§ Mr. STANTONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will take steps to ensure that the Victory Medal is of good and substantial design and worthy of the men who won it?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONThe Victory Medal is of a pattern hitherto not used for British War medals, but was adopted at the desire of the Allies as expressed at an International Conference held in Paris in March, 1919. Certain improvements have been made to the original issue as regards strengthening the attachment. All those originally issued with a weak attachment have been re-called and replaced by the approved type. The Victory medals and the British War medals are being produced by one factory in which only ex-service men are employed. Samples of the Victory medal and the British War medal have been placed in the Tea Room.
§ Mr. T. DAVIESasked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the extremely poor character of the 1914–15 Star, the British War medal, and the Victory medal now being issued; whether, in view of the great value of these medals to the members of His Majesty's forces and the fact that they will be treasured heirlooms, steps will be taken to bring the standard of execution up to that of medals issued for previous campaigns; if such improvement can be effected, whether arrangements can be made whereby members of His Majesty's forces who have already received the medals of an unsatisfactory character could exchange them for those of better workmanship; are these medals being made by a number of different firms with the result that there is a great variation in the character of the same; if so, what steps he proposes to take to insure uniformly high results; and can samples from various makers be placed in the Tea Room?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONIt is considered that the 1914–15 Star and the British War medal are in every way suitable. As regards the Victory medal, I would refer the hon. Member to the oral reply which I gave to-day to the hon. Member for Aberdare.
Major HENDERSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether any decision 1928W has yet been arrived at in regard to the award of a war medal to men who served in the Hong Kong Volunteer Force during the War?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONNo, Sir; the question is still under consideration and an announcement will be made as soon as a decision is reached.