How the British system is organized
British military awards fall into a few broad groups: gallantry awards, orders and decorations, campaign and service medals, and long service and efficiency awards. Some awards are for officers, some for other ranks, and some for both. Knowing the group an award belongs to helps you narrow the search when you are identifying a medal.
The British equivalent of the Medal of Honor
The Victoria Cross is the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy. It was instituted in 1856 and is the award most often compared with the US Medal of Honor. The George Cross was instituted in 1940 and recognizes acts of great courage that did not take place in the face of the enemy, including by civilians.
Several Commonwealth countries have their own versions. Australia, for example, instituted its own Victoria Cross in 1991.
Gallantry awards
These awards recognize bravery or distinguished service. Each one has its own eligibility rules and its own history:
- Distinguished Service Order (DSO): a senior award for leadership and gallantry, mostly for officers.
- Military Cross (MC): awarded to officers and warrant officers for gallantry in action.
- Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM): awarded to other ranks for gallantry.
- Military Medal (MM): awarded to other ranks for gallantry in action.
- Distinguished Service Cross (DSC): a naval award for gallantry and distinguished service.
- Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Air Force Cross (AFC): awarded for gallantry and distinguished service in the air.
- Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM): awarded to other ranks for gallantry in the air.
The WWII medal set
The WWII campaign and service medals are among the most common British awards found in collections. The 1939–45 Star is the general star for service in the war, and each of the others recognizes a specific theater or type of service:
- 1939–45 Star
- Atlantic Star
- Air Crew Europe Star
- Africa Star
- Pacific Star
- Burma Star
- Italy Star
- France and Germany Star
- Defence Medal
- War Medal 1939–1945
The stars recognize service in a theater, while the Defence Medal and War Medal recognize general service during the war. A full group may include several of them, and each one is identified by its ribbon and its reverse.
Long service and efficiency awards
Long service and good conduct awards recognize years of service without a major campaign or gallantry act. Efficiency awards recognize service in the reserve forces. Officers and other ranks had different versions of many of these medals, so check which applies before identifying a group.
Campaign and general service medals from other periods
Britain issued many campaign and general service medals before and after the Second World War. Examples include the General Service Medal and the India General Service Medal. These can appear in mixed groups, so a group may span several decades of service.
Identifying a British group
Start by checking the edge of each medal for naming. Naming usually includes the recipient’s name, rank or number, and unit, and it is often the most useful clue for research. Many campaign medals from the First World War were named on the edge, while many WWII campaign medals were issued unnamed. Check the specific medal before you draw a conclusion.
Next, check the suspension. Many British medals use a swivel suspension bar, and the style varies by period. Then check the ribbon, and compare the medal’s design and lettering with a reference book or a specialist dealer.
Applications and replacement medals
Veterans UK, part of the Ministry of Defence, handles most applications for British medals and replacements. The current application forms and any fees are published on GOV.UK. Check the current guidance before applying, because forms and processes change.
Where to start with a British group
Work from the medal’s naming and ribbon first, and then look up the award in a reference. If the group includes both American and British medals, compare the groups by their ribbon and reverse with the US WWII campaign guide. For a broader view of how awards are grouped, see the pillar guide on military decorations and medals.
Before you pay for a medal, read the guide on telling original medals from replicas. A Victoria Cross needs extra care, and the guide to Victoria Cross replicas and fakes covers what to check. For uniforms, badges and other kit from the same forces, see the British and Commonwealth militaria collecting guide.