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medal, campaign

On display
human history
  • Other Name

    British War Medal 1914-1920, WW1 (medal name)

    13/537 Trooper Victor Albert Olen, Auckland Mounted Rifles, NZEF (associated name)

  • Description

    British War Medal, 1914-1920, WW1

    Medal awarded to 13/537 Trooper Victor Albert Olen, Auckland Mounted Rifles, NZEF

    circular silver medal; 36mm diameter; plain straight swivelling suspender; with original ribbon

    obverse: head of King George V with the legend: GEORGIUS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:

    reverse: naked figure of St. George on horseback facing right; the horse is trampling on an eagle shield and cross bones symbolic of death; above the horse’s head is the sun, symbolic of victory; around the edge are the dates 1914 and 1918

    ribbon:32mm wide; a broad orange watered band down the centre, bordered with white, black and blue stripes

    named on edge: 13/537 TPR. V.A. OLEN. N.Z.E.F.

  • Place
  • Associated Place
  • Accession Number
    2016.35.4.2
  • Accession Date
    16 Jun 2016
  • Other Id

    Spink: 144 (Spink's 1983)

  • Department
  • Display Room
medal, campaign, british war medal

Images and documents

Images

Artefact

  • Display location

    Pou Maumahara drawer bank 10, drawer B, medal position 26

  • Credit Line
    Collection of Auckland Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira, 2016.35.4.2
    Purchase
  • Primary Maker

     William McMillan (Medallist)

  • Place
  • Date
    [1919]
  • Associated Notes

    British War Medal 1914-1920, WW1

    Medal awarded to 13/537 Trooper Victor Albert Olen, Auckland Mounted Rifles, NZEF.

    Victor Albert Olen, son of Edward and Annie Olen, was born at Blackall, Queensland, Australia, on 7 May 1886.At the time of his enlistment with the 11th North Auckland Squadron, Auckland Mounted Rifles, he was employed in Whangarei as an assistant surveyor for the Public Works Department, and his parents were living at Taneatua, near Whakatane.

    He arrived on Gallipoli on 12th May 1915, and was killed in action on Chunuk Bair on 8th August 1915. His body was never found and his file states: "Missing in action. Reasonable to suppose dead." His death is commemorated on the Chunuk Bair Memorial.

    "According to Trooper Stevens, Troopeers Champney, Mason, Olen and Palmer were particularly active in throwing back Turkish bombs. Olen and Palmer were both killee, Mason badly wounded when shot through the face and Champney wounded. "

    Quoted from Bloody Gallipoli, by Richard Stowers, with reference from Trooper Stevens, Maungatapere: A history and reminiscence.

  • Associated Event
    WW1; 1914-1918
  • Associated Person
  • Associated Place
  • Associated Date
    1914-1920
    08 Aug 1915
  • Period
  • Signature/marks

    "13/537 TPR. V.A. OLEN. N.Z.E.F." (medal inscription)

  • Media
  • Measurement Description
    medal: 36mm diameter
    ribbon: 32mm wide
  • Measurement Reading

    36mm (medal)

    32mm (ribbon)

  • Subject Category
  • Classification
  • Media/Materials Notes

    medal

    ribbon

  • Last Update
    19 Mar 2024
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