THE 1914-15 STAR

Hokitika Guardian, 17 February 1920, Page 1

THE 1914-15 ST AR

DISTRIBUTION COMMENCED. ■The 1914-15 star to which distinction some 25,000 New Zealanders are entitled, is now being issued. A special staff is engaged at the 'Wellington barrack's in stamping the medals, which were received recently from England, and dispatching.- them to those who have established their claim to the distinction. Those entitled to the medal are given the option of having the medal presented officially on parade or of securing it without ceremony by registered post. Some 25,000 medals have been received from the Imperial authorities for distribution. The work of stamning the back of each modal with the regimental number and name of each recipient is necessarily tedious, and therefore not rapid, and it will be .some weeks before the distribution will be completely effected. Something over 200 medals are being completed per day by the small but efficient staff engaged in the work of stamping and preparing for postage. They are being attended to in alphabetical order, and on Friday afternoon the staff was engaged upon the medals for issue to men whose names commence with the letter C. The medal is not of very striking tiesign, a fact which has been heard to elicit from soldiers and others expressions of disapproval and disappointnent. The star is a four-pointed one, only three of which are visible, and is faced by crossed bayonets above which appears a crown, with the Royal cipher below. The name and dates are inscribed in the centre. The department is issuing, together with the medal, several inches of the red, white and blue moire ribbon which accompanies the star. The large majority of the men appear to prefer to have the medal formally sent to them by post instead of having it presented. So far only about ] per cent have asked for official presentation.