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Medals

Which WW2 stars and medals he earned, why they came unnamed, what the ribbons mean, and how to claim any he never collected.

• 6 min read

  How to claim WW2 medals for a relative

  How to claim WW2 medals your relative never collected: who counts as next of kin, what the MOD Medal Office needs, how long it takes, and the Merchant Navy route.

• 6 min read

  How to identify WW2 medals

  Identify WW2 medals fast: the nine campaign stars, the Defence and War Medals, common gallantry crosses, and what an oak leaf or clasp tells you.

• 6 min read

  How to find WW2 gallantry awards in the London Gazette

  Find a relative's WW2 gallantry award: search the London Gazette, then read the recommendation in WO 373. What each award was for, and where citations survive.

• 5 min read

  WW2 medal ribbon chart

  WW2 medal ribbon chart: the colours and meaning of each British campaign star and medal ribbon, the order of wear, and what oak leaves and rosettes mean.

• Service Records

  Order and decode Army, Navy and RAF records.

• Letters & Documents

  Read censor stamps, airgraphs and old paperwork.

• Militaria

  Badges, kit and souvenirs: what you've found.

• Preserving Heirlooms

  Store letters, photos and medals so they last.