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British Medals Main Page

1939-45 Star

1939-45 Star

Air Crew Europe Star

Air Crew Europe Star

France and Germany Star

France and Germany Star

War Service Medal, 1939-45

War Service Medal, 1939-45

AUSTRALIA SERVICE MEDAL

AUSTRALIA SERVICE MEDAL

British World War Two Campaign Medals

17 Stars and Service Medals

By , Dec. 2008. Updated July 20, 2011.

With Britain's involvement in WW2, her medal-issuing policy reverted to norm, with the issuance of seventeen Stars and Service Medals, including the prized Air Crew Europe Star.

There are the following Stars: 1939-45, Atlantic, Africa, Burma, Pacific, Air Crew Europe, Italy, and France & Germany.

And these Service (or War Service) Medals: Defence, War, India, Canada Volunteer, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Southern Rhodesian.

1939-45 Star

Description: (shown left)

Six pointed star with the Royal Cipher 'GRI VI' in the centre surmounted by a crown with the inscription 'THE 1939 - 1945 STAR'. The reverse is plain and blank.

Clasps:

'BATTLE OF BRITAIN'.

Ribbon:

1.25" wide with three equal stripes of dark blue, scarlet and light blue representing the three armed services.

Naming:

Issued unnamed.

Notes:

This is the 'qualifying' medal for a series of eight campaign stars awarded for the Second World War. Those awarded this star were eligible for others upon entering the appropriate theatre of operations (with the exception of the Atlantic, Air Crew Europe and Africa Stars).

ATLANTIC STAR

Description:

Six pointed star with the Royal Cipher 'GRI VI' in the centre surmounted by a crown with the inscription 'THE ATLANTIC STAR'. The reverse is plain and blank.

Clasps:

'FRANCE AND GERMANY' and 'AIRCREW EUROPE'.

Ribbon:

1.25" wide with three shaded equal stripes of dark blue, white and green.

Naming:

Issued unnamed.

Notes:

Most awards of this medal went to the Royal Navy and Merchant Navy but members of the RAF and Army attached to service with the Royal Navy or Merchant Navy also received it. Those who qualified for the France and Germany Star could wear a small silver rosette on the ribbon of the first star earned.

AFRICA STAR

Description:

Six pointed star with the Royal Cipher 'GRI VI' in the centre surmounted by a crown with the inscription 'THE AFRICA STAR'. The reverse is plain and blank.

Clasps:

'8TH ARMY', '1ST ARMY' and 'NORTH AFRICA 1942-43'.

Ribbon:

1.25" wide in pale buff with a broad central scarlet stripe and two narrow stripes of dark blue (to the left) and mid-blue either side.

Naming:

Issued unnamed.

Notes:

Three emblems are seen worn on the ribbon of this star when the star itself is not worn. The first is a number '8' for those who served with the Eighth Army in North Africa between 23rd October 1942 to 12th May 1943. The second was the number '1' for those who served with the First Army in North Africa between 8th November and 31st December 1942 or 1st January and 12th May 1943. The third is a silver rosette awarded to personnel of the Headquarters of the 18th Army Group who did not qualify for either of the other two emblems.

PACIFIC STAR

History:

Awarded for service in the Pacific theatre between 8 December 1941 and 2 September 1945 as follows:

Navy and Merchant Marine - service in the Pacific Ocean, South China Sea and part of the Indian Ocean, or for shore service under same criteria as Army. The 1939-45 Star must be earned first.
Army - operational service in territories, not including Burma, that have been invaded by the enemy or the allies.
Air Force - air crew service in operations against the enemy (one operational sortie qualifies)
Description:

Six pointed star with the Royal Cipher 'GRI VI' in the centre surmounted by a crown with the inscription 'THE PACIFIC STAR'. The reverse is plain and blank.

Clasps:

'BURMA'.

Ribbon:

1.25" wide, dark green with scarlet edges, a central yellow stripe and a narrow dark blue stripe on the left and light blue stripe on the right.

Naming:

Issued unnamed.

Notes:

Those who qualified for both the Burma Star and the Pacific Star wore a silver rosette on the ribbon of the star which was earned first when the actual medal is not worn.

BURMA STAR

Description:

Six pointed star with the Royal Cipher 'GRI VI' in the centre surmounted by a crown with the inscription 'THE BURMA STAR'. The reverse is plain and blank.

Clasps:

'PACIFIC'.

Ribbon:

Dark blue ribbon, 1.25" wide with a central red stripe and two narrower orange stripes either side.

Naming:

Issued unnamed.

Notes:

Those who qualified for both the Burma Star and the Pacific Star wore a silver rosette on the ribbon of the star which was earned first when the actual medal is not worn.

