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From the early days of the conflict to the eventual Allied victory, the UK’s involvement was crucial in shaping the outcome of the war. Explore the most renowned medals, orders, and decorations bestowed by the United Kingdom during World War II, and learn more about the events surrounding them.
- The 1939-1945 Star
The order of wear of the Second World War campaign stars was...
- The War Medal 1939-1945
Time Period: World War II; Institution: 16 August 1945;...
- The 1939-1945 Star
This page looks at medal records which are available for soldiers who served in the British Army during the Second World War. The medal records discussed are for the Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45, campaign stars etc. rather than decorations or gallantry medals like the Order of the British Empire, Military Medal or Military Cross.
- A History of The War Medal 1939-45
- How Did A Soldier Qualify For The War Medal 1939-45
- Description of The War Medal 1939-45
- Are There Any Medal Records For The War Medal 1939-45?
After the end of the First World War, it was decided that only British and Commonwealth soldiers who left their country would be entitled to a campaign medal, unless they took part in a campaign within their own country. For example, an Indian soldier who served in a variety of campaigns on the North West Frontier during the war still qualified for...
To be eligible for a War Medal 1939-45, military personnel had to serve for a total of 28 days. This service could either be operational or non-operational service. Service in the Home Guard did not qualify for the War Medal 1939-45. For the Merchant Navy, the qualifying period was 28 days at sea. If a soldier qualified for one of the Second World ...
Obverse: Left facing crowned head of King George VI encircled by the Latin legend: GEORGIVS VI D: G: BR: OMN: REX ET INDIAE IMP: The designer Percy Metcalfe’s initials can be seen below the king’s neck. Reverse: A lion trampling on a two-headed dragon with the years 1939 and 1945 above the lion’s body. The designer Edward Carter Preston’s initials ...
There are no individual medal records for the War Medal 1939-45 and I have written a separate article explaining what medal records are available and how to confirm a soldier’s medal entitlement: What medal records are available for WW2 British Army Soldiers? The extract below was taken from a British Army service record and shows the soldier quali...
The Defence Medal was awarded to those who served in the British and Commonwealth armed forces as well as civilians who qualified during the Second World War. This article is divided into the following parts: A history of the Defence Medal. How a soldier qualified for the Defence Medal. Description of the Defence Medal.
List of military awards and decorations of World War II. The Arctic Star medal recognises service between 1941 and 1945 delivering vital aid to the Soviet Union, running the gauntlet of enemy submarine, air and surface ship attacks.
The government of the United States issued 450 Medals of Honor for World War II actions, 280 Service Crosses for D-Day actions and more than 3,600 Navy Crosses. The list below show all the medals that were created during the WW2 period and following years.
People also ask
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Who was awarded the War Medal 1939-45?
What medal records are available for British soldiers during the Second World War?
What medals did soldiers qualify for during WW2?
How did a soldier get a campaign medal?
How many medals were issued during WW2?
During World War II the British Commonwealth had some 10,570,000 personnel on active duty; the 182 VCs represented one in fifty-eight thousand individuals, compared to one in about thirty-five thousand Americans awarded the Medal of Honor.
