Medal commemorating the sinking of the Lusitania

This medal was issued to commemorate the sinking of the passenger ship the Lusitania.  Launched in 1907, the British-built Lusitania was the fastest ship on the Atlantic crossing.  Just before the outbreak of war she was secretly fitted out with ammunition magazines and gun mounts.   In May 1915 she left New York for Liverpool with a hidden cargo of munitions for the British war effort.  On 7th May she was torpedoed by a German U-boat - 1,119 of the 1,924 aboard died.   The sinking of the Lusitania was regarded at the time as a war crime and was instrumental in persuading America to enter the war.  This is a British propaganda copy of the original German medal.