Medals, Awards & Decorations [1939-1946]
| 24 Apr 2024 | |
| Written by Jeremy Elsworth | |
| WW2 Appendices |
WW2 Campaign Medals & Awards
1939-1945 Star
The 1939–1945 Star was instituted on 8th July 1943 for award to British and Commonwealth forces for operational service in the Second World War. Two clasps were instituted to be worn on the medal ribbon, Battle of Britain and Bomber Command.
Defence Medal 1939-1945
The Defence Medal was instituted in May 1945, to be awarded to citizens of the British Commonwealth for both non-operational military and certain types of civilian war service during the Second World War. The Defence Medal was awarded for nonoperational service in the Armed Forces, the Home Guard, the Civil Defence Service and other approved civilian services during the period from 3rd September 1939 to 8th May
1945 (2nd September 1945 for those serving in certain specified territories in the Far East and the Pacific) with an earlier end date for members of organisations that stood down before May 1945.
War Medal 1939 - 1945
The War Medal 1939–1945 was a campaign medal instituted on 16th August 1945, for award to citizens of the British Commonwealth who had served full-time in the Armed Forces or the Merchant Navy for at least 28 days between 3rd September 1939 and 2nd September 1945.
Africa Star
The Africa Star was granted for operational service in North Africa from the date of the entry of Italy into the war on 10th June 1940, up to the date of the cessation of operations against the enemy in North Africa on 12th May 1943. Three clasps were instituted to be worn on the medal ribbon: North Africa 1942–43, 8th Army and 1st Army.
Burma Star
The Burma Star was instituted in May 1945 for award to British and Commonwealth forces who served in the Burma Campaign from 1941 to 1945, during the Second World War. One clasp, Pacific, was instituted to be worn on the medal ribbon
Italy Star
The Italy Star was instituted in May 1945 for award to British Commonwealth forces who served in the Italian Campaign from 1943 to 1945, during the Second World War.
Pacific Star
The Pacific Star was instituted in May 1945 for award to British and Commonwealth forces who served in the Pacific Campaign from 1941 to 1945, during the Second World War. One clasp, Burma, was instituted to be worn on the medal ribbon.
Aircrew Europe Star
The Air Crew Europe Star was instituted in May 1945 for award to British and Commonwealth air crews who participated in operational flights over Europe from bases in the United Kingdom during the Second World War. Two clasps were instituted to be worn on the medal ribbon: Atlantic and France and Germany.
France & Germany Star
The France and Germany Star was instituted in May 1945 for award to British Commonwealth forces who served in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands or Germany and adjacent sea areas between 6th June 1944 and 8th May 1945, during the Second World War. One clasp, Atlantic, could be worn on the medal ribbon.
Atlantic Star
The Atlantic Star was instituted in May 1945 for award to British Commonwealth forces who took part in the Battle of the Atlantic, the longest continuous campaign of the Second World War. Two clasps were instituted and could be worn on the medal ribbon, Air Crew Europe and France and Germany.
Artic Star
The medal was awarded for any length of operational service north of the Arctic Circle by members of the British Armed Forces and the Merchant Navy between 3rd September 1939 to 8th May 1945. The qualifying area is defined as 66° 32’ North Latitude and the qualifying period recognises the particular severity of the conditions experienced by those who served in the Arctic.
The Arctic Star is a retrospective award, announced in late 2012, nearly seven decades after the end of the Second World War. It was formally approved by Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for award to those who served on the Arctic
Convoys during the Second World War. It is the first British medal to be instituted and awarded using a dead monarch's cypher or effigy [George VI], and who did not give permission for it to be instituted.
No-one could be awarded more than six campaign stars, with five of the ten clasps denoting service that would have qualified for a second star. Only one clasp could be worn on any one campaign star.
Gallantry Awards
Distinguished Service Order [DSO]
Awarded for distinguished or meritorious service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.
Military Cross [MC] [WW2 criteria]
Instituted by Royal Warrant on 28th December 1914. The MC was a decoration for gallantry during active operations in the presence of the enemy. Commissioned officers with the rank of Captain or below or Warrant Officer were eligible. Officers of the rank of captain [but who had a temporary rank of major] could also receive the award.
Distinguished Flying Cross [DFC] [WW2 criteria]
The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) is a gallantry decoration awarded to officers of the Royal Air Force and other other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy".
Mentioned in Despatches [Mid]
“Mentioned in Despatches” is not an award of a medal, but a commendation when an individual is mentioned by name and commended for having carried out a noteworthy act of gallantry or service. A Despatch is an official report written by the senior commander of an army in the field and would give details of the conduct of the military operations being carried out. It would be published in full or in part in the London Gazette. This commendation could be made posthumously.
Specific awards & decorations in relation to:
Major Jacques Theodore Paul Marie VAILLANT de GUELIS.
Croix de Guerre
The Croix de Guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts.
The Croix de Guerre may be awarded either as an individual award or as a unit award to those soldiers who distinguish themselves by acts of heroism involving combat with the enemy. The medal is awarded to those who have been "mentioned in dispatches", meaning a heroic deed or deeds were performed meriting a citation from an individual's headquarters unit. The unit award of the Croix de Guerre with palm was issued to military units whose members performed heroic deeds in combat and were subsequently recognized by headquarters.
Member of the Order of the British Empire:Military (MBE)
Awarded to members of the military for exemplary service.
Insignia reproduced with permission of the UK MOD
A copy of this information may be downloaded here.
