WWII Medals and Stars Home Page Family History Military Page 25 February 2009
The ribbons are believed to have been designed by King George VI personally and each has a symbolic significance. When the ribbons are worn alone , a clasp is denoted by a silver rosette, the Battle of Britain clasp is represented by a gilt rosette.
The maximum number of stars that could be earned by any one person was five; those who qualified for more received the first earned clasp for each star. A medal List obtained by named individuals for WWII are not currently available at the Public Record Office. Second World War Medals were unnamed in the UK, exception in some Commonwealth countries.
Medal/Section Choice:
| Medals |
Stars |
Clasps |
| Defence Medal |
Battle of Britain |
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| War Medal |
Air Crew Europe or France and Germany |
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Atlantic or France and Germany |
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North Africa 1942-43, 8th Army or 1st Army |
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Burma |
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Pacific |
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None |
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Atlantic |
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| Australian Service Medal | ||
| Dunkirk Medal | ||
| The King's Medal for Courage | Memorial Scroll | Links between Military and Civilian Awards |
| The King's Medal for Service | Military Gallantry Awards | |
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Major References: |
http://www.rogerandfran.fsnet.co.uk/medals/ww2_stars/stars.html |
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Excellent WWII medal photos: |
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Ribbon Details |
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Medal Ribbon Order |
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| Left to right then 2nd row etc. |
1939-1945 Star |
Atlantic Star | Air Crew Europe Star |
| Africa Star | Pacific Star | Burma Star | |
| Italy Star | France and Germany Star | Defence Medal | |
| British War Medal 1939-1945 | |||
Commonwealth Award:
| Australian
Service Medal
Second World War 1939-45 Right: Instituted in 1949 and awarded to the members of the Australian Armed Forces, Merchant Marine and civilians serving overseas for at least 18 months between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. About 177,000 medals were issued.
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1939-45 STAR Date: 1945
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Campaign: |
Second World War 1939-45 |
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Branch of Service: |
British and Commonwealth Forces |
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Ribbon: |
Equal stripes of dark blue, red and light blue symbolising the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force respectively. |
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Metal: |
Bronze |
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Size: |
Height 44mm; max. width 38mm |
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Description: |
The six pointed star has a circular centre with the GRI/VI monogram, surmounted by a crown and inscribed THE 1939-45 STAR round the foot. |
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Clasps: |
Battle of Britain |
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This star was awarded for service in the Second World War between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. Recipients were awarded this star if they died or were disabled service period was terminated by their death or disability due to service. The award of a gallantry medal or Mention in dispatches led to the award of this medal, regardless of the duration of service. Royal Navy |
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personnel had to complete 6 months service afloat in active operational areas.
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.
RAF 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 operational army command. The clasp awarded to RAF aircrew for action during the Battle of Britain was denoted by a gilt rosette, when the ribbon was worn alone.
Merchant Navy qualified if they completed 6 months service, and at least 1 voyage through an operational area.
Members of fighter aircraft crews who took part in the Battle of Britain (10 July to 31 October 1940) were awarded the "Battle of Britain" bar to this medal. The 1939-45 Star: Represents the three services.
Atlantic Star Date: 1945
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Campaign: |
Atlantic 1939-45 |
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Branch of Service: |
Royal and Commonwealth Navies |
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Ribbon |
Watered silk blue, white and green representing the ocean |
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Metal: |
Bronze |
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Size: |
Height 44mm; max. width 38mm |
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Description: |
The six pointed star has a circular centre with the GRI/VI monogram, surmounted by a crown and inscribed THE ATLANTIC STAR |
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Clasps: |
Air Crew Europe and France and Germany |
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This star was awarded in the Royal Navy to commemorate the Battle of the Atlantic for six months’ service afloat between 3rd September 1939 and 8th May 1945 in the Atlantic or home waters, and to personnel employed in the convoys to North Russia and the South Atlantic waters west of longitude 20 degrees East. Personnel must have already qualified for the 1939-45 Star with the qualifying period for this not counting towards the Atlantic Star. The recipient was |
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awarded this star if the service period was terminated by death or disability in service. The award of a gallantry medal or 'Mention in Despatches' produced the award of this medal, regardless of their service duration.
Merchant Navy personnel qualified, as did the RAF and Army (maritime gunners and aircrews-the latter only requiring 2 months service, providing that service for the 1939-45 Star had been completed). In the last six months of operational service up to 8th May 1945, the Atlantic Star was awarded but not the 1939-45 Star. If the Atlantic Star was originally awarded Entitlement to the France and Germany or Air Crew Europe stars was denoted by clasps. Only one clasp could be worn.
