Awards of
World War IIThe British War Medal is awarded to those who served in the armed forces or merchant navy for at least 28 days between September 3, 1939 and September 2, 1945. For sailors, the ship had to be at sea; days spent in port were not counted. This award is sometimes called the World War II Victory Medal, but this is not its correct name.
Materials
Silver or copper-nickel alloy.
Author
Edward Carter Preston.
Award recipients
Members of the armed forces, as well as merchant seamen.
Reasons for award
Service for at least 28 days.
A total of 700,000 medals were awarded, including 4,450 to sailors of the Canadian Merchant Navy. Several medals were also awarded to civilians who served in the war zone as correspondents and crew members of civilian aircraft.
The medal is round, 36 mm in diameter, made of copper-nickel alloy (less often silver). The obverse of the War Medal 1939-1945 features the effigy of King George VI facing left, with the inscription "GEORGIVS VI D : BR : OMN : REX ET INDIAE IMP" around the rim. The reverse of the award depicts a lion standing on a defeated dragon, along with the dates 1939 and 1945. The dragon has one head of an eagle and the other of a dragon, symbolizing the two main enemies: Germany and Japan.
The medal is attached to a ribbon with stripes of red, blue, and white. The recipient's name is not engraved on the award, with the exception of awards for sailors of the Canadian Merchant Navy, Canadian Mounted Police, Australia, and South African countries; on these medals, the recipient's name is engraved on the rim.
The award ribbon may be decorated with bronze oak leaves if the recipient was "Mentioned in Despatches" and silver oak leaves if the recipient was awarded the "Royal Commendation for Brave Conduct" during service.