920, usually worn on the ribbon of the Victory medal.
	Allied Victory Medal awarded to all eligible personnel serving with a unit in an operational theatre.		Territorial Force Medal awarded to members of Territorial Forces serving in operational theatres between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. They must have been a member of the Force on or before 30 September 1914.

Reading a Medal Card This is the record for Albert Ball V.C., D.S.O, M.C, along with some explanations of the information provided on his Medal Index Card. On the FRONT is Albert's award for D.S.O. (Distinguished Service Order), M.C. (Military Cross) and V.C. (Victoria Cross). Noted in middle is his eligibility for the 1914-15 Star as he had disembarked with Notts & Derbys Corps in France on 18 February 1916, later transferring to the Royal Flying Corps. At the bottom the word 'emblems' indicates being mentioned in despatches, the coded references are obscure but sometimes a date is given. To the top-right we see that Albert received Victory and British War Medals for service with the Notts and Derbys,162-41. The Medal Roll number and page is given. Just beneath this we see 'K in A 7.5.17' (Killed in Action 7th May 1917).

The REAR of Medal Index Card for Albert Ball, records his father, also called Albert, requesting his late son's medals along with a new address.

And lest we forget the famous ones (which were not only awarded for service in WW1)…

Victoria Cross	"... most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy."	Military Cross	Granted to army personnel in recognition of '... gallantry during active operations against the enemy.' The award was created in 1914 for commissioned officers of the substantive rank of Captain or below
Distinguished Service Order	Established for rewarding individual instances of meritorious or distinguished service in war. It was a military order, until recently for officers only, and normally given for service under fire.	Military Medal	The 'other ranks' equivalent to the Military Cross, above, which was awarded to Commissioned Officers and Warrant Officers

Sources:

Ancestry.com. British Army WWI Medal Index Cards Release 1 [images on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2007.

Original data: War Office: Card Index to First World War Medal Rolls (The National Archives WO327); Records created or inherited by the War Office, Armed Forces, Judge Advocate General, and related bodies; The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England. Original records transferred to Western Front Association.

WWI medal rolls index cards