The Air Crew Europe Star Date: 1945
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Campaign |
Air operations over Europe 1939-44 |
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Branch of Service: |
RAF and Commonwealth aircrew |
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Ribbon |
Pale blue (the sky) with black edges (night flying) and a narrow yellow stripe on either side (enemy searchlights) |
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Metal: |
Bronze |
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Size: |
Height 44mm; max. width 38mm |
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Description: |
The six pointed star has a circular centre with the GRI/VI monogram, surmounted by a crown and inscribed THE AIRCREW EUROPE STAR |
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Clasps: |
Atlantic or France and Germany |
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Awarded for operational flying from UK bases over Europe, for a period of two months between 3rd September 1939 and 4th June 1944 (i.e. outbreak of war until the start of the D-Day Normandy Invasion).. Entitlement to either the Atlantic or France and Germany Star was denoted by the appropriate clasp. This star is by far the most coveted of all of the Second World War Stars. Officially named stars to South Africans are the rarest of all Second |
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World War medals. The recipient was awarded this star if their service period was terminated by their death or disability due to service. Also the award of a gallantry medal or 'Mention in Despatches' also produced the award of this medal, regardless of their service duration.
RAF air crew had to complete 2 months service for this medal. However, this 2 months had to come after the service which entitled the person to the 1939-45 Star.
Army personnel qualified for this star if they served on air crew duties for 4 months, and that 2 months of this minimum 4 month period had been operational flying over Europe, with at least one operational sortie.
Africa Star Date: 1945
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Campaign: |
Africa 1940-43 |
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Branch of Service: |
British and Commonwealth Forces |
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Ribbon |
The Pale buff symbolising ribbon represents the sand of the desert, with a broad red central stripe for the army, a dark blue stripe on the left for the Navy and a light blue stripe on the right for the Air Force. |
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Metal: |
Bronze |
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Size: |
Height 44mm; max. width 38mm |
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Description: |
The six pointed star has a circular centre with the GRI/VI monogram, surmounted by a crown and inscribed THE AFRICA STAR |
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Clasps: 3 |
North Africa 1942-43 to Navy, 8th Army and 1st Army |
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Awarded for 1 or more days service in an operational area in North Africa between 10th June 1940 (The date of Italy’s declaration of war} and 12th May 1943 {the end of operations in North Africa), but service in Abyssinia (Ethiopia), Somaliland, Eritrea and Malta also qualified for the award. Service in West Africa did not qualify for this medal. |
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A silver numeral 1 or 8 worn on the ribbon denoted service with the First or Eighth Army between 23rd October 1942 and 23rd May 1943. A clasp inscribed North Africa was awarded to personnel of the Royal Navy Inshore Squadrons and Merchant Navy vessels which worked inshore between 8th November 1942 and 12th May 1943. RAF personnel had to land in, or fly over, the areas mentioned to qualified for a clasp, denoted by a silver rosette on the ribbon alone.
Pacific Star Date: 1945
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Campaign: |
Pacific area 1941-45 |
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Branch of Service: |
British and Commonwealth forces |
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Ribbon |
Dark green (the jungle) with a central yellow stripe (the beaches), narrow stripes of dark and light blue (Royal Navy and RAF) and wider stripes of red (Army) at the edges. |
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Metal: |
Bronze |
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Size: |
Height 44mm; max. width 38mm |
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Description: |
The six pointed star has a circular centre with the GRI/VI monogram, surmounted by a crown and inscribed THE PACIFIC STAR |
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Clasps: |
Burma |
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Awarded for operational service in the Pacific theatre of war from 8th December 1941 to 15th August 1945. Service with the Royal and Merchant Navies in the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean and South China Sea (east of a line running approximately south of Singapore) and land service in these areas also qualified. Personnel qualifying for both Pacific and Burma Stars got the first star and a clasp in respect of the second. Six months service for the1939-45 had to have been earned |
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except for those whose service started in the Pacific region after 2 March 1945. Army personnel had to serve in territories subjected to enemy or allied invasions. Naval personnel ashore had the same qualification requirements as the Army. RAF crews had to complete at least 1 operational sortie over the appropriate sea or land area.
Service in Burma was excluded, as this area had its own star: Service in China and Malaya between 8 December 1941 and 15 February 1942 was included. If a serviceman qualified for both the "Pacific" and "Burma" Stars, they would be awarded the first gained star, with a clasp (or rosette on ribbon-alone) for the other earned Star.
