War Medal 1939-1945



The War Medal 1939-1945 was awarded for all the personnel of the armed forces and merchant marines for serving for at least 28 days between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. For members of the Merchant Navy the 28 days had to be served at sea. A few categories of civilians, such as war correspondents, also qualified.



A single oak leaf emblem is worn to signify a ?Mention-in-Despatches? and the silver oak leaf signifying a ?King?s Commendation for Brave Conduct? is worn on the medal. There is no bar or clasps other than these emblems.



The medal is a silver circular medal, 1.42 inches in diameter. The obverse shows the crowned coinage effigy of King George VI, facing left, and the legend GEORGIVS VI D : BR : OMN : REX ET INDIAE IMP :. The reverse of the medal shows a lion standing on the body of a dragon. This dragon is double-headed, one of an eagle and one of a dragon to signify the principal occidental and oriental enemies. At the top are the dates 1939/1945.



The ribbon is 1.25 inches wide and consists of the following vertical coloured stripes : red, dark blue, white, red, (narrow in the centre), white, dark blue and red.



The medal was issued unnamed, except those awarded to personnel of the Canadian Merchant Marine and RCMP, and the Australian and South-African versions, which were named on the rim.



The awards was established on 16 August 1945 and there were 700,000 issued, including 4,450 to the Canadian Merchant Marine.