David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:56am
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Italy Star
Italy Star
The Italy Star was awarded for operational service in Sicily or Italy, around the Aegean, in Corsica, Greece, Sardinia, Yugoslavia and Elba between the 11th. of June 1943 and the 8th. of May 1945. Entry into Austrian territory during the last few days of the Second World War also qualified for this star, and not for the France and Germany Star.
RAF aircrew who took part in operations within the Mediterranean theatre, including operations over Europe from Mediterranean bases, also qualified. Royal Navy and Merchant Navy personnel qualified by service afloat in and around the areas mentioned, including operations off the south of France.
Service in Sicily after the 17th. of August 1943, in Sardinia after the 19th. of September 1943 and in Corsica after the 4th. of October 1943, did not qualify.
There was no clasps to this medal, and the ribbon consists of equal vertical stripes of red, white, green, white and red. The colours represent the colours of the Italian flag.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:58am
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Atlantic Star
Atlantic Star
The Atlantic Star was awarded to commemorate the Battle of the Atlantic to crew of the Royal Navy and the Royal Merchant Navy for operational services afloat for 6 months in the Atlantic, Home waters and Russian convoys or 2 months for air crew in this areas between 3 September 1939 and 8 May 1945 or 2 september 1945 for operational services in the Pacific.
The Atlantic Star may not be awarded unless the 1939-1945 STAR has been qualified for by 180 days operational service afloat or by 2 months service for airborne service and therefore, the total requirement for the Atlantic Star is 12 months afloat or 4 months for airborne service.
Though this award was normally granted to the Royal Navy and the Royal Merchant Navy, many Army and Royal Air Force personnel could qualify for this award. For example, soldiers were frequently used to man the guns of armed merchant ships, but to qualify for this award a soldier must go to sea for the same time and in the same areas as the service with which he served.
Those who also qualified for the France & Germany Star and the Aircrew Europe Star could wear a clasp on the ribbon of the first star earned.
The Atlantic Star is a six pointed star with the Royal Cipher ?GRI VI? surmounted by a crown with the inscription ?THE ATLANTIC STAR?. The reverse is plain and blank and the award is issued unnamed.
The ribbon is 1.25 inches wide with three equal stripes of dark blue, white and green and respresents the colours of the Atlantic Ocean.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:59am
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Pacific Star
Pacific Star
The Pacific Star was awarded for operational service in the area round the Pacific from the 8th of December 1941 until the 2nd. September 1945. Qualifying service for the Army units was restricted to that territory which had been subjected to enemy or allied invasions. Operational service in Burma was excluded for this award as its had its own Star, but operational service in China and Malaya between the 8th of December 1941 and the 15th of February 1942 was qualified for the Pacific Star. Also operational service in the Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea was qualified for this award. The award was issued for one day or more of operational service in these areas. However, for Army personnel there was no minimum service period required for this award. RAF crews had to complete at least one operational sortie in these areas.
Those who also qualified for the Burma Star could wear a bar or a rose emblem on the ribbon, of the first star earned.
The Pacific Star is a bronze six pointed star with the Royal Cipher ?GRI VI? surmounted by a crown with the inscription ?THE PACIFIC STAR?. The reverse is plain and blank and the award is issued unnamed.
The ribbon consists of seven coloured stripes : red, dark blue, green, yellow, green, light blue and red and the colours respresent the jungle, the beaches and the Army, Navy and Air Force.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 9:33am
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1914 Star
1914 Star. Established in 1917 for award to all those of the British and Indian Expeditionary Forces who actually served in France or Belgium between 5 August 1914 and 22 November 1914. The start was available to officers, men, civil medical personnel, nurses and others employed in military hospitals in Belgium or France. The star was given to naval and marine units which served ashore, but not to naval personnel which remained afloat. The 1914 Star is sometimes referred to as the "Mons Star," though this is a misnomer since the star is for service in all of France or Belgium during the dates cited above, and not limited to those who participated in the "Battle of Mons."
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 9:33am
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The 1914-1915 Star
The 1914-1915 Star was sanctioned in December 1918, and nearly identical in design to the 1914 Star. It was awarded to all personnel who served in a any theater of war against the enemy, even those who served at sea, between 5 August 1914 and 31 December 1915. Those already in possession of the 1914 Star were not eligible for the 1914-1915 Star. This medal is always issued with the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 9:34am
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British War Medal
British War Medal. Authorized on 29 July 1919, the British War Medal was awarded to all ranks who rendered service to His Majesty's Forces between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918, or who had served in a theatre of war. Those who had enlisted in the O.M.F.C. in the United Kingdom and had not served in a theatre of war were not entitled to this medal. The requirements for RAF personnel were the same as for the army. Naval personnel were required to have 28 days of mobilized service or to have lost their lives before this period of service was complete.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 9:34am
Rating: 10
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The Merchantile Marine Me
The Merchantile Marine Medal. Established in July 1919, the medal was awarded to those who received the British War Medal and also served at sea on at least one voyage through a danger zone. The medal was also awarded to those who had served at sea for not less than six months between 4 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. This could include licensed pilots, crews of pilotage, crews of lighthouse authority vessels, and post office ships.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 9:35am
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Inter-Allied Victory Meda
Inter-Allied Victory Medal, was agreed to by all allies in March 1919. All medals were to be almost identical to obviate the need to exchange allied medals and each was patterned after a French medal of 1870. The medal was authorized in Britain on 1 September 1919.The medal was awarded to all ranks of the fighting forces, to civilians under contract, and others employed with military hospitals who actually served on the establishment of a unit in a theatre of war between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918 (inclusive). It was also awarded to members of the British Naval mission to Russia 1919 - 1920 and for mine clearance in the North Sea between 11 November 1918 and 30 November 1919. This medal was never issued alone and was always issued with the British War Medal. A multiple-leaved emblem is worn on this medal when it was awarded for WWI for those "Mentioned-in-Despatches."
