Rare Named WWI Lord Mayor of London Medal for Destruction of Zeppelin L-15, Duo

This is a rare named World War I Lord Mayor of London's Medal for the Destruction of Zeppelin L-15, the first zeppelin to be shot down on March 31, 191This medal is named to Corporal W. R. Hammant, and only 353 of its kind were awarded by then mayor Sir Charles Wakefield, whose arms adorn the award. A reward had initially been offered up payable to the first gun crew to down a Zeppelin, but after controversy as to who was ultimately responsible, the reward of 500£ was put toward medals for members of all crews thought to be involved. Originally presented as a non-portable medal, many were afterward privately fitted with a hanging device. Accompanying this piece is a duo of World War I Victory and a World War I Service medals that may have been re-ribboned, also both named to Hammant, as well as an Iron Cross pin fashioned from remnants of the L-15.

Circa 1916 (World War I).

Case: approximately 2-1/8" square and 5/8" in thickness; Lord Mayor medal: approximately 1-1/4" in height and 1-1/8" in width; Victory medal: approximately 3-3/16" in height and 1-1/2" in width; Service medal: approximately 3-5/16" in height and 1-7/16" in width; pin: approximately 15/16" in height and 7/8" in width.

Case: leather, silk lining, velvet; Lord Mayor medal: 9 karat gold; Service & Victory medals: bronze, silk ribbons; pin: scrap metal from L-15.

Case: catch and hinge; Lord Mayor medal: suspension loop; Service & Victory medals: ribbons with bar; pin: horizontal safety pin.

Lord Mayor medal: S. APPR. W. R. HAMMANT, 9, -375, sideways anchor mark, "r" mark, separate hard-to-read maker's mark (crest with W&W?); Victory and Service medals: both read 1589 CPL. W. R. HAMMANT R.E.; case: BY APPOINTMENT MAPPIN & WEBB LTD. 2, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET LONDON, E.C.

This is from a Great Britain collection which we will be listing more of over the next few months. 25-CON-JMB-11 LCGEJX7/11 RET3/12

8- (Very Fine-Excellent): The medals are in wonderful shape, and the two ones with ribbons may have been re-ribboned. The case has some light to medium wear, and the pin has light wear and some tarnishing.

As with all my artifacts, this piece is guaranteed to be original, as described.