WW1 victory medal Italy.
The USA was no different from other allied nations and at the end of the great war (world war one) issued an inter allied victory medal. Notable about the USA victory medal is that the USA was the only country to issue bars shwing either the zone of service or particular battles or engagements.
Mess dress or Miniature medals have long been a part of the British army tradition and whilst not officially issued soldiers had to have the miniature medals on hand if they wished (or “made to volunteer” in the army sense) to attend social events. The victory medal was no exception and due to the numbers produced they are encountered frequently.
South Africa WW1 Victory medal which on the Obverse is exactly the same as those issued by the UK and forms part of the inter allied victory medal series. However, the reverse also carries the text in Dutch “De grote oorlog voor de beschaving 1914 1919”
The French world war one victory medal was true to the series of inter allied medals with the graphical representation of victory on the obverse and the multicoloured watered rainbow ribbon. The Obverse however was used to show the inscription “RF LA GRANDE GVERRE POVR LA CIVILIZATION 1914-1918” where the “V” in GVERRE and POVR is actually a U. Translated the Inscription reads:
RF (Republic Francais) The great war for civilization 1914-1918
Belgium as one of the beligerants of the great war participated in the issue of UN named medals to its combatants after the 1918 armistace. On the Obverse a stylized eros has its arms extended. On the reverse a wheel of the coats of arms of the Belgian provinces surround the central Belgian lion.