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Category: Post-WW2 Medals

The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal

The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal was established to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Queen’s accession.

The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (or Médaille du jubilé de platine de la reine Elizabeth II in French), also known as the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal, is a commemorative medal established to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession in 1952.

The medal was awarded in the United Kingdom to individuals working in public service, including the Armed Forces, emergency services, and prison services.

In Canada, six out of ten provinces issued their own medals, marking the first time a royal occasion has been commemorated with provincial medals. These medals were awarded to outstanding volunteers, members of the Canadian Armed Forces and emergency services, and others who made significant contributions to society, with particular emphasis in some provinces on the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, reconciliation with First Nations and Inuit, and environmental protection.

The Queen’s Caribbean realms also established a medal program for the Platinum Jubilee, recognizing members of the emergency services who responded to hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as members of the defense and police forces.

The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal Design

In the United Kingdom, the medal, made of nickel silver, features the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty on the obverse. The reverse displays the helm, crest, and mantling of the royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom, excluding Scotland.

The ribbon incorporates silver edges to represent the Silver Jubilee, blue from the Golden Jubilee medal’s ribbon, and red from the Diamond Jubilee ribbon. The Worcestershire Medal Service is responsible for manufacturing the medal.

In Canada, the designs of the medals are similar across all the provinces that produced one, differing only in the depiction of the shield from each province’s coat of arms and the province’s official flower. The wild rose represents Alberta, the prairie crocus for Manitoba, the purple violet for New Brunswick, the mayflower for Nova Scotia, the pink lady’s slipper for Prince Edward Island, and the western red lily for Saskatchewan.

All medals are silver in color, 32mm in diameter, and feature a ring suspension. The obverse shows the same crowned effigy of the Queen used for the Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. The reverse displays the Queen’s royal cypher with the dates of her reign—1952 and 2022—at the top, the provincial shield of arms in the center, flanked by renderings of the province’s official flower, and the motto “VIVAT REGINA” (“long live the Queen!”) at the base.

The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal was created in 2012 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession in 1952.

The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (or Médaille du jubilé de diamant de la reine Elizabeth II in French), also known as The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, was created in 2012 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession in 1952.

There are four versions of this medal: one issued by the United Kingdom, another by Canada, a third for the Caribbean realms (including Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), and a fourth issued by Papua New Guinea.

These different versions of the medal were awarded to tens of thousands of recipients across the Commonwealth realms during the jubilee year.

The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal Design

The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, named by Order in Council, was designed by Cathy Bursey-Sabourin and manufactured by the Royal Canadian Mint. The Canadian medal features a crowned effigy of the Queen with the inscription “ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA • CANADA” on the obverse. The reverse displays the Queen’s royal cypher on a diamond shield, surrounded by maple leaves and the dates 1952 and 2012, with “VIVAT REGINA” below.

In the UK, the medal, designed by Timothy Noad, shows the Queen’s effigy by Ian Rank-Broadley on the obverse with the inscription “ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FID DEF.” The reverse has a faceted hexagon with a crowned royal cypher and the years 1952 and 2012.

Eight Caribbean Commonwealth realms issued their own Diamond Jubilee medals, featuring the Queen’s effigy and the inscription “DIAMOND JUBILEE HM QUEEN ELIZABETH II” on the obverse. The reverse shows the royal cypher with “CARIBBEAN REALMS” above and the years 1952–2012 below. These medals are rhodium-plated.

Papua New Guinea also issued its version, similar to the Caribbean medal but with “PAPUA NEW GUINEA” above the royal cypher.

The Canadian and British medals are suspended from a broad red ribbon with blue outer stripes and central double white stripes with a red stripe between. The Caribbean medal ribbon has a black stripe between the white stripes, and the Papua New Guinea ribbon features a lighter red with yellow replacing blue, reflecting the national flag colors.

All four versions of the medal were awarded unnamed.

The Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal

The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal is a commemorative medal created in 2002 to mark the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession.

The Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (or Médaille du jubilé d’or de la Reine Elizabeth II in French), also known as the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, was created in 2002 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession in 1952.

In Canada, the medal was awarded to individuals who made significant contributions to public life. In the UK, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal was given to active personnel in the British Armed Forces and emergency personnel who had completed five years of qualifying service.

The Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal Design

The Canadian and British medals had different designs:

United Kingdom

The medal is made of cupronickel with a gilt finish. The obverse depicts the Queen wearing St. Edward’s Crown, surrounded by the inscription “ELIZABETH • II • DEI • GRA • REGINA • FID • DEF.” The reverse features the shield of the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom, flanked by the years 1952 and 2002.

