The 2021 We Will Remember Them Gold Sovereign Range has been released to pay tribute to the ordinary ranks of the British armed forces who served in the Second World War.
In this blog we will take a brief look at the war medal and the different divisions of the military that have inspired the beautiful designs that adorn these world’s first sovereigns.
1939-45 War Medal
The design for the One-Eighth sovereign from this range has been inspired by the 1939-1945 War Medal. This medal was instituted on 16th August 1945 and was awarded to all the men and women of Britain and the Commonwealth who served full time in the Armed forces or the Merchant Navy for at least 28 days, between 3rd September 1939 and 2nd September 1945.
On the reverse of the medal the design showed a lion trampling a two headed dragon. The heads of an eagle and a dragon signify the enemies of different nations that Britain faced during the war. The obverse featured an effigy of George VI, which was designed by Percy Metcalfe.
Armoured Units
The Quarter sovereign design features a profile section of an M4 Sherman Firefly Tank, and it pays tribute to the personnel of the armoured divisions of our Armed Forces.
At the beginning of the Second World War, Britain already had two armoured divisions. Another nine would be created during the war. The Sherman Firefly was based on the American M4 tank, but was fitted with a more powerful 3-inch calibre British 17-pounder anti-tank gun as its main weapon.
Artillery Regiments
The design that adorns the reverse of the Half sovereign is a profile section of the Howitzer MkII field gun, and it honours all of the brave people who served in the artillery regiments.
Having played a significant role in the victory of World War One, the Royal Regiment of Artillery was the largest regiment in the British Army and its motto “Ubique”, a Latin word meaning “everywhere”, is a fitting description of its service providing firepower to the British army wherever they were situated during World War Two.
Infantry Regiments
The Full sovereign design from the new range has a profile section of a Vickers Mk I machine gun and is in tribute to all of the men and women who served in the infantry regiments.
The infantry has been described as the back-bone of the British army, and its personnel were very much on the frontline during the Second World War.
The Vickers MK I machine gun was used throughout World War Two, and could be found in nearly every frontline unit, due to the ability to mount it to army fighting vehicles (AFV’s).
For further information on this important range, you can view it HERE. If you have any questions regarding the range, then please feel free to contact us by calling 0333 234 3103, or alternatively, you can speak to us via Live Chat or our Facebook page.