WWI Miniature American and British Medal Bar

The medal bar displays the Purple Heart decoration with two gilt oak leaf clusters; the British Military Cross; the British War Medal; and the British World War I Victory Medal which had 9 stars affixed to the ribbon. Since the America decoration is in the place of precedence, it suggests that the owner of the medal bar was an American who joined the British Army prior to America’s entry into the First World War and was decorated with the Military Cross. That individual may have then left the British military and entered American military service in the war, with subsequent wounds or citations for merit resulting in the award of three Purple Hearts.