AIR CREW EUROPE STAR

The Air Crew Europe Star was awarded for flying operations from United Kingdom bases over Europe between 3 September 1939 and 5 June 1944.

Description:

Six pointed star with the Royal Cipher 'GRI VI' in the centre surmounted by a crown with the inscription 'THE AIR CREW EUROPE STAR'. The reverse is plain and blank.

Clasps:

'FRANCE AND GERMANY' and 'ATLANTIC'.

Ribbon:

1.25" wide with a broad central blue stripe, black borders and narrow inner yellow stripes.

Naming:

Issued unnamed.

Notes:

This is the rarest of all the campaign stars of the Second World War and the most expensive.

ITALY STAR

Description:

Six pointed star with the Royal Cipher 'GRI VI' in the centre surmounted by a crown with the inscription 'THE ITALY STAR'. The reverse is plain and blank.

Clasps:

None.

Ribbon:

1.25" wide with equal stripes of red, white, green, white and red representing the Italian flag.

Naming:

Issued unnamed.

Notes:

None.

FRANCE AND GERMANY STAR

Description:

Six pointed star with the Royal Cipher 'GRI VI' in the centre surmounted by a crown with the inscription 'THE FRANCE AND GERMANY STAR'. The reverse is plain and blank.

Clasps:

'ATLANTIC'.

Ribbon:

1.25" wide with equal stripes of dark blue, white, red, white and dark blue symbolic of the Union flag and the flags of France and the Netherlands.

Naming:

Issued unnamed.

Notes:

None.

THE DEFENCE MEDAL 1939-45

Description:

The obverse bears the uncrowned head of King George VI and the legend 'GEORGIVS VI: BR: OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP:'. The reverse has the royal crown on top of an oak tree with a lion either side, the words 'THE DEFENCE MEDAL' below and the dates '1939' and '1945' at the top left and right. The suspender is a straight non-swivelling economy type riveted to the medal.

Clasps:

None authorised for this medal.

Ribbon:

The ribbon is 1.25" wide, green (green fields of Britain) with a wide central orange stripe (the flames of the blitz) and two narrow black stripes either side (representing the death of those during the bombings).

Naming:

Issued unnamed.

Notes:

This medal was awarded to all those who served in Britain (or the commonwealth or empire who were subject to comparable conditions) between Sept. 1939 and May 1945. Canadian issues were made in silver as opposed to the normal cupro-nickel.

WAR SERVICE MEDAL 1939-45

Description:

The obverse bears the crowned head of King George VI and the legend 'GEORGIVS VI D: G: BR: OMB: REX ET INDIAE IMP:'. The reverse has a lion trampling on a dragon with the dates '1939-45' above. The suspender is a straight non-swivelling economy type suspender with a claw mount riveted to the medal.

Clasps:

None authorised for this medal but those mentioned in despatches were allowed to wear a bronze oak leaf on the ribbon.

Ribbon:

The ribbon is 1.25" wide with the colours of the Union Jack going from red to blue to white from each edge and a narrow central red stripe in the centre.

Naming:

Issued unnamed.

Notes:

This medal was issued to many of those who served in the armed forces of Great Britain, the commonwealth and empire between Sept. 1939 and Sept. 1945. Like the Defence Medal this award is very commonly encountered.

INDIA SERVICE MEDAL 1939-45

Description:

The obverse has the crowned head of King George VI and the legend 'GEORGIVS VI D: G: BR OMB: REX ET INDIAE IMP:'. The reverse has a map of India with the word 'INDIA' above and the dates '1939-45' below. The suspender is a straight non-swivelling economy type with a claw mount riveted to the medal.

Clasps:

Non authorised for this medal.

Ribbon:

Similar to that of the War Service Medal 1939-45 but in dark blue and light blue stripes and 1.25" wide.

Naming:

Issued unnamed.

Notes:

This medal was issued to both British and Indian troops serving in India between 1939-45 who did not qualify for the Defence Medal.

CANADIAN VOLUNTEER SERVICE MEDAL 1939-45

Description:

The obverse of this medal has seven marching service men and women representing the 2 fighting services for men and women as well as the Nursing Service. The inscription '1939 CANADA 1945' is seen at the top of the medal while the inscription 'VOLUNTARY SERVICE VOLONTAIRE' is at the bottom. The reverse depicts the Canadian Coat of Arms. The medal is attached to the ribbon by a straight suspender bar with small metal ring passing through a small loop on top of the medal.

Clasps:

A straight bar with the Canadian maple leaf in the centre was issued to those who served outside of Canada.

Ribbon:

1.25" wide with a green, scarlet, royal blue, scarlet and green stripes all of equal width except the royal blue strip which is broader.

