MEDAL INFORMATION
The War Medal
3rd Sept. 1939 to 2nd Sept. 1945
Face
The crowned head of
King George VI surround by the inscription: ‘GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR: OMN: REX
ET INDIAE IMP:’
Reverse
A lion standing over a
dragon, which is lying on its back. At the top right are the dates ‘1939’
‘1945’
Size
Approx. 36mm diameter.
Composition
Cupro-nickel (Canadian
Government issue are silver) Oak leaf emblem in bronze.
Size
Approx. 31 mm wide.
Five stripes of equal width - red, blue, white, blue and red. In the
centre of the white stripe is a narrow red stripe approx. 2 mm wide. The
colours are those of the Union Flag.
Ribbon
The ribbon passes
through a straight, plain, non-swivelling suspender.
Naming
All issued unnamed in
the UK, but some have been engraved privately.
Bars
None to those issued
by the British Government. An oak leaf emblem is worn on the ribbon by
those who were Mentioned in Dispatches in the War.
Awarded
Awarded to all
personnel of the British Commonwealth Armed Forces who served,
operationally or non-operationally, for twenty eight days during the
period of hostilities. An additional qualification for Merchant Navy
personnel was that 28 days must have been at sea.
Operational service
qualifying for one of the Campaign Stars, but terminated by death, wounds,
or disability caused by war service, capture or the cessation of
hostilities qualified for this medal even though twenty eight days total
service was not achieved. If a campaign star was awarded for less than
twenty eight days service then The War Medal was awarded also.
The King’s Own
The qualification for
The War Medal are such that very few of the men who served in the Regiment
during the Second World War failed to qualify for the award.
War Medals in the museum's collection
The 1939-45 War Medal
