IdentifyMedals Logo

Category: WW2 Medals

The Newfoundland Volunteer War Service Medal

The Newfoundland Volunteer War Service Medal is a British medal created to honor those from Newfoundland & Labrador.

The Newfoundland Volunteer War Service Medal is a British medal created to honor those from Newfoundland & Labrador who served in the British Forces outside of the province from September 3, 1939 through September 2, 1945.

The medal was specifically created to honor service with the British Imperial Forces, the Newfoundland Overseas Forestry Unit, the Merchant Navy and the Newfoundland Regiment, or any other unit or organization prescribed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. It was issued to those who did not receive a volunteer war service medal from another country, and those who had volunteered and served in units contributed by the Dominion of Newfoundland to the allied war effort.

The Newfoundland Volunteer War Service Medal Design

The Newfoundland Volunteer War Service medal is circular, made of bronze and measures 36 millimeters (1.4 in) in diameter.

The obverse has the legend NEWFOUNDLAND VOLUNTEER SERVICE MEDAL 1939-45 around the edge and bears the Crown of King George VI surmounted by a Newfoundland stag caribou. The reverse bears a depictions of Britannia standing, with a spear in her right hand and the sun’s rays behind her. Two lions encircle each side with their heads towards the bottom. The medal is numbered to an applicant on the rim.

The New Zealand War Service Medal

The New Zealand War Service Medal (NZWSM) was awarded to members of the New Zealand armed forces and Reserves during WW2.

The New Zealand War Service Medal (or NZWSM) was awarded to members of the New Zealand armed forces, the National Military Reserve and the Home Guard, as well as the New Zealand Merchant Navy and Naval Auxiliary Patrol Service.

The NZWSM was awarded for 28 days’ full-time aggregated service or six months’ part-time aggregated service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. Service brought to an end by death on duty, or due to wounds sustained on duty, or honorable discharge as a result of such wounds, automatically qualified for award of the medal.

The New Zealand War Service Medal Design

The obverse of the medal shows the uncrowned effigy of King George VI, facing left, with the legend “GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX F:D:IND:IMP.”

The reverse (designed by the historian and typographer Dr John Beaglehole and the wood engraver E Mervyn Taylor) has the inscription “FOR SERVICE TO NEW ZEALAND 1939-1945” above a fern leaf. It was the first distinctively ‘New Zealand’ campaign medal, emphasized by the use of the fern leaf motif on the reverse and suspension, and the national colors of black and white in the ribbon.

Find This Campaign Medal

Right Now on eBay 
Clicking a link to eBay may result in a referral commission being paid if a purchase is made.
Loading...

More WW2 British Campaign Medals

During World War II (1939–1945) British campaign medals were awarded to members of the British Armed Forces and civilians for active service in specific military campaigns or operations. These included:

WW2 Medals and Awards: The Burma Star

The Burma Star

The Burma Star is a military campaign medal for award to subjects of the British Commonwealth who served in the Burma Campaign.

Read More »
WW2 Medals and Awards: The Italy Star

The Italy Star

The Italy Star is a military campaign medal, instituted by the United Kingdom in May 1945 for service in the Italian Campaign 1943 to 1945.

Read More »
The War Medal 1939-1945 Obverse

The War Medal 1939-1945

The War Medal 1939–1945 is a British campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom on 16 August 1945. The medal was awarded to subjects of the British Commonwealth who had served full-time.

Read More »
WW2 Medals and Awards: The Pacific Star

The Pacific Star

The Pacific Star is a British military campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom in 1945 for those who served in the Pacific Campaign.

Read More »
WW2 Medals and Awards: The Arctic Star

The Arctic Star

The Arctic Star is a military campaign medal which was instituted for service on the Arctic Convoys north of the Arctic Circle in WW2. 

Read More »

See all WW2 British Campaign Medals >

The India Service Medal

The India Service Medal – 1939-1945 is a Commonwealth campaign medal awarded to Indian Forces for three years service in India in WW2.

The India Service Medal – 1939-1945 is a Commonwealth campaign medal awarded to Indian Forces for three years non-operational service in India during the Second World War.

The India Service Medal was awarded to Forces including Reserve, State and Womens’ forces, for at least three years non-operational service in India between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. It was issued in addition to, and worn immediately after, British campaign World War II medals (although those eligible for the Defence Medal could not receive the India Service Medal as well).

The India Service Medal - 1939-1945 Design

The India Service Medal is circular and made of cupro-nickel. It measures 36mm in diameter.

