▁a ▁wing ed ▁victory ▁was ▁not ▁cult ur ally ▁relevant . ▁The ▁years ▁of ▁the ▁war ▁were ▁shown ▁as ▁ 1 9 1 4 ▁to ▁ 1 9 1 8 ▁in ▁every ▁case , ▁except ▁on ▁the ▁two ▁medal ▁versions ▁of ▁the ▁British ▁Empire , ▁which ▁show ▁the ▁years ▁ 1 9 1 4 ▁to ▁ 1 9 1 9 . ▁▁ ▁The ▁British ▁version ▁of ▁the ▁Vict ory ▁Medal ▁was ▁awarded ▁to ▁British ▁combat ants ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁to ▁those ▁from ▁the ▁domin ions ▁of ▁Canada , ▁Australia , ▁New ▁Zealand , ▁the ▁Empire ▁of ▁India ▁and ▁to ▁colonial ▁forces . ▁The ▁Union ▁of ▁South ▁Africa ▁awarded ▁its ▁own ▁version ▁of ▁the ▁Vict ory ▁Medal , ▁identical ▁to ▁the ▁British ▁version ▁on ▁the ▁ob verse , ▁but ▁with ▁the ▁ins cription ▁on ▁the ▁reverse ▁in ▁English ▁and ▁Dutch , ▁the ▁two ▁official ▁languages ▁of ▁South ▁Africa ▁at ▁the ▁time . ▁In ▁preced ence , ▁the ▁two ▁versions ▁rank ▁on ▁par . ▁ ▁Award ▁criteria ▁Re cip ients ▁had ▁to ▁have ▁entered ▁a ▁theatre ▁of ▁the ▁war ▁between ▁ 5 ▁August ▁ 1 9 1 4 , ▁the ▁day ▁following ▁the ▁British ▁declaration ▁of ▁war ▁against ▁the ▁German ▁Empire , ▁and ▁the ▁arm ist ice ▁of ▁ 1 1 ▁November ▁ 1 9 1 8 , ▁both ▁dates ▁inclus ive . ▁The ▁medal ▁was ▁never ▁awarded ▁sing ly , ▁but ▁to ▁all ▁those ▁who ▁were ▁awarded ▁either ▁the ▁ 1 9 1 4 ▁Star ▁or ▁the ▁ 1 9 1 4 – 1