Burma Star Date: 1945
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Campaign: |
Burma 1941-45 |
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Branch of Service: |
British and Commonwealth Forces |
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Ribbon |
Three equal bands of dark blue (British forces), red (Commonwealth forces) and a dark blue. The dark blue bands each have at their centres a stripe of bright orange (the Sun) |
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Metal: |
Bronze |
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Size: |
Height 44mm; max. width 38mm |
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Description: |
The six pointed star has a circular centre with the GRI/VI monogram, surmounted by a crown and inscribed THE BURMA STAR |
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Clasps: |
Pacific |
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Qualifying service in the Burma campaign counted from 11th December 1941 and included service in Bengal or Assam from 1st May 1942 to 31st December 1943, and from 1st January 1944 onwards in these parts of Bengal or Assam east of the Brahmaputra. Service in China and Malaya between 16 February 1942 and 2 September 1945 was also counted. Royal and Merchant Navy personnel qualified through service in an area restricted to the Bay of Bengal, and enclosed by a line running |
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from the southern-most point of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) for a distance of 300 miles south, then to a point 300 miles west of the southern-most point of Sumatra, and continuing east to the western side of the Sunda Strait, including the Malacca Straits.RAF aircrew had to make one operational sortie. RAF ground crew had the same restrictions as the Army. If a serviceman qualified for both the "Burma" and "Pacific" Stars, they would be awarded the first gained star, with a clasp (or rosette on ribbon-alone) for the other earned Star.
Italy Star Date: 1945
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Campaign: |
Italy 1943-45 |
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Branch of Service: |
British and Commonwealth forces |
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Ribbon |
Five equal stripes of red, white, green, white and red (the colours of the Italian National flag) |
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Metal: |
Bronze |
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Size: |
Height 44mm; max. width 38mm |
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Description: |
The six pointed star has a circular centre with the GRI/VI monogram, surmounted by a crown and inscribed THE ITALY STAR |
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Clasps: |
None |
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Awarded for operational service on land in Italy, Sicily, Greece, Yugoslavia, the Aegean area and Dodecanese islands, Corsica, Greece, Sardinia, Yugoslavia and Elba at any time between 11th June 1943 and 8th May 1945. The 6 months service for the 1939-45 had to be earned, before service could count towards the Burma Star except for those personnel who |
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entered qualifying service within the last 6 months, providing they did not enter another operational command.Naval shore-based personnel were covered by the Army qualification requirements. Service in Sardinia after 19 September 1943 and Corsica after 4 October 1943 did not qualify. RAF personnel had no prior time qualification. Qualification involved participation in aircrew service within the Mediterranean theatre, including sorties from the Mediterranean area over Europe. Entry into Austrian Territory during the last few days of the Second World War qualified for this star. There were no clasps awarded with the "Italy" Star.
France And Germany Star Date: 1945
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Campaign: |
France and Germany 1944-45 |
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Branch of Service: |
British and Commonwealth forces |
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Ribbon |
Five equal stripes of blue, white, red, white and blue (the national colours of the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands |
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Metal: |
Bronze |
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Size: |
Height 44mm; max. width 38mm |
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Description: |
The six pointed star has a circular centre with the GRI/VI monogram, surmounted by a crown and inscribed THE FRANCE AND GERMANY STAR |
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Clasps: |
Atlantic |
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Awarded for operational service in France, Belgium, Holland or Germany from 6th June 1944 to 8th May 1945. Service in the North Sea, English channel and Bay of Biscay in connection with the campaign in northern Europe also qualified. Prior eligibility for the Atlantic or Air Crew Europe Stars entitled personnel only to a clasp for France and Germany. Conversely a first award of the France and Germany Star could earn an Atlantic clasp. |
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Army personnel had to take part in any operation on land in France, Belgium, Holland or Germany between 6 June 1944 and 8 May 1945.
Royal and Merchant Navy qualification had no prior time qualification. The qualifying service area was the direct support of land operations in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany, in the North sea south of a line from the Firth of Forth to Kristiansand in the English Channel or the Bay of Biscay east of longitude 6 degrees W. Service off the coast of South France qualified for the Italy Star. Shore based Naval personnel were subject to the same qualification as the Army.
RAF aircrew had to take part in an operation sortie over Europe between 6 June 1944 and 8 May 1945. RAF aircrew who flew operations over Europe, starting from Mediterranean bases, only qualified for the Italy Star.
