War Medal 1939–1945

War Medal 1939–1945
Name	War Medal 1939–1945
Caption	Obverse and reverse of the War Medal 1939–1945
Presenter	United Kingdom and Commonwealth
Type	Campaign medal
Eligibility	See article
Awarded for	See article
Status	Historic
Established	1945
First awarded	1945
Total awarded	Hundreds of thousands

War Medal 1939–1945 The War Medal 1939–1945 is a campaign decoration issued by the United Kingdom and Commonwealth governments to recognise service during the Second World War, linking the conflict across theatres such as the Battle of Britain, North African Campaign, Burma Campaign, Eastern Front, and the Pacific War. Instituted in 1945 during post‑war demobilisation, it complements awards including the 1939–1945 Star, Africa Star, Atlantic Star, Air Crew Europe Star, and Pacific Star. Recipients spanned personnel from institutions such as the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, Indian Army, Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force, Australian Imperial Force, and colonial forces from Malaya, Kenya, and Nigeria.

Background and Establishment

The medal was established amid policy decisions by the War Cabinet, led by figures including Winston Churchill, following consultations with ministries such as the Admiralty, Air Ministry, and War Office. Debates in the House of Commons and correspondence with dominion governments including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa influenced criteria and distribution. Award policy paralleled orders issued during the First World War era, including lessons from the 1914–15 Star and the British War Medal. The medal’s creation reflected post‑conflict priorities addressed at conferences like Yalta Conference and administrative reviews by the Imperial War Graves Commission.

Eligibility and Award Criteria

Eligibility encompassed members of regular, reserve, and auxiliary forces who rendered full‑time service of at least 28 days between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945, including those attached to civil services such as the Foreign Office, Colonial Office, and Ministry of Supply when under military command. Merchant seafarers from companies like the British Tanker Company and civic units such as the Home Guard were covered under differing provisions alongside personnel from the Royal Indian Navy and Royal West African Frontier Force. Civilians in agencies such as the Royal Observer Corps and the Special Operations Executive received recognition where qualifying service applied. Exceptions accounted for prisoners of war from operations such as the Fall of Singapore and personnel who died on active service including at battles like El Alamein and Stalingrad.

Description and Design

The circular silver‑finish medal features an obverse bearing the crowned effigy of King George VI in field marshal’s uniform, designed by sculptors linked to the Royal Mint and institutions such as the College of Arms. The reverse shows a lion standing on a double‑headed sword, with the dates 1939–1945 beneath, echoing iconography used on medals like the Victory Medal (1914–1919). The ribbon is red, white and blue, reflecting the Union Flag and shared motifs with decorations awarded by the Order of the British Empire and other Commonwealth honours. Edge inscription and naming followed conventions used for medals issued by the Royal Canadian Mint and struck at mints across the United Kingdom, India, and Australia.

Clasps, Campaigns, and Additional Devices

While the basic medal carried no clasps for individual campaigns, campaign recognition was provided by stars such as the Arctic Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, and service badges like the oak‑leaf emblem for mention in despatches used across the British Commonwealth. Naval and merchant service were denoted in official rolls maintained by Admiralty records and manifested in collective recognitions alongside medals such as the Distinguished Service Order and Military Cross. Certain theatres and units that saw distinct operations—Dunkirk, Dieppe Raid, Operation Torch, Operation Overlord—were typically recognised by specific stars rather than clasps on this medal.

Distribution, Naming, and Manufacture

Production was handled by mints including the Royal Mint, the Bombay Mint, and facilities in Ottawa and Melbourne, with naming engraved or impressed in capitals following standard practice similar to awards like the George Cross. Distribution channels involved demobilisation offices, regimental paymasters, and colonial administrations, paralleling systems used for issue of the Defence Medal and the France and Germany Star. Collecting and verification often required service documentation maintained by units such as the Household Cavalry, Royal Engineers, and Transport Corps. Variants issued for dominions display subtle differences in suspension and finish comparable to Commonwealth patterns for the Victoria Cross for Australia and Canadian wartime insignia.

Notable Recipients and Units

Recipients encompassed a wide array from senior commanders like Bernard Montgomery and Chester W. Nimitz‑adjacent allies through decorated aircrew associated with squadrons such as No. 617 Squadron RAF and naval personnel aboard ships like HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Hood. Units including the Royal Fusiliers, Gurkha Rifles, 2nd New Zealand Division, 1st Canadian Infantry Division, Royal Australian Regiment, and formations of the West African Frontier Force feature prominently in rolls. Intelligence figures from Bletchley Park and Special Air Service operatives, as well as civilian organisations including the Red Cross and merchant companies like Blue Star Line, also appear among recipients.

Legacy and Commemoration

The medal remains part of national remembrance reflected in ceremonies at sites such as the Tower of London, Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries, and memorials including the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme and local regimental museums like the Imperial War Museum. Collectors and historians reference archives at the National Archives (UK), the Australian War Memorial, the Canadian War Museum, and the National Army Museum when researching entitlements. Scholarly work in military history journals and exhibitions curated by institutions such as the National Maritime Museum continue to contextualise the medal within narratives of campaigns like Operation Market Garden and events including VE Day and VJ Day.

Category:British campaign medals