Medal published by the Lusitania Souvenir Medal Committee. It was a close copy in iron of German medal designed by Karl Goetz following the sinking of the Cunard Line vessel, Lusitania on 7 May 1915. The English medal issued as a propaganda and fundraising device - highlighting the intent of Germany to sink any vessel regardless of lives of passengers; and profits from sale were to go to the St Dunstan's Blinded Soldiers and Sailors Hostel.

The Lusitania was torpedoed on 7 May while sailing off the Irish coast (en route from the USA to the UK) at a cost of 1198 lives lost.

The date on the medal - 5 May 1915 - was believed to be proof that this was a pre-mediated and deliberate attack on a supposedly neutral passenger vessel. There is also considerable controversy about the actual cargo of the Cunard line vessel, and a suggestion that there was that the vessel did carry munitions etc, a deliberate ploy on the part of the ship owners to attract German retaliation, in order to draw the USA into the war.