Medals
The United Kingdom, along with the British Empire's Crown colonies, including the British West Indies and British India, declared war on Nazi Germany in 1939, after the German invasion of Poland. Hostilities with Japan began in 1941, after it attacked British colonies in Asia.
1939-1945 Star
The 1939-1945 Star is a six-pointed bronze star with a ring, embodied at the head of the top point. In the centre is the Royal Cypher surmounted by a crown superimposed on a circlet which bears the title of the star. The reverse is plain and unnamed. The ribbon has three equal stripes of dark blue, red and light blue, representing the services.
The qualification is service between 3 September 1939 and 15 August 1945, being the period of active operations in the war. The necessary service varied for the different forces. For the Royal Navy six months service afloat in areas of active operation were required. For the Army six months service in an operational command were required, but only one day's service in Dunkirk, Norway and certain specified commando raids. Airborne troops qualified for the star on participation in an airborne operation provided they had completed two months service in an operational unit. The RAF qualified for an award for any flying qualifications against the enemy, provided that two months service had been completed in operational units; ground crew had to complete six months service in the area of an operational command except for Dunkirk and Norway. For Merchant Navy personnel qualified for six months service afloat with at least one voyage through specified "dangerous waters", which included service during the evacuation from Dunkirk. Irrespective of the six months qualification period, all service personnel qualified who had been decorated or mentioned in despatches, killed in action or died on service, evacuated as the result of wounds or sickness on service, or were evacuated from Dunkirk, Norway, Crete and Greece. Time spend as a prisoner of war also counted. Air crews of fighter aircraft engaged in the Battle of Britain between 10 July and 31 October 1940 were awarded a bar inscribed BATTLE OF BRITAIN. A silver-gilt rose emblem takes the place of the bar when only a ribbon is worn.
Atlantic Star
This star was awarded to commemorate the Battle of the Atlantic within the period 3 September 1939 to 8 May 1945. The 1939-45 Star must have been earned by 6, or 2 for aircrew, months service before commencing qualifying service for the Atlantic Star. The recipient was awarded this star if their service period was terminated by their death or disability due to service.
Royal Navy and Merchant Navy personnel, together with Army and RAF personnel serving with either Naval service, had to complete 6 months service in the Atlantic, home waters, North Russia Convoys or South Atlantic waters west of longitude 20 degrees East. RAF members of air crews who had completed 2 months service in active operations within the specified area, providing that service for the 1939-45 Star had been completed.
Air Crew Europe Star
The Air Crew Europe Star was awarded for operational flying from United Kingdom bases over Europe between 3 September 1939 and 5 June 1944. A person must first be entitled to the 1939-45 Star before qualifying for the Air Crew Europe Star.
This medal was awarded for operational flying from the UK over Europe, between the period 3 September 1939 to 5 June 1944 (outbreak of war until the start of the D-Day Normandy Invasion). 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
The Africa Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II. The Star was awarded for a minimum one day service in an operational area of North Africa between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943. The whole of the area between the Suez Canal and the Strait of Gibraltar is included, together with Malta, Abyssinia, Kenya, Sudan, The Solmalilands and Eritrea. The areas not bordering the Mediterranean only qualified for the Africa Star from 10 June 1940 to 27 November 1941.
Members of the Australian Imperial Force qualified for the Star for service in Syria from 8 June 1941 and 11 July 1941.
Pacific Star
This medal was awarded for service in the Pacific theatre of operations in the period 8 December 1941 to 2 September 1945, both dates inclusive. Royal and Merchant Navy service in the Pacific Ocean, South China Sea and the Indian Ocean east of a line running approximately south of Singapore qualified for this medal, providing that the 6 months service for the 1939-45 had already been earned. The restriction of previously earning the 1939-45 star did not apply for those who service started in the Pacific region after 2 March 1945. Naval personnel ashore had the same qualification requirements as the Army.
Army personnel had to serve in those territories which had been subjected to enemy or allied invasions. Service in Burma was excluded, as this area had its own star: The Burma Star. Service in China and Malaya between 8 December 1941 and 15 February 1942 was included. The Army had no prior time qualification.
