Medal, Victory

Description
A Victory Medal. The yellow bronze medal features a standing Victory figure on the obverse. The figure is holding a palm branch in her left facing hand and extending her right facing arm. " THE GREAT / WAR FOR / CIVILISATION / 1914-1919 " is marked on the reverse inside a leaf design. " 10 / 1751 CPL C.R.BARKER.N.Z.E.F " is marked on the edge of the medal. The ribbon is a double rainbow colour with crimson on the edges and red in the centre. The medal is mounted as part of a group of four.
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Object detail

Production period
Subject person
Credit line
This medal was awarded to Charles Barker of Stratford. On 9 January 1915 the 20-year-old cheesemaker left his job at Cardiff dairy factory to enlist. Seven months later he landed at Anzac Cove in Gallipoli and fought on Chunuk Bair where he earned a Distinguished Conduct Medal. A letter from Charlie Barker's platoon commander Murray Urquart reads: "Your son fought very gallantly on Chunuk Bair on the 8 August and during the following two nights. In spite of his weariness he did very good work by ministering to the wants of wounded men, who could not be attended to in daylight, owing to the exposed nature of the ground where they lay. In doing this he ran much risk. He also rendered service by guiding some reinforcements up Chunuk Bair ". Charlie Barker was discharged in 1916 after being declared unfit for service and returned home. He married Mary Pennington of Mangatoki and worked as a butcher in Eltham. He later moved to New Plymouth where he died in 1962.
Accession number
PA2006.304
Collection type
Material

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