§ Major PRESCOTTasked the Secretary of State for War how many engagement bars, silver British War Medals, and bronze Victory Medals, are required in connection with the European War; whether he will give the particulars of those already struck and engraved; how many soldiers and sailors, including the Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve men are still waiting for the 1914–15 Star; and how many years are likely to elapse before the medal recipients get their awards?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe number of silver British War Medals and bronze Victory Medals required is approximately 9,000,000 and 5,500,000 respectively. No estimate of the number of battle clasps required can be given until the question of such award has received further consideration. The number of silver British War Medals struck is 2,994,500, and the number of bronze Victory Medals struck is 171,257; the number engraved is approximately 1,000,000. It is impossible to estimate the number of soldiers awaiting the 1914–15 Star until the final medal rolls have been submitted by officers in charge of records. As regards the last part of the question, it is hoped that the distribution of the 1914–15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal will have been completed within four years.
§ Major PRESCOTTasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give the number of silver War Medals which have had to be scrapped through bad workmanship; whether he will give the number of bronze Victory Medals which were struck and engraved and subsequently called in owing to bad manufacture and melted up; whether he is aware that serious trouble has been experienced at Woolwich owing to bad bronzing, which turned black when exposed to the air, and that the temporary preventative to lacquer the surface now in use will wear off in time and turn the bronze finish black; and if he will consider the expediency of consulting expert medallists for advice regarding a permanent bronzing process?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLOf the completed silver War Medals, practically none have been scrapped. Approximately 650 bronze Victory Medals were engraved and subse-1712W quently called in, and approximately 550,000 have been melted up owing to a change of design which it was found necessary to carry out. I cannot accept the hon. and gallant Member's statement that the lacquering will wear off in the course of time and turn the bronze finish black. The process of lacquering now in use has been subjected to severe tests and it is confidently expected that it will prove satisfactory.