This is a US-made medal commemorating the Allies of the First World War. The text reads, at the top ‘DO RIGHT’, left bottom ‘AND FEAR’, right bottom ‘NO MAN’. It is a circular medal with an eagle and on top of which is a shield. There is national symbolism throughout: the eagle represents the United States and, on the left-side of shield itself, the ship represents Great Britain, the cockerel represents France, the Cross of Savoy represents Italy, and the lion’s head represents Montenegro. On the right-side of the shield, the bear represents Russia, the lion rampant represents Belgium, the four fire-steels, or four C’s, represent Serbia, and the rising sun represents Japan. There are 13 stars around the edge of the medal, which represent the original 13 colonies of the United States. In the upper left of the shield is an ‘AD’, for anno domini, and, in the upper right of the shield is the year ‘1916’. On the left wing of the eagle is the word ‘COPYRIGHT’ and, on the right wing is the word ‘SPICER-SIMPSON’, indicating Theodore Spicer-Simpson, the engraver of the medal. The medal was commissioned by the ‘American Fund for French Wounded’ which provided relief for wounded French soldiers during the war.

Honorable discharge from United States Army (Camp Upton New York USA) || Hugh Waters was the second youngest of nine children, son of Pat and Mary Anne Waters (née Daly). Emigrated to USA from townland of Derrylustia, Drumkeerin, Co. Leitrim. he was conscripted into the US army and landed in France the day before the war ended. He was offered the chance to return to USA via Ireland but declined. He died at quite young age, never returning to Ireland.

Postcard from postwar France; devastation in Verdun. dated Jan 21, 1919 || Postcard from United States Army soldier Max Merrill in France to an aquaintence Miss Farmer in New York noting the devastation of the city by the Germans. I think picture is of rue Mazel in Verdun taken by a Paris photographer. Postmarked Jan 21, 1919. Found in a box of old postcards in Alexandria Bay, New York, USA || || Postcard || Postcard from Verdun || devastation || Front