The obverse of the medal has the crowned effigy of King George VI facing left, with the legend “GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX ET INDIAE IMP.” The reverse shows a relief map of India and the words “INDIA” above and “1939-45” below.

The medal was awarded unnamed.

Find This Campaign Medal

Right Now on eBay 
Clicking a link to eBay may result in a referral commission being paid if a purchase is made.
Loading...

More WW2 British Campaign Medals

During World War II (1939–1945) British campaign medals were awarded to members of the British Armed Forces and civilians for active service in specific military campaigns or operations. These included:

The War Medal 1939-1945 Obverse

The War Medal 1939-1945

The War Medal 1939–1945 is a British campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom on 16 August 1945. The medal was awarded to subjects of the British Commonwealth who had served full-time.

Read More »
WW2 Medals and Awards: The Arctic Star

The Arctic Star

The Arctic Star is a military campaign medal which was instituted for service on the Arctic Convoys north of the Arctic Circle in WW2. 

Read More »

See all WW2 British Campaign Medals >

The Australian Service Medal 1939-1945

The Australia Service Medal 1939–1945 is a military medal (Great Britain, Australia) that recognizes service in Australia’s armed forces, Mercantile Marine, and Volunteer Defence Corps during World War II.

The Australia Service Medal 1939–1945 is a military medal (Great Britain, Australia) that recognizes service in Australia’s armed forces, Mercantile Marine, and Volunteer Defence Corps during World War II. This award was instituted in 1949.

Australian Forces during the Second World War also qualified for the campaign stars and medals authorized for all British and Commonwealth Forces.

Qualifying Period for the Australian Service Medal 1939-1945

The qualifying period was, at first, at least 18 months of full-time service at home or overseas, or at least three years of part-time service, between the dates of 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945 – and no minimum qualifying period was required for those killed, wounded, or disabled due to service. This qualifying period was changed on 16 August 1996, when it was reduced to 30 days for full-time service and 90 days for part-time service.

Order of Wear for the Australian Service Medal 1939-1945

The Australia Service Medal worn immediately after the War Medal 1939–1945.

The Australia Service Medal 1939–1945 Design

The Medal is circular and made of cupro-nickel. It measures 36 millimeters (1.4 inches) in diameter and has the recipient’s name is impressed on the rim.

The obverse of the medal shows the crowned effigy of King George VI and surrounded by the inscription ‘GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX ET INDIAE IMP‘. The reverse of the Australian Service Medal 1939-1945 shows the coat of arms of the Commonwealth of Australia surrounded by the words ‘THE AUSTRALIA SERVICE MEDAL 1939–1945’.

Ribbon 

The ribbon measures 32 millimeters (1.3 inches) wide and has a wide khaki central stripe (represents the Army), flanked by two narrow red stripes. The edge stripes are dark blue on the left and light blue on the right (representing the Mercantile Marine, Navy, and Air Force respectively). 

The Australia Service Medal 1939–1945 Images

WW2 Medals and Awards: The Australia Service Medal
The Australia Service Medal 1939-1945 - Obverse
Australia Service Medal 1939 - 1945 Reverse
The Australia Service Medal 1939-1945 - Reverse

Ribbon Bar

Australia Service Medal 1939–1945 - Ribbon bar

The ribbon bar, like the ribbon of the Australia Service Medal 1939-1945, has a wide khaki central stripe flanked by two narrow red stripes (dark blue on the left and light blue on the right).

More About This Medal

There are two official documents you can access through the Australian government’s Defence Website:

Find This Campaign Medal

Right Now on eBay 
Clicking a link to eBay may result in a referral commission being paid if a purchase is made.
Loading...

More WW2 British Campaign Medals

During World War II (1939–1945) British campaign medals were awarded to members of the British Armed Forces and civilians for active service in specific military campaigns or operations. These included:

WW2 Medals and Awards: The Italy Star

The Italy Star

The Italy Star is a military campaign medal, instituted by the United Kingdom in May 1945 for service in the Italian Campaign 1943 to 1945.

Read More »
The War Medal 1939-1945 Obverse

The War Medal 1939-1945

The War Medal 1939–1945 is a British campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom on 16 August 1945. The medal was awarded to subjects of the British Commonwealth who had served full-time.

Read More »

See all WW2 British Campaign Medals >

The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal

The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal is a British medal granted to persons of any rank in the Naval, Military or Air Forces of Canada.

The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal is a British medal granted to persons of any rank in the Naval, Military or Air Forces of Canada who voluntarily served on Active Service from September 3, 1939, to March 1, 1947.