RAF crews had to complete at least 1 operational sortie over the appropriate sea or land area.
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
This medal was awarded for service in the Burma Campaign between 11 December 1941 and 2 September 1945 (inclusive).
Royal and Merchant Navy personnel qualified through service in an area restricted to the Bay of Bengal, and enclosed by a line running 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.
The 6 months service for the 1939-45 had to be earned, before service could count towards the Burma Star. This restriction did not apply for those personnel who entered qualifying service within the last 6 months, providing they did not enter another operational command.
Army personnel qualified through service in any part of Burma between 11 December 1941 and 2 September 1945. Service in the provinces of Bengal and Assam in the period 1 May 1942 to 2 September 1945 also qualified. Service in China and Malaya between 16 February 1942 and 2 September 1945 was also counted.
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
This medal was awarded for operational service in Sicily or Italy during the period 11 June 1943 to 8 May 1945. Royal and Merchant Navy service in the Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea and operations in and around the Dodecanese, Corsica, Greece, Sardinia and Yugoslavia after 11 June 1943 would qualify. The 6 months service for the 1939-45 had to be earned, before service could count towards the Burma Star. This restriction did not apply for those personnel who 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.
Army personnel had no prior time qualification. The applicable operational area for Army personnel was Aegean, Dodecanese, Corsica, Greece, Sardinia, Yugoslavia and Elba between 11 June 1943 and 8 May 1945. Service in Sicily after 17 August 1943, 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 awared with the "Italy" Star.
France and Germany Star
This medal was awarded for service in France, Belgium, Holland or Germany in the period 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. 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.
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, did not qualify for the France & Germany star but the Italy Star.
Defence Medal
This medal's qualification requirements are numerous and varied. They include:
Service in the Forces in non-operational areas subjected to air attack or closely threatened, providing such service last at least three years.
Non-operational service in the Forces overseas or outside the country of residence, providing that this service lasted for at least one year. If the territory was threatened by the enemy, or subjected to air raids, the duration requirement was reduced to six months.
Civil defence in military operational areas providing these civil defence activities were not eligible for campaign stars.
Members of any of the civilian services entitled to wear chevrons for their war service were eligible for this medal.
Members of the Home Guard resident in the UK, who had completed at least three years service.
Recipients of the George Cross or George Medal, regardless of their occupation, provided the George Cross or George Medal were won for service in civil defence.
War Medal
This medal was awarded to all full-time personnel of the Armed Forces. Operational and non-operational service of at least 28 days counted. The Merchant Navy requirement stated that the 28 days minimum should be served at sea. 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. Also 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 UK War Medals were made from copper-nickel, while the Canadian War Medal is made from silver.
Those War Medals issued to UK personnel were not officially named. However, those issued to Australian and South African personnel were officially named.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is a military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of armed forces of some Commonwealth countries and previous British Empire territories. It takes precedence over all other postnominals and medals. It may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and civilians under military command, and is presented to the recipient by the British monarch during an investiture held at Buckingham Palace. It is the joint highest award for bravery in the United Kingdom with the George Cross, which is the equivalent honour for valour not in the face of the enemy.
The VC was introduced on 5 February 1856 by Queen Victoria to reward acts of valour during the Crimean War. Since then the medal has been awarded 1,356 times to 1,353 individual recipients. Only 14 medals have been awarded since the end of the Second World War. The traditional explanation of the source of the gunmetal from which the medals are struck is that it derives from Russian cannon captured at the siege of Sevastopol. Recent research has thrown doubt on this story.
George Cross
On 15 April 1942, King George VI awarded Malta the George Cross, the highest civilian award for gallantry in the Commonwealth, normally awarded to individuals: "to honour her brave people, I award the George Cross to the Island Fortress of Malta to bear witness to a heroism and devotion that will long be famous in history". President Franklin Roosevelt, describing the wartime period, called Malta "one tiny bright flame in the darkness".