War Medals - Campaign & Conflict Medals

Please find details below of many campaign medals that were awarded during military conflicts.

	1939-1945 Star (Battle of Britain) Era: ww2 The medal was awarded for operational service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945.Army personnel had to complete 6 months service in an operational command. Airborne troops qualified if they had participated in any airborne operations and had completed 2 months service in a fully operational unit.Air Force personnel had to participate in operations against the enemy providing that 2 months service had been completed in an operational unit. Non-aircrew personnel had to complete 6 months service in an area of (overseas) operational army command. Naval personnel qualified if they completed 6 months service, and at least 1 voyage was made through an operational area.Royal Observer Corps personnel for service of 1080 days.
	War Medal 1939-1945 (Oak leaf) Era: ww2 The War Medal 1939–1945 was a British decoration awarded to those who had served in the Armed Forces or Merchant Navy full-time for at least 28 days between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. In the Merchant Navy, the 28 days must have been served at sea. It is sometimes described as the "Victory Medal" for World War II, although that is not its correct name.
	Air Crew Europe Star Era: ww2 The Air rew Europer Star was awarded for operational flying from United Kingdom air bases over Europe between 3rd September 1939 and 5th June 1944. Those personnel who qualified for the Atlantic Star and/or the France and Germany Star were entitled to wear the clasp for which the second star would have been awarded. When just ribbons were worn, a silver rose on the Atlantic Star denoted the award of a clasp.
	Atlantic Star Era: ww2 The Atlantic Star was awarded to commemorate the Battle of The Atlantic between 3rd September 1939 and 8th May 1945. Those personnel who qualified for the Atlantic Star AND the Air Crew Europe Star and/or the France and Germany Star were entitled to wear the clasp for which the second star would have been awarded. When just ribbons were worn, a silver rose on the Atlantic Star denoted the award of a clasp.
	British War Medal Era: ww1 The British War Medal 1914-1920, authorised in 1919, was awarded to eligible service personnel and was also awarded to civilians. The basic requirement for army personnel and civilians was that they either entered a theatre of war, or rendered approved service overseas between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. Service in Russia in 1919 and 1920 also qualified for the award (During the ‘North Russia Intervention’ following the Russian Revolution of 1917, some 6000 British troops served). 6,390,000 silver and 110,000 bronze awarded in total, the Bronze version was generally awarded to the Malay, Chinese & Indian labour battalions.
	Victory Medal Era: ww1 The Victory Medal 1914-1919 was also authorised in 1919 and was awarded to all eligible personnel who served on the establishment of a unit in an operational theatre. The 1914/15 Star, The British War Medal & The Victory Medal combined were known as ‘pip, squeak and Wilfred’ after the popular cartoon books of the time. 6,334,522+ awarded in total.
	1914 Star Era: ww1 The 1914 Star was instituted in 1917 for service ashore in France and Flanders between 5 August and 22 November 1914. In 1919 a clasp bearing the above dates was authorised and given to those individuals who had actually been under fire between the prescribed dates, popularly known as the ‘Mons star’ there were 378,000 awarded in total. The 1914/15 Star was instituted in 1918 and awarded to those individuals who saw service in France and Flanders from 23 November 1914 to 31 December 1915, and to those individuals who saw service in any other operational theatre from 5 August 1914 to 31 December 1915. A person who served during the period of 05/08/1914 and 31/12/1915 would have been awarded one or the other of the ‘stars’ (ie either the ‘Mons’ star which has ‘1914’ on the scroll OR the 1914-15 star which has ‘1914-15’ on the scroll, NOT both. 2,366,000 awarded in total.
	South Africa Medal Era: African Frontier Wars Awarded to survivors of the African frontier wars of 1834-5, 1846-7 and 1850-3. This was the first medal specially struck for military service in Africa which was available to all ranks. The medal is commonly called the Kaffir Wars medal. Royal Mint records show that 10,558 medals were struck between 24th April 1855 and 31st March 1862; this number including two patterns presented to Queen Victoria, those issued to deserters and later cancelled, replacements, duplicates etc. The actual number of medals awarded is, according to British Battles and Medals, 8,540.
	Military General Service Medal Era: 1793-1814 Campaigns Awarded to those who partook in various campaigns between 1793-1814. The medal was only authorised by a General Order on 1st June 1847 and was finally issued in 1848. The image shows various clasps awarded for different campaigns.

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