VINTAGE WW2 BRITISH ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE MILITARY TYPE 2 MEDAL

Offered is a Second World War era Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.) - Military Award. Features a 48mm wide silver cross patonce on Tudor crown suspension; the face with a circular central silver medallion imposed with the crowned head and shoulders portraits of King George V and Queen Mary facing left within a red enamel ring inscribed ‘FOR GOD AND THE EMPIRE’; the reverse with a circular central medallion with the crowned cipher of King and Emperor George V within a rope border, on correct mounted ribbon. Medal comes in the original Royal Mint case of issue & instructions for wearing card.

The Order was instituted by King George V on 4 June 1917 in five grades to acknowledge the service of non-combatants during wartime. In 1918 the Order was divided into Civil and Military divisions. This example is of the first type with Britannia on the face; since 1935, the Order has had the head and shoulders portraits of King George V and Queen Mary facing left on the face. Today the Order is awarded for distinguished service in any sphere of activity and honorary awards may be made to foreigners.