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 9:36am
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L
L?gion d'Honneur -- This order, the highest French distinction, is awarded to all persons which distinguished themselves through civilian or military valour. The order was instituted early in the 19th century (1802) by the then First Consul, Napoleon Bonaparte, in 4 classes. In 1805 a fifth, and highest class, was added. These classes are :
Grand Croix -
Gold badge worn at left hip on broad scarlet sash from right shoulder to left hip. Star on left breast.
Grand Officer - Gold badge worn on left breast. Star on right breast.
Commandeur - Gold badge worn at neck on scarlet ribbon.
Officer - Gold badge worn on left breast, suspended from scarlet ribbon with rosette.
Chevalier -
Silver badge worn on left breast, scarlet ribbon.
When awarded for war services, the L?gion d'Honneur carried automatic award of the Croix de Guerre with palm. Shown, is the Obverse and Reverse of the 4th class award, i.e. "Officier" as issued between 1870-1940 (French 3rd Republic).
Obverse text : REPUBLIQUE FRAN?AISE 1870
Reverse text : HONNEUR ET PATRIE (Honour and Fatherland)
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 9:37am
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M
M?daille Militaire - This medal is roughly the French counterpart to the Distinguished Conduct Medal. It was awarded only to general officers in charge of armies, admirals in charge of fleets, or non-commissioned officers who distinguished themselves in war. The medal was instituted on 22 January 1852 during the reign of Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, President of the 2nd Republic. The example shown is as issued between 1870-1940 (French 3rd Republic)
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 9:39am
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M
M?daille des ?vad?s -- (Medal for Escaped Prisoners of War, Reverse side shown enlarged) This medal was awarded to military personnel as well as civilians who escaped through enemy lines and put themselves at the disposal of the French military authorities.
It was instituted on 20 August 1926 and could also be awarded to inhabitants of Alsace and Lorraine (two border regions which in the past changed hands between Germany and France a number of times) who deserted from the German Army to enlist in the French Forces.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 9:41am
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M
M?daille Comm?morative Fran?aise 1914-1918 - Awarded to all members of the French Armed Forces who saw service between 2 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. Instituted on 23 June 1920, it could also be conferred on members of the Merchant Navy, medical personnel, local authorities, police of fire brigades of bombed cities etc. Before the Cross for Volunteer Combatants was instituted, a bar "Engag? Volontaire" could be worn on the ribbon.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 9:44am
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M
M?daille de la Fid?lit? Fran?aise - (The Medal for Fidelity to France) instituted on 3 July 1922 and awarded to inhabitants of the two border regions of Alsace and Lorraine, who had been either imprisoned or exiled by the occupying Germans because of their loyalty to France. A bar on the ribbon bears the word "Fid?lit?" and a bronze star indicates each year of imprisonment or exile.
Ribbon = blue with red outer and white inner side stripes an a narrow white edge. Obverse : two women seated, looking out across country. Reverse : a bundle of fasces between crossed oak and laurel sprays, with a 3-foldriband, lettered "Libert? / Egalit? / Fraternit?" (the French national motto). Metal : bronze.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 9:45am
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Verdun Medal
Verdun Medal, created 20 november 1916, for issue to the soldiers in the battle for Verdun -- February to November 1916. There were six or seven different designs for the Verdun Medal's medallion. These were unofficial awards as far as the nation of France was concerned. As such, they could not be 'legally' worn on the military uniform as part of parade-dress.
They were awarded by the town itself, to Allied servicemen who fought between the Argonne and St.Mihel. As such, many American soldiers came back with this medal. Other versions of Verdun medal were struck as replacements, commemoratives, or just souviners, so possession of a Verdun medals does not necessarily denote active service in that area.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:02pm
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Order of Alexander Nevsky
The Order of Alexander Nevsky was planned by Peter the Great as an exclusively military merit award, but he died before it had been awarded to anyone. During the reign of his wife Catherine, the order was established (1725) and bestowed on notable civilians as well as military heroes. Thus, the order had both civil and military awards, the latter being designated (after the mid-1800s) by crossed swords placed diagonally between the arms of the cross-shaped badge. The badge was worn at the left hip on a solid scarlet moire sash. A star of the order was worn on the left breast.
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