Naming:

Issued unnamed.

Notes:

This medal (first issued in 1943) was to award those who had given 18 months of uninterrupted service between September 1939 and March 1947 (to reward those who begun their service just before the war ended). Like with many Canadian awards this medal was struck in silver as opposed to the usual cupronickel.

AFRICA SERVICE MEDAL 1939-45

Description:

The obverse of this medal depicts the map of Africa with the inscription 'AFRICAN SERVICE MEDAL AFRIKADIENS-MEDALJE'. The reverse has a leaping springbok facing right. The suspender is straight non-swivelling type with an ornate claw.

Clasps:

Non authorised for this medal.

Ribbon:

1.25" wide with a broad central orange stripe and a narrower green and gold stripe at both edges.

Naming:

Usually named in small impressed capital letters with the prefix 'N' for native troops and the politically incorrect prefix 'C' for coloured recipients.

Notes:

Those mentioned in despatches wore a small Protea leaf emblem in bronze on the ribbon.

AUSTRALIA SERVICE MEDAL 1939-45

Description:

The obverse of this medal has the head of King George VI with the inscription 'GEORGIVS VI D: G: BR OMN: REX ET INDIAE IMP:. The reverse bears the Australian Commonwealth Coat of Arms and the inscription 'THE AUSTRALIA SERVICE MEDAL' at the top with the dates '1939-45' below. The ribbon is attached with the familiar straight non-swivelling suspender with ornate claw mount.

Clasps:

Non authorised for this medal.

Ribbon:

1.25" wide with a broad central khaki stripe and a dark blue stripe to the left of the ribbon and a lighter blue stripe on the right edge both being separated from the central khaki stripe with narrow red stripes. These colours were designed to represent the 3 services of the Australian armed forces and the Merchant Marine.

Naming:

Usually named in impressed capital letters with just the number and name of the recipient. A prefix to the number donated the state in which the recipient enlisted into his chosen service.

Notes:

Introduced in 1949 the medal was issued to those who served 18 months abroad between 3rd September 1939 and 2nd September 1945 or 3 years at home between the same dates. Those who were killed or wounded in action or taken prisoner of war automatically were entitled to this medal regardless of length of service. Some 177,000 medals were awarded in total and were struck in nickel-silver.

NEW ZEALAND WAR SERVICE MEDAL 1939-45

Description:

The obverse of this medal has the uncrowned head of King George VI with the inscription 'GEORGIVS VI D: G: BR OMN: REX F: D: IND IMP:. The reverse bears the inscription 'FOR SERVICE TO NEW ZEALAND 1939-45' with a small fern below. The suspender is in the unique shape of two fern leaves forming a 'V' shape.

Clasps:

Non authorised for this medal.

Ribbon:

1.25" wide, black with white edges.

Naming:

Issued un-named.

Notes:

This medal awarded to those who had complete 1 month full-time service or 6 months part-time service in the armed forces of New Zealand between 3rd September 1939 and 2nd September 1945. Members of the reserve forces and Home Guard also received this award. Those killed or wounded in action or taken prisoner of war automatically entitled to this award regardless of length of service. Some 238,000 awards of this medal were made.

SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL FOR WAR SERVICE 1939-45

Description:

The obverse of this medal has the South African Union of Arms while the reverse has the dates '1939 - 1945' in the centre surrounded by a Protea wreath and the inscription 'SOUTH AFRICA-SUID-AFRICA-FOR WAR SERVICE-VIR OORLOGS-DIENSTE'. The suspender is of the common straight plain non-swivelling type with an ornate claw.

Clasps:

Non authorised for this medal.

Ribbon:

1.25" wide with 3 equal stripes of orange, white and blue.

Naming:

Issued un-named.

Notes:

Those who were mentioned in despatches or earned a commendation from the King received a bronze Protea leaf emblem to be worn on the ribbon.

SOUTHERN RHODESIAN SERVICE MEDAL 1939-45

Description:

The obverse of this medal has the crowned head of King George VI and the inscription 'GEORGIVS VI D: G: BR: REX ET INDAE IMP:'. The reverse bears the Southern Rhodesian Coat of Arms and the inscription 'FOR SERVICE IN SOUTHERN RHODESIA 1939-45'. The suspender is straight, plain and non-swivelling with an ornate claw mount.

Clasps:

Non authorised for this medal.

Ribbon:

1.25" wide with a broad dark green central stripe and a red and black at each edge.

Naming:

Issued un-named.

Notes:

Only 1,700 of these medals were awarded to members of the Rhodesian armed forces who served in Southern Rhodesia and were not entitled to a campaign star for service outside the country. Hence why this medal is somewhat rare for a WW2 cupro-nickel award.