Date Instituted: 1917.

Campaign: First World War 1914-18.

Description: Four pointed star with the top point being hidden by a crown.  The obverse has a scroll in the centre with the year ‘1914’ in the centre and the months ‘AUG’ above and ‘NOV’ below.  Surrounding this is a laurel wreath with the GV monogram at the bottom and two crossed swords in the background.  The ribbon is attached via a ring on top of the crown and the reverse is plain and flat.

Metal: Bronze.

Size: 50mm high and 45mm wide.

Clasps: '5th AUG.-22ND NOV. 1914'.

Ribbon: Watered ribbon with three equal stripes of red, white and blue.

Naming: Block capital letters in 3 lines on the reverse in either small or square sans serif capitals.  Those awarded to members of the Royal Naval Division (R.N., R.N.R., R.N.V.R., and R.M.) are impressed in large square serifed capitals.

Comments: Some 378,000 1914 stars were issued to members of the BEF and Royal Navy however it is unknown how many Mons bars were awarded but is believed to be about five for every seven stars issued.  When the ribbon was worn without the medal those entitled to the Mons bar wore a silver rosette in the centre of the ribbon.  However this rosette was mistakenly worn by many recipients of the 1914 Star who were not entitled to the Mons bar believing it denoted the earlier of the two stars.

To qualify for the 1914 Star (as opposed to the 1914-15 Star) the recipient had to be on active service in France or Belgium while the 1914-15 Star included all theatres of war.  Many naval personnel therefore only qualified for the 1914-15 Star unless they landed in France or Belgium before December 1914.  This Star is always accompanied by the War Service Medal 1914-20 and Victory Medal 1914-19.

Further Reading:

• Nil.