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British campaign medals

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British campaign medals are awarded to members of the British Armed Forces, Allied forces and civilians participating in specified military campaigns. Examples include the Defence Medal, for homeland defence in World War II, and the Atlantic Star for World War II sea service in the Atlantic.

19th century

20th century

Pre World War I

World War I

During World War I (1914–1918) the following campaign medals were issued:

The most frequent combinations are "trios" and "pairs". Trios are made up of one or other of the 1914 or 1914–15 Stars (they could not be awarded together), the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. The three medals were sometimes irreverently referred to as "Pip, Squeak and Wilfred".[1][2] Pairs are generally for servicemen who joined the war after 1915, and are the British War Medal with the Victory Medal, colloquially known as the "Mutt and Jeff" pair. Occasionally one medal was issued, the British War Medal.

Merchant seaman were entitled to the Mercantile Marine Medal (issued by the Board of Trade) and usually the British War Medal as well. The Territorial Force War Medal was awarded to members of the Territorial Force and Territorial Force Nursing Services who served overseas; it is the rarest of the five Great War medals. The Memorial Plaque was issued to the next-of-kin of deceased service personnel.

Inter World War

World War II

During World War II (1939–1945) the following were issued (with authorised Clasp or Emblem (if awarded) in brackets)—the first eleven are listed in the authorised Order of Wearing:

Post World War

21st century

See also

References

  1. ^ "Pip, Squeak and Wilfred". First World War.com. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
  2. ^ "Pip, Squeak and Wilfred". The Long, Long Trail. Archived from the original on 2008-02-27. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
  • Mackay, J & Mussell, J.W. (2003). Medal Yearbook 2003. Token Publishing Ltd, UK.