Members of the Naval, Military or Air Forces of Canada were eligible if they had voluntarily served on Active Service and honourably completed eighteen months (540 days) total service.

The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal Design

The medal is circular and made of silver (.925 fine silver). It measures 1.42 inches (36 mm) in diameter.

The obverse depicts seven marching figures, representing men and women of the army, air force, navy and nursing service. Around the rim is the inscription 1939 CANADA 1945 VOLUNTARY SERVICE VOLONTAIRE. The seven marching figures were based on real people taken from the National Defence photographs. The reverse shows the coat of arms of Canada. Medals were issued unnamed. The medal was designed by the war artist Major Charles Comfort.

A total of 650,000 medals were awarded.

Find This Campaign Medal

Right Now on eBay 
Clicking a link to eBay may result in a referral commission being paid if a purchase is made.
Loading...

More WW2 British Campaign Medals

During World War II (1939–1945) British campaign medals were awarded to members of the British Armed Forces and civilians for active service in specific military campaigns or operations. These included:

WW2 Medals and Awards: The Pacific Star

The Pacific Star

The Pacific Star is a British military campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom in 1945 for those who served in the Pacific Campaign.

Read More »
WW2 Medals and Awards: The Burma Star

The Burma Star

The Burma Star is a military campaign medal for award to subjects of the British Commonwealth who served in the Burma Campaign.

Read More »
WW2 Medals and Awards: The Italy Star

The Italy Star

The Italy Star is a military campaign medal, instituted by the United Kingdom in May 1945 for service in the Italian Campaign 1943 to 1945.

Read More »

See all WW2 British Campaign Medals >

The War Medal 1939-1945

The War Medal 1939–1945 is a British campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom on 16 August 1945. The medal was awarded to subjects of the British Commonwealth who had served full-time.

The War Medal 1939–1945 is a British campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom on 16 August 1945. The medal was awarded to subjects of the British Commonwealth who had served full-time (28 days of service) in the Armed Forces or the Merchant Navy for at least 28 days between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945.

The medal was also available for subjects commissioned or enlisted into British Forces who had not received a similar award from their own Governments. Also eligible were full-time paid members of the specially approved colonial and other military forces, militarised police and militarised civilian bodies.

Personnel who were eligible for a campaign star but had had their service cut short by death, wounds or capture by the enemy, still qualified for the War Medal 1939-1945.

The War Medal 1939–1945 Design

The War Medal 1939–1945 is made of silver or cupro-nickel in the shape of a disk. It measures 36 millimeters (1.42 inches) in diameter. While the British issue medals were struck in cupro-nickel, those awarded in Canada were done in silver.

The obverse shows the crowned coinage effigy of King George VI, facing left and signed “PM” below the truncated neck of the effigy. Around the perimeter is the legend “GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX ET INDIAE IMP:”.

The reverse shows a lion standing wanton on the body of a double-headed dragon. The dragon’s heads are those of an eagle and a dragon, to signify the principal occidental and oriental enemies during the Second World War. At the top, just to the right of center are the years “1939” and “1945” in two lines.

As with the other Second World War campaign medals, a no-engraving policy was applied by all but four British Commonwealth countries.

The ribbon features the colours of the British Union Jack and measures 32 millimetres wide (with a 6½ millimetres wide red band, a 6½ millimetres wide blue band and a 2 millimetres wide white band, repeated in reverse order and separated by a 2 millimetres wide red band).

Find This Campaign Medal

Right Now on eBay 
Clicking a link to eBay may result in a referral commission being paid if a purchase is made.
Loading...

More WW2 British Campaign Medals

During World War II (1939–1945) British campaign medals were awarded to members of the British Armed Forces and civilians for active service in specific military campaigns or operations. These included:

The War Medal 1939-1945 Obverse

The War Medal 1939-1945

The War Medal 1939–1945 is a British campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom on 16 August 1945. The medal was awarded to subjects of the British Commonwealth who had served full-time.

Read More »
WW2 Medals and Awards: The Italy Star

The Italy Star

The Italy Star is a military campaign medal, instituted by the United Kingdom in May 1945 for service in the Italian Campaign 1943 to 1945.

Read More »

See all WW2 British Campaign Medals >

The Pacific Star

The Pacific Star is a British military campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom in 1945 for those who served in the Pacific Campaign.

The Pacific Star is a military campaign medal of the British Commonwealth nations, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. It was established in 1945 to recognize service in the Pacific Theater during World War II.

