Front || Victory medal sent to Dickson’s father as Archibald’s next of kin. To qualify for this medal one had to be mobilised by Britain in any service, and have entered a theatre of war between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. The oak leaf on the ribbon records that Archibald was ‘mentioned in despatches’, a recognition of his bravery. Active service overseas qualified individuals to receive service medals from the British government in the name of the King. Millions were produced, and they were all individually named. Medals awarded to individuals who had not survived were usually received in the post by their closest living relative after the war.

Front || 1914 Star service medal earned by Buchanan and sent to his next of kin after the war. The 1914 Star was only issued to those who served in the first year of the war. Service medals were usually delivered in the post, unlike gallantry awards recognising acts of bravery which were sometimes awarded formally in person. Most service medals were received after the war. As Buchanan did not survive the war, his medals were sent to his next of kin.

National Egg Collection certificate of honour for Miss Nancy Steele of Woodstock; 2 letters from Gunner Dixey to Nancy Steele. || My mother, Nancy Steele, was born in Woodstock near Oxford and was aged 12 when the war started. She and her sisters collected eggs for the National Egg Collection scheme throughout the war; the eggs were sent to sick and injured soldiers in hospital. I believe the girls would put their names and addresses on the eggs and mother received two letters from one of the recipients, a gunner in the Royal Field Artillery called Arthur William Dixey. At the end of the war, my mother received a certificate for collecting the eggs. I am still amazed that at that time, the eggs travelled to France and arrived unbroken! || || My mother, Nancy Steele's, egg collection certificate || Official document || Home Front || Medical || A large, colourful certificate of honour issued to Nancy Steele for her contribution to the National Egg Collection; the certificate depicts images of wounded soldiers being fed the eggs, the children collecting them and the fund-raising flags sold on flag days. || National Egg Collection