Canada

The medal is a gold-plated bronze with a thin raised edge. The obverse features an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, crowned with the George IV State Diadem, circumscribed by the words “QUEEN OF CANADA • REINE DU CANADA.” The reverse displays a stylized maple leaf with “CANADA” at the bottom and the years 1952 and 2002 on either side of the Royal Cypher and crown.

Both medals were issued unnamed and are suspended from the same broad royal blue ribbon with red outer stripes and, at the center, double white stripes with a red stripe between.

The Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal

The Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal was established in 1977 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession.

The Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (or Médaille du jubilé d’argent de la reine Elizabeth II in French) was created in 1977 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession in 1952.

The medal is identical across all realms where it was awarded, with the exception of Canada, which features unique elements. As an internationally distributed award, the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal occupies a distinct position in each country’s order of precedence for honors.

The Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal was established by a Royal Warrant from the Queen.

Prior to 1977, the practice for coronation and jubilee medals involved the United Kingdom authorities deciding on the total number of medals to be produced and then allocating quantities to each Dominion and possession across the British Empire, and later, to each Commonwealth country. Starting in 1977, the distribution of the medals was at the discretion of each national government. Consequently, 30,000 medals were distributed in Britain, 1,507 in New Zealand, 6,870 in Australia, and 30,000 in Canada.

The Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal Design

The Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal in the UK was designed by David Wynne. It is a 32 millimeter (1.3 inch) diameter silver disc.

The obverse features the inscription “ELIZABETH II DEI GRA. REGINA FID. DEF.” (Latin for “Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith”) surrounding an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, symbolizing her role as the fount of honor. The reverse side displays a crown atop a wreath containing the words “THE 25th YEAR OF THE REIGN OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II 6 February 1977” arranged in six lines.

The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal

The medal, established in 1953, was given as a personal memento from the Queen to members of the Royal Family and selected officers of state.

The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal is a commemorative medal established on 2 June 1953 and instituted to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

This medal was given as a personal memento from the Queen to members of the Royal Family and selected officers of state, including members of the Royal Household, government officials, mayors, public servants, local government officials, and members of the navy, army, air force, and police in Britain, as well as her colonies and Dominions. It was also awarded to members of the Mount Everest expedition, two of whom reached the summit four days before the coronation. The medal was struck at the Royal Mint and distributed immediately after the coronation.

For Coronation and Jubilee medals, up until 1977, the practice was for the authorities in the United Kingdom to decide on the total number to be produced and then allocate a proportion to each of the Commonwealth countries, Crown dependencies, and other possessions of the Crown. The government of each territory had the discretion to decide who would receive a medal and for what reasons.

In total, 129,051 medals were awarded, including:

  • 11,561 to Australians.
  • 12,500 to Canadians.

The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal Design

The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal is a silver disk measuring 1.25 inches in diameter. The obverse features a crowned effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, facing right, adorned in a high-collared ermine cloak and wearing a Tudor Crown along with the Collar of the Garter and Badge of the Bath. It lacks a raised rim and any inscriptions.

The reverse displays the Royal Cypher “EiiR” topped by a large crown, with the inscription “QUEEN ELIZABETH II CROWNED 2nd JUNE 1953” around the edge. The medal was designed by Cecil Thomas.

The dark red ribbon is 1.25 inches (32 mm) wide, featuring 2 mm wide white edges and two narrow dark blue stripes in the center, each 2 mm wide and 1.6 mm apart.

The Philippine Liberation Medal

The Philippine Liberation Medal was created in 1944 and presented to those who participated in the liberation of the Philippine Islands.

The Philippine Liberation Medal, a military honor of the Republic of the Philippines, was established by an order from the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines Headquarters on December 20, 1944, initially known as the Philippine Liberation Ribbon. This decoration was bestowed upon any service member, whether from the Philippine Commonwealth or allied militaries, who partook in the liberation of the Philippine Islands spanning from October 17, 1944, to September 2, 1945. A full-sized medal was later authorized and introduced on July 22, 1945.

The purpose of the Philippine Liberation Medal is to acknowledge military service during the final eleven months of World War II, marked by the expulsion of the Japanese military from the Philippines preceding their surrender in September 1945.