The Pacific Star was awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth forces who served in specified territories and operational areas in the Pacific region between December 7, 1941, and September 2, 1945. These areas included Southeast Asia, the Pacific Ocean, and the Indian Ocean.

The Pacific Star serves as a symbol of recognition for the bravery, dedication, and sacrifices made by military personnel who served in the challenging and often harsh conditions of the Pacific Theater during World War II. It honors their contributions to the Allied efforts in the region.

The Pacific Star Design

The set of nine campaign stars was designed by the Royal Mint engravers. They are six–pointed stars, struck in yellow copper zinc alloy to fit into a 44 millimetres diameter circle.

The obverse has a central design of the Royal Cypher “GRI VI”, surmounted by a crown and the inscription “THE PACIFIC STAR”.

The reverse is plain and follows a no-engraving policy.

The ribbon of the Pacific Star medal consists of three equal vertical stripes of color: The left and right stripes of the ribbon are dark blue, representing the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, and the central stripe is light blue, symbolizing the tropical skies and waters of the Pacific Theater.

The combination of dark and light blue stripes on the ribbon represents the unique and challenging environment in which military personnel served during the Pacific campaign of World War II.

Find This Campaign Medal

Right Now on eBay 
Clicking a link to eBay may result in a referral commission being paid if a purchase is made.
Loading...

More WW2 British Campaign Medals

During World War II (1939–1945) British campaign medals were awarded to members of the British Armed Forces and civilians for active service in specific military campaigns or operations. These included:

WW2 Medals and Awards: The Pacific Star

The Pacific Star

The Pacific Star is a British military campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom in 1945 for those who served in the Pacific Campaign.

Read More »
WW2 Medals and Awards: The Burma Star

The Burma Star

The Burma Star is a military campaign medal for award to subjects of the British Commonwealth who served in the Burma Campaign.

Read More »
The War Medal 1939-1945 Obverse

The War Medal 1939-1945

The War Medal 1939–1945 is a British campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom on 16 August 1945. The medal was awarded to subjects of the British Commonwealth who had served full-time.

Read More »
WW2 Medals and Awards: The Arctic Star

The Arctic Star

The Arctic Star is a military campaign medal which was instituted for service on the Arctic Convoys north of the Arctic Circle in WW2. 

Read More »

See all WW2 British Campaign Medals >

The Italy Star

The Italy Star is a military campaign medal, instituted by the United Kingdom in May 1945 for service in the Italian Campaign 1943 to 1945.

The Italy Star is a military campaign medal, instituted by the United Kingdom in May 1945 for award to subjects of the British Commonwealth who served in the Italian Campaign from 1943 to 1945.

After their victory in North Africa, the Allies used their positions in Tunisia and Malta to invade Sicily (from 10 July to 17 August 1943). After this swift victory, the Allies pressed on into Italy and, when the Italian Campaign began on 3 September 1943, became the first Allied forces to land back on mainland Europe since the Canadian-led Dieppe Raid on 19 August, 1942. They also invaded Italian occupied Greece, Yugoslavia, Corsica and Sardinia. The campaign in Italy itself continued until the end of the war in Europe on 8 May 1945.

The set of nine campaign stars was designed by the Royal Mint engravers. They are six–pointed stars, struck in yellow copper zinc alloy to fit into a 44 millimetres diameter circle. The obverse has a central design of the Royal Cypher “GRI VI”, surmounted by a crown and the inscription “THE ITALY STAR”. The reverse is plain and follows a no-engraving policy.

The Italy Star Design

The set of nine campaign stars was designed by the Royal Mint engravers. They are six-pointed stars, struck in a yellow copper zinc alloy to fit into a 44 millimeters diameter circle. All of them all have a ring suspender which passes through an eyelet above the uppermost point of the star.

The obverse has a central design of the Royal Cypher “GRI VI”, surmounted by a crown and the inscription “THE ITALY STAR”. The reverse is plain and follows a no-engraving policy.

The ribbon measures 32 millimeters wide, with a 7 millimeters wide red band and a 6 millimeters wide white band, repeated in reverse order and separated by a 6 millimeters wide green band (representing the Flag of Italy).

Find This Campaign Medal

Right Now on eBay 
Clicking a link to eBay may result in a referral commission being paid if a purchase is made.
Loading...

More WW2 British Campaign Medals

During World War II (1939–1945) British campaign medals were awarded to members of the British Armed Forces and civilians for active service in specific military campaigns or operations. These included:

WW2 Medals and Awards: The Pacific Star

The Pacific Star

The Pacific Star is a British military campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom in 1945 for those who served in the Pacific Campaign.

