Saint Hubert and St Roch medallion found on a dead Australian soldier, Gallipoli

Place Middle East: Ottoman Empire, Turkey, Dardanelles, Gallipoli
Accession Number REL33976
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Medalet
Physical description Metal
Maker Unknown
Date made c 1900-1915
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Small bronze coloured medallion. On one side is a raised image of St Hubert kneeling and praying in the forest, together with his horse, a stag and a fawn. Around the top edge is written 'S. HUBERT PRAY FOR US'. On the other side is an image of st Roch kneeling and praying with the letter 'M' beneath him and 'S. ROCH PRAY FOR US' around the top edge of the medallion.

History / Summary

This religious medallion was collected from the body of an Australian soldier during the Gallipoli campaign in 1915 by a Turkish soldier. This man's son later passed it to an Australian who was working in Turkey. Saint Hubert is the patron Saint of hunters, mathematicians, opticians and metalworkers. St Roch is the patron Saint of invalids, bachelors, dogs, knee problems, surgeons and tile makers.