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Arthur Browns Campaign Medals

Photographs supplied by Walter Brown in Devon,
Arthur being his first Cousin


 

 

 

The War Medal 1939–1945

This campaign medal which was instituted by the United Kingdom on 16 August 1945, for award to subjects of the British Commonwealth who had served full-time in the Armed Forces between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945


This medal was awarded to all full-time personnel of the Armed Forces of the British Commonwealth wherever they served in the war.

Personnel who were eligible for a campaign star yet who had their service cut short by death, wounds or capture by the enemy, still qualified for this medal. Eligible personnel who had been mentioned in dispatches during the War were entitled to wear a bronze oak leaf emblem on the ribbon.

The medal is of cupro-nickel with the crowned head of King George on the obverse and the lettering "GEORGIVS VID. G: BR. OMN: REX ET INDIAE IMP:" around the edge.
There is a triumphant lion standing on the body of a fantastic two headed creature on the reverse. The ribbon has a narrow red stripe in the centre flanked on either side by a narrow white stripe, broad red stripes at either edge with two intervening stripes of blue

It is sometimes described as the "Victory Medal" for World War II, although that is not its correct name.

1939–1945 Star -

This star was awarded for service in the Second World War between 3rd September 1939 and 2nd September 1945.

Two clasps were instituted to be worn on the medal ribbon, Battle of Britain and Bomber Command.

RAF personnel had to participate in operations against the enemy providing that 2 months service had been completed in an operational unit. Non-aircrew personnel had to complete 6 months service in an area of operational army command.

Members of fighter aircraft crews who took part in the Battle of Britain ) were awarded the "Battle of Britain" bar to this medal.

The criteria is 180 days’ service, although some special criteria apply when, at certain specified times, just 1 days’ service is required. These were actions for which a more specific campaign medal was not issued.

Examples are: France or Belgium: 10 May to 19 June 1940, St.Nazaire 22-28 March 1942, Dieppe: 19 August 1942, Iraq: 10 April to 25 May 1941 and Burma (Enemy Invasion): 22 February 1942 to 15 May 1942.

Also recipients were awarded this star if their service period was terminated by their death or disability due to service.

Also the award of a gallantry medal or Mention in Dispatchers also produced the award of this medal, regardless of their service duration.

The France and Germany Star

This military campaign medal was instituted by the United Kingdom in May 1945 for award to British Commonwealth forces who served in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands or Germany and adjacent sea areas between 6 June 1944 and 8 May 1945, during the Second World War.


Qualifying details for the Royal Air Force.

Air force aircrew had to make one operational sortie over Europe in the above dates and appropriate land or sea areas.
Personnel who flew operations over Europe from Mediterranean bases did not qualify for this award either but for the Italy Star medal.
Non-aircrew personnel qualified under the same conditions as the Army.
Due to British uniform regulations, neither the Atlantic Star nor the Air Crew Europe would be awarded to a recipient of the France and Germany Star.

The recipient of this medal could wear a silver rose emblem on the ribbon of the first star they earned when wearing the ribbons without the medals attached.

 

Notes:
Photographs of campaign medals kindly supplied by Arthurs family in Devon
Research material courtesy of "Forces Records"
22/06/2019