Read More »
WW2 Medals and Awards: The Burma Star

The Burma Star

The Burma Star is a military campaign medal for award to subjects of the British Commonwealth who served in the Burma Campaign.

Read More »

See all WW2 British Campaign Medals >

The France and Germany Star

The France and Germany Star is a military campaign medal awarded to subjects of the British Commonwealth who served during WW2.

The France and Germany Star is a military campaign medal established by the United Kingdom in May 1945 and awarded to subjects of the British Commonwealth that had served between 6 June 1944 and 8 May 1945 in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands or Germany and adjacent sea areas.

The Allies launched their final campaign in Northwest Europe on D-Day on 6 June 1944. Over the next eleven months, the allied forces advanced across Western Europe and liberated German-occupied France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

Personnel who qualified for the France and Germany Star, the Atlantic Star or the Air Crew Europe Star were awarded only that star for which they first qualified and a clasp in respect of the first earned of the other two stars.

The France and Germany Star Design

The set of nine campaign stars was designed by the Royal Mint engravers. They are six-pointed stars, struck in a yellow copper zinc alloy to fit into a 44 millimeters diameter circle. All of them all have a ring suspender which passes through an eyelet above the uppermost point of the star.

The obverse of the medal has a central design of the Royal Cypher “GRI VI“, surmounted by a crown and the inscription “THE FRANCE AND GERMANY STAR“. The reverse is plain and follows a no-engraving policy (the British Honours Committee decided that WW2 campaign medals would be issued unnamed, except for Indians, South Africans and Australians).

Find This Campaign Medal

Right Now on eBay 
Clicking a link to eBay may result in a referral commission being paid if a purchase is made.
Loading...

More WW2 British Campaign Medals

During World War II (1939–1945) British campaign medals were awarded to members of the British Armed Forces and civilians for active service in specific military campaigns or operations. These included:

WW2 Medals and Awards: The Arctic Star

The Arctic Star

The Arctic Star is a military campaign medal which was instituted for service on the Arctic Convoys north of the Arctic Circle in WW2. 

Read More »
The War Medal 1939-1945 Obverse

The War Medal 1939-1945

The War Medal 1939–1945 is a British campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom on 16 August 1945. The medal was awarded to subjects of the British Commonwealth who had served full-time.

Read More »

See all WW2 British Campaign Medals >

The Defence Medal (United Kingdom)

The Defence Medal is a campaign medal instituted in 1945 awarded to subjects of the British Commonwealth for service during WW2.

The Defence Medal is a campaign medal that was instituted by the United Kingdom in May 1945 and awarded to subjects of the British Commonwealth for both non-operational military and certain types of civilian service during the Second World War.

The Defence Medal was awarded to British, British Commonwealth, and British Colonial personnel who served from or outside their home countries in a non-operational area or in an area subject to threat, such as attacks from the air; and for non-operational service in the Armed Forces, the Home Guard, the Civil Defence Service and other approved civilian services. The length of qualifying service required for the award of the Defence Medal varied, depending on where and in what role an individual served.

Eligible civilian service in the United Kingdom included civilian services whose members were eligible for Chevrons for war service (Civil Defence services, fire service, police, civil air transport, nurses, lighthouse keeps and Women’s Voluntary Services for Civil Defence among others.)

The Defence Medal Design

The medal measures 36 millimeters (1.42 inches) in diameter. The British issue medals were struck in cupro-nickel, while those awarded in Canada were struck in silver.

The obverse of the Defence Medal shows the bareheaded effigy of King George VI, facing left. Around the perimeter is the legend “GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX F:D:IND:IMP.”

The reverse shows the Royal Crown resting on an oak sapling, flanked by a lion and a lioness above stylised waves. At the top left is the year “1939” and at the top right the year “1945”. The exerguehas the words “THE DEFENCE MEDAL” in two lines.

Find This Campaign Medal

Right Now on eBay 
Clicking a link to eBay may result in a referral commission being paid if a purchase is made.
Loading...

More WW2 British Campaign Medals

During World War II (1939–1945) British campaign medals were awarded to members of the British Armed Forces and civilians for active service in specific military campaigns or operations. These included:

WW2 Medals and Awards: The Pacific Star

The Pacific Star

The Pacific Star is a British military campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom in 1945 for those who served in the Pacific Campaign.

Read More »
WW2 Medals and Awards: The Burma Star

The Burma Star

The Burma Star is a military campaign medal for award to subjects of the British Commonwealth who served in the Burma Campaign.

Read More »

See all WW2 British Campaign Medals >