Defence Medal Date: 1945
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Campaign: |
Second World War 1939-45 |
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Branch of Service: |
British and Commonwealth forces |
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Ribbon |
Two broad stripes of green (this green and pleasant land) superimposed by narrow stripes of black (the black-out), with a wide stripe of orange (fire-bombing) in the centre. |
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Metal: |
Cupro-nickel or silver |
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Size: |
36mm |
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Description: |
(Obverse) the uncrowned head of King George VI, (reverse) two lions flanking an oak sapling crowned with the dates at the sides and wavy lines representing the sea below. The words THE DEFENCE MEDAL appears in the exergue. |
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Awarded to service personnel for three years service in a non-operational area (e.g. India) or six months service overseas in territories subjected to air attack or otherwise closely threatened. Personnel of Anti-Aircraft Command, RAF ground crews, Dominion forces stationed in the U.K., the Home Guard, Civil Defence, National Fire service and many other civilian units qualified for the medal. The medal was generally issued unnamed in cupro-nickel, but the Canadian version was struck in silver. |
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War Medal Date: 1945
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Campaign: |
Second World War 1939-45 |
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Branch of Service: |
British and Commonwealth forces |
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Ribbon |
Narrow red stripes in the centre, with a narrow white stripe on either side, broad red stripes at either edge and two intervening stripes of blue |
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Metal: |
Cupro-nickel or silver |
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Size: |
36mm |
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Description: |
(Obverse) effigy of King George VI; (reverse) a triumphant lion trampling a dragon symbolising the Axis Powers |
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Clasps: |
None |
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All full-time personnel of the armed forces wherever they were serving, so long as they had served for at least 28 days between 3rd September 1939 and 2nd September 1945 were eligible for this medal. The Merchant Navy requirement stated that the 28 days minimum should be served at sea. It was granted in addition to the campaign stars and the Defence Medal. A few categories of civilians, such as war correspondents and ferry pilots who had flown in operational theatres, also qualified. No clasps were issued with this medal but a bronze oak leaf denoted a mention in despatches. The medal was struck in cupro-nickel and issued unnamed, but those issued to Australian and South African personnel were officially named. The Canadian version of this medal was struck in silver. |
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The recipient was awarded this medal if their service period was terminated by their death, disability due to service or capture as a prisoner-of-war and their service qualified them for one of the stars. If the recipient had received one of the stars for a service period of less than 28 days, they were also awarded the War Medal.
The War Medal has a ‘Mentioned in Despatches’ oak leaf attached to the ribbon.
UK War Medals were made from cupro-nickel, whilst Canadian ones were made from silver.
The next-of-kin of deceased service personnel received a memorial scroll. At the top of the scroll was the emblem of King George VI, followed by this text:
"This scroll commemorates <service person's name & unit> held in honour as one who served King and Country in the world war of 1939-1945 and gave his life to save mankind from tyranny. May his sacrifice help to bring the peace and freedom for which he died."
The details of the deceased service person are shown in red ink, while the rest of the inscription is in black.
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The King's medal was issued in two versions: The King's Medal for Couragein the Cause of Freedom and the King's Medal for Service in the Cause of Freedom. Both medals were silver and 36 millimeters in diameter.
The King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom was introduced on 23 August 1945, to mark the acts of courage by foreign civilians in the furtherance of the British Commonwealth in the Allied cause. It was primarily intended to reward those foreign civilians who had assisted British escapees in enemy occupied territory. The medal's obverse has the crowned profile of King George VI, with the text "The King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom" on the reverse. The medal's ribbon was white with two narrow blue stripes in the centre and two broad red stripes at the ribbon's edges. 3200 awarded
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The King's Medal for Service in the Cause of Freedom was introduced on 23 August 1945 to mark the acts of foreign civilians in less dangerous roles, but who nevertheless contributed to the British effort. An example of this type of role would be fund raising activities. The medal's obverse had the profile of King George VI, while the reverse had a medieval knight carrying a broken lance, receiving food from a women. The ribbon was white with a central red bar, with a blue stripe on either side. |
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Links between Military and Civilian Awards
The George Cross, George Medal and Queen's Gallantry Medal can be awarded to military personnel when the acts of gallantry fall outside the warrant for a military gallantry award.
The following table illustrates the relationship between the military gallantry awards and their civilian equivalent. However, it should be noted that military personnel can be awarded the civilian equivalent if their act falls outside the warrant for the relevant military award.
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Military Award |
Civilian Award |
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Victoria Cross |
George Cross |
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Conspicuous Gallantry Cross |
George Medal |
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Distinguished Service Cross |
Queen's Gallantry Medal |
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Military Cross |
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Distinguished Flying Cross |
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Mentioned-in-Despatches |
Queen's Commendation for Bravery |
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Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service |
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Queen's Commendation for Bravery in the Air |
The following table list the military gallantry medals for each service. These are the entitlements that applied during the two world wars and up to 1993.
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NAVY
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Officer |
VC |
DSO |
DSC |
MID |
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Other Ranks |
VC |
CGM (Navy) |
DSM |
MID |
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ARMY
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Officer |
VC |
DSO |
MC |
MID |
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Other Ranks |
VC |
DCM |
MM |
MID |
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RAF (Oper)
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Officer |
VC |
DSO |
DFC |
MID |
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Other Ranks |
VC |
CGM (RAF) |
DFM |
MID |
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RAF (Non Oper)
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Officer |
- |
AFC |
- |
- |
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Other Ranks |
- |
AFM |
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