Panama Awards and Decorations

The following Panama awards were made to soldiers of the Worcestershire Regiment for gallantry or meritorious service. They are recorded in the London Gazette, indicating the granting of the award or decoration by the government of the Republic of Panama, and intimating the British sovereigns permission for it to be accepted and worn by the recipient. 
 
Although the Republic of Panama did not participate actively in the First World War, they did issued a medal to commemorate their solidarity with the aims of the allies in the defence of right and liberty.
 
Medal of Solidarity (Medal of La Solidaridad)
The Republic of Panama instituted this medal in 1918, 36mm in diameter, in three classes; 
1st Class Gold (silver-gilt) for the commanders-in-chief of the allied armies.
2nd Class (Silver) for generals and senior officers, distinguished by a rosette on the ribbon.
3rd Class (Bronze) for all other officers and other ranks.

The obverse shows a female figure representing the republic, standing, left, holding in her left hand a shield with the arms of the state; beside her is an altar marked, PATRIA, and bearing the inscription, LA GUERRA Di DERECHO (The war of right).

The outer rim has a laurel wreath, with the arms of a cross showing at the cardinal points. (N.B. The cross does not extend outside the circle of the medal). The reverse has the arms of Panama flanked by four flags, with an eagle above, its wings expanded. The border is as the obverse, but with the dates, 1917 (top) and 1918 (bottom).

The ribbon is 36mm wide, red with a 6mm blue central stripe flanked by 4mm white stripes.
 



Medal of La Solidaridad
(3rd Class) Bronze

It is reported that only a hundred medals were given to each of the allied countries, so the medal is quite rare.
 
 
First World War (1918-1920)

Medal of Solidarity 1918

Surname Forename/s Rank Number Award Class Gazette Date
James, V.C., M.C. Herbert Lieut. (T/Capt.) - 3rd Class 17/02/1920
 

Lieutenant Herbert James, V.C., M.C. Born in Birmingham on the 13th November 1888, he was the only Worcestershire Regiment soldier to receive the Panama Medal of Solidarity.  As a 2nd Lieutenant with the 4th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment he was decorated with the Victoria Cross for his actions at Krithia, Gallipoli in 1915. He was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre in 1917. As a Staff Captain at Amiens in 1918 he was awarded the Military Cross. He later rose to the rank of Major before retiring from the army. He died at Kensington, West London, age of 69, on the 15th August 1958. His funeral took place at St. Mary Abbot, Kensington and his grave is at the West London Crematorium, Kensal Green.

His VC citation read:
"For most conspicuous bravery during the operations in the Southern Zone of the Gallipoli Peninsula. On 28th June, 1915, when a portion of the regiment had been checked, owing to all the officers being put out of action, Second-Lieutenant James, who belonged to a neighbouring Unit, entirely on his own initiative, gathered together a body of men and led them forward under heavy shell and rifle fire. He then returned, organised a second party and again advanced. His gallant example put fresh life into the attack. On 3rd July, in the same locality, Second-Lieutenant James headed a party of bomb throwers up a Turkish communication trench and after nearly all his bomb throwers had been killed or wounded, he remained alone at the head of the trench and kept back the enemy single-handed until a barrier had been built behind him and the trench secured. He was throughout exposed to murderous fire."
Date of Act of Bravery.                                                     London Gazette.
28th June, 1915.                                                       1st September, 1915.
 



Lt. Herbert James, V.C.,M.C.
 

 

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO FOREIGN MEDALS MAIN PAGE