First World War Medal Trio of Lance Corporal Frank BEER 512
1919 - 1921Three medals all awarded to Lance Corporal Frank BEER, consisting of the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal. Each medal has its original ribbon attached but they sit individually with open ribbons. There is no bar connecting the three medals.
The 1914-15 Star is a 4-pointed star in bronze, with a crown at the top. The obverse has crossed swords, overlaid with an oak wreath with the cypher of King George V at the bottom. A scroll bearing the legend 1914-15 is centrally placed across the crossed blades. The medal is very dull and showing considerable patination. The rear of the medal is engraved in the centre. The ribbon has the red, white and blue colours of the Empire, in shaded and watered stripes. It shows slight fraying at the open edges but is generally in good condition. The ribbon is threaded through a bronze ring that sits atop of the medal.
The British War Medal 1914 – 1918 is cupro-nickel with the effigy of George V facing left on the obverse. There is a legend surrounding the effigy. The reverse has an image of St George on horseback trampling underfoot the eagle shield of the Central Powers, and a skull and crossbones, the emblems of death. Above this is the risen sun of victory. Atop the medal is the suspender. The ribbon has a wide central watered stripe of orange, flanked by 2 narrow white stripes, which are in turn flanked by 2 black pin stripes, further flanked by 2 outer stripes of blue. The colours are considered to have no particular significance. The ribbon is threaded through the suspender bar and shows fraying at the open ends but otherwise is in good condition. The rim is engraved for the recipient.
The Victory Medal is bronze with a winged figure of Victory on the obverse. The reverse has words engraved surrounded by a laurel wreath. The rim is again engraved for the recipient. The medal shows some wear on the rim and a small amount of patination on the reverse. There is a suspender ring atop the medal through which the ribbon is threaded.
The ribbon has a 2-rainbow design, with the violet from each rainbow on the outside edges moving through to a central red stripe where both rainbows meet. There is significant fraying at the open edges of the ribbon and some wear.
These trio of medals were awarded to Frank BEER 512. Frank came from Bunbury and enlisted on 19 August 1914. He joined 11 Battalion as a Private and his unit sailed from Fremantle aboard the HMAT 11 Ascanius on 2 November 1914 as part of the First Convoy. Frank was wounded at Gallipoli on two occasions in 1915. He transferred to 51 Battalion on 1 March 1916 and then was appointed Lance Corporal on 28 July 1916. He was mortally wounded on 2 September 1916.
Those who served in the First World War and met the eligibility criteria were commonly entitled to one or more of the following three medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-1920 and Victory Medal.
The 1914-15 Star was authorised in 1918 and was awarded for service in specified theatres of war between 5 August 1914 and 31 December 1915.
The British War Medal 1914-20 was instituted by King George V in 1919 to mark the end of the war and recognise the service given. The qualifying period of service between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918 was later extended to cover post-war mine clearance and service in Russia during 1919 and 1920. The medal was awarded for service in the Navy, Army, Mercantile Marine and other specified organisations.
The Victory Medal was authorised in 1919 to commemorate the victory of the Allied Forces over the Central Powers. The Victory Medal was awarded to prescribed classes of persons who entered a theatre of war on duty between 5 August 1914 and 11 November. Australians were awarded the medal issued by Great Britain.
Details
Details
1914-15 Star reverse “612/PTE F. BEER/11/BN.A.I.F.”
British War Medal obverse “GEORGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IMP." and reverse “1914 1918” and along rim “ 512 L/Cpl F BEER 11 BN. A.I.F.”
Victory Medal reverse “THE GREAT / WAR FOR / CIVILISATION / 1914-1919” and along rim “ 512 L-CPL . F . BEER 11 BN .A.I.F.”
Report in Southern Times Bunbury 28 Sept 1916: Killed in Action. LANCE-CORPORAL FRANK ("DEARY") BEER. Son of Mr. and Mrs Robt. Beer, of Cornwall-street. The following telegram was received in Bunbury last Saturday by Archdeacon Smyth "Please inform Mr R. Beer, of Cornwall-street, Bunbury, that No. 512 Lance Corporal F (Dearey) Beer died of wounds at the 44th Casualty Clearing Station on 2nd September and convey Defence Department's sympathy— Military Government."
The following is the last letter from Pte. BEER, received on August 3, 1916: ‘Dear Mum and Dad— Just a line to let you know I received a letter from dad dated June 18th, very quick to come from Australia — a little over a month. I think we will be going into the firing line any day now. We will be in and out and ready to go in again by the time you receive this letter, so it is the last chance I will have of writing to you for some time. I don't think we will be in for more than a week at a time, but we will be where all the heavy fighting is. I think they call it in England "the Big Push," and the Australians are well in it. The Third Brigade passed us the other day coming out of the firing line. Our old 11th got a very hard smack. I saw old Bill Plunkett, young Rose, Ray Clarke, his brother Dick was wounded, and Geo. Lamington's brother was killed. I have not seen Tiny Brown or Tommy Donaldson or young Wenn; there was a lot of them slightly wounded. I saw Father Fahey; he is still all right, and Charlie Bernard also. I have not heard of Willie. When you write let me know where he is and how he is getting on. I think he is still in England. Send him my address and tell him to write. I can get a letter from him in a few days. There is not much to tell you about this place, it is a beautiful country and well worth fighting for, but the men are tired of the marching. We are marched all over the country; it is not so bad now, but when we landed here first the hard roads were cruel; all the men suffered with sore feet; after the sand in Egypt it was too dreadful. We have a fine old priest with us; just like Father Fahey, and just as popular. I have been to confession and communion this morning, and I am prepared to go at any time, but I think I will get through alright. I hope and trust in God. I guess this will be one of the hardest scraps to go through. You keep cheerful yourselves. Somebody has to do this job, and I think the Germans are getting all they want. Remember me to Mrs Veale, Ernie Stokes, Sammy Stevens. Barlee Smith, and all Bunbury friends. I will now say good-bye with love to all at home.”
Open in Google Maps
Nearest geotagged records:
- Invalid Cup (0km away)
- Peter Loney Letter (0km away)
- Ellis SILAS Water Colour Painting (0km away)
- Engraved Japanese Water Bottle belonging to Robert George Staunton RENNIE WX7493 (0km away)
- Enlistment Poster (0km away)
- W. D. & H. O. Wills Lace Flag Cigarette Cards (0km away)
- First world War Picture Postcard (0km away)
- Engraved Tin given to Major A. R. HOME (0km away)
- Martini-Henry action (0km away)
- Private Thomas Steane LOUCH Identity Disc (0km away)
Nearby places:
View all geotagged records »
Princess Royal Fortress Military Museum
Princess Royal Fortress Military Museum
Other items from Princess Royal Fortress Military Museum
- First World War Medal Trio of Pte. William John BEER 1509
- First World War Medal Trio Ribbon Bar of Pte. William John BEER 1509
- First World War Discharge Paper of Pte. William John BEER 1509
- Black and White Wedding Photograph of William John BEER and Alice Jean BOYLAN
- First World War Colour Photographic Postcard of Swiss Troops
- Slip of Paper for Victory Medal Issued to Pte. William John BEER 1509
- “Age Shall Not Weary Them” by R.G. Roberts
- First world War Picture Postcard
- First World War Silk Postcard
- First World War Silk Postcard
- First World War Silk Greeting Card
- Notebook with embroidered silk cover
Scan this QR code to open this page on your phone ->