The Philippine Liberation Medal Criteria

To qualify for the Philippine Liberation Medal, a service member must have fulfilled one of the following conditions:

  1. Participation in the initial landing operation of Leyte and adjacent islands occurring from October 17 to 20, 1944. This entails being part of the landing forces on Leyte or adjacent islands, serving aboard a vessel in Philippine waters, or being a crew member of an aircraft that flew over Philippine territory during that period.
  2. Engagement in any combat against hostile Japanese forces on Leyte and adjacent islands throughout the Philippine Liberation Campaign from October 17, 1944, to September 2, 1945.
  3. Participation in any combat against hostile Japanese forces on islands beyond the aforementioned ones during the Philippine Liberation Campaign from October 17, 1944, to September 2, 1945.
  4. Service in the Philippine Islands or aboard ships in Philippine waters for a minimum of 30 days within the specified period.

Individuals awarded the medal for their involvement in any of the above operations are entitled to add a bronze 3⁄16″ service star to the Philippine Liberation Medal for each additional qualifying action.

Members of the United States Armed Forces, including the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary, were also eligible for the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, often accompanied by a service star, for their participation in the liberation of the Philippines.

The Philippine Defense Medal

The Philippine Defense Medal is a military decoration awarded to recognize the initial resistance against Japanese invasion 1941-1942.

The Philippine Defense Medal, a military decoration of the Republic of the Philippines, acknowledges the initial resistance against the Japanese invasion spanning from December 8, 1941, to June 15, 1942.

Initially established as the Philippine Defense Ribbon in December 1944, it was later upgraded to a full-sized medal in July 1945.

The Philippine Defense Medal was awarded to United States and Philippine Commonwealth troops who defended the Philippines at Bataan and subsequently endured the Bataan Death March.

The Philippine Defense Medal Criteria

The Philippine Defense Medal is bestowed upon any service member, whether from the Philippine military or an allied armed force, who took part in defending the Philippine Islands during the specified period. This includes engagement against the enemy on Philippine territory, in Philippine waters, or in the airspace above. Individuals qualify if they:

(A) Participated in any engagement against the enemy, such as:

  1. Serving in the defense garrison of the Bataan Peninsula or fortified islands at the entrance to Manila Bay.
  2. Being present with a unit under enemy fire or air attack.
  3. Serving on a ship under enemy fire or air attack.
  4. Being a crewmember or passenger in an aircraft under enemy aerial or ground fire.

(B) Were assigned or stationed in Philippine territory or waters for at least 30 days during the period.

(C) Those meeting the conditions of (A) and (B) are authorized to wear a bronze service star on the ribbon.

The Armed Forces Conduct Medal (Philippines)

The Armed Forces Conduct Medal is a military decoration warded to enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces for serving two successive terms.

The Armed Forces Conduct Medal is a military honor conferred by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

It is granted to enlisted members who have completed two consecutive terms of service without any disciplinary infractions on their record.

The Military Commendation Medal (Philippines)

The Military Commendation Medal is a military decoration presented for exemplary execution of military duty.

The Military Commendation Medal is bestowed upon members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in recognition of their outstanding performance of military duties.

As for its design, the medal takes the form of an upward-pointing, bronze-colored three-pointed star, with a small five-pointed star positioned at its center. Adorning the bottom of the star is a golden wreath, which extends upwards, passing under and appearing between the arms of the star.

It is worn suspended from a green ribbon featuring three wide central stripes in white.

The Military Civic Action Medal

The Military Civic Action Medal is a military decoration awarded for meritorious achievement in the conduct of humanitarian civic actions.

The Military Civic Action Medal, a distinction within the Armed Forces of the Philippines, acknowledges commendable efforts in executing humanitarian civic actions that directly support military operations.

This medal is conferred upon both military and civilian members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and may extend to allied foreign nationals. It recognizes outstanding achievements in civic action either as part of duty responsibilities or in direct aid to military operations.

Awarding Authority Recipients of the Military Civic Action Medal are selected by the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Area Commanders, Armed Forces of the Philippines-Wide Support and Separate Units, as well as Commanders of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, or Philippine Air Force. Division and Brigade commanders, along with their counterparts in the Philippine Air Force and Navy, also possess the authority to bestow this honor.

The Military Civic Action Medal Design

The medal features a golden disc depicting a stylized image of a gear held aloft by a pair of hands, encircled by a green wreath on its front. Behind the medal, four rays extend in the cardinal directions, overlapping the wreath.

It hangs from a blue ribbon, featuring a central green stripe flanked on either side by equal stripes of white and red