Awards and decorations of the British Armed Forces explained

The British Armed Forces recognises service and personal accomplishments of individuals while a member of the Royal Navy, British Army or Royal Air Force with the awarding of various awards and decorations.

Together with rank and qualification badges, such awards are a means to outwardly display the highlights of a serviceperson's career.

Order of wear

All services use a common order of wear, in accordance with the 2019 order of wear:^[1]

1. The Victoria Cross and the George Cross
2. United Kingdom Orders
3. United Kingdom Decorations
4. Order of St John (all classes)
5. United Kingdom Medals for Gallantry and for Distinguished Service
6. United Kingdom Campaign and Operational Service Medals (including authorised United Nations medals and medals of other recognised international organisations). Worn in order of date of award
7. United Kingdom Polar Medals
8. United Kingdom Police Medals for Valuable Service
9. United Kingdom Jubilee, Coronation and Durbar Medals
10. Long Service and Efficiency Awards
11. Commonwealth Orders, Decorations and Medals instituted by the Sovereign. Worn in order of date of award.
12. Commonwealth Orders, Decorations and Medals instituted since 1949 otherwise than by the Sovereign (including those of the States of Malaysia and the State of Brunei). Worn in order of date of award.
13. Foreign Orders. If approved for wear, worn in order of date of award.
14. Foreign Decorations. If approved for wear, worn in order of date of award.
15. Foreign Medals. If approved for wear, worn in order of date of award.

Jubilee, Coronation and Durbar medals were worn before campaign medals until November 1918, after which the order of wear was changed, with them now worn after campaign medals and before long service awards.^[2]

British military medals and ribbons

Military orders and decorations

Emblem	Description	Postnom	Established	Eligibility Period [1]	Remarks
Level 1 Decorations
		VC	5 February 1856^[3]	Jan 1856 – present	For valour in combat.
		GC	24 September 1940^[4]	1940 – present	For valour other than in combat.
Orders – First Class
	Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (Military Division)	GCB	27 May 1725^[5] ^[6]	27 May 1725 – present	Prior to 2 January 1815, this grade was known as a Knight Companion of the Order of the Bath.
	Member of the Order of Merit (Military Division)	OM	23 June 1902^[7]	23 June 1902 – present
	Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division)	GBE	24 August 1917^[8] ^[9]	4 June 1917 – present
Orders – Second Class
	Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath (Military Division)	KCB DCB	2 January 1815	2 January 1815 – present
	Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division)	KBE DBE	24 August 1917	4 June 1917 – present
Orders – Third Class
	Companion of the Order of the Bath (Military Division)	CB	2 January 1815	1815 – present
	Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division)	CBE	24 August 1917	4 June 1917 – present
Level 2A Decoration (Order)
		DSO	9 November 1886^[10]	1885 – present^[11]	From Oct 1993 awarded for leadership only. Replaced for gallantry in Oct 1993 by the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross.
Orders – Fourth Class
	Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division)	OBE	24 August 1917	4 June 1917 – present
Orders – Fifth Class
	Member of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division)	MBE	24 August 1917	4 June 1917 – present
Level 2A Indian Order (Decoration)
	Indian Order of Merit (1st Class) (Military Division)	IOM		1837–1911	Replaced by the VC in 1911.
	Indian Order of Merit (2nd Class) (Military Division)	IOM		1837–1947
	Indian Order of Merit (3rd Class) (Military Division)	IOM		1837–1947
Level 2A Decorations
		CGC	October 1993	1993 – present
		RRC	27 April 1883	1883 – present
Level 3A Decorations
		DSC	June 1901	1901 – present	Awarded only to officers until 1993.
		MC	Dec 1914^[12]	1914 – present
		DFC	June 1918	1918 – present
		AFC	3 June 1918^[13]	1918 – present
		ARRC	27 April 1883	1917 – present
		OBI		1837–1947
		OBI		1837–1947
Level 2B Medals
		DCM	1854	1854–1993	Replaced in Oct 1993 by the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross.
		CGM		1874–1993
		CGM	1874	1874–1993
		GM	September 1940	1940 – present
			1907	1907–1942
			1907	1907–1942
Level 3B Medals
		IDSM	June 1907	1907–1947
		DSM	October 1914	1914–1993	Equivalent awards for ORs to similarly named crosses for officers.
		MM	25 March 1916	1916–1993
		DFM	June 1918	1918–1993
		AFM	3 June 1918	1918–1993
		SGM	10 August 1854	1854 – present
		BGM	10 May 1940^[14]	1940–1948
		KGM	20 June 1974	1974 – present
	British Empire Medal (Military Division)	BEM	24 August 1917	4 June 1917 – 1993 2012–present
		KVRM	1999	1999 – present
Level 4 Commendations
		Nil	1919	1914 – present	Insignia attached to appropriate campaign medal; if no campaign medal awarded, insignia attached after any medal ribbons
		Nil	1943	1939–1994
		Nil	1942	1939–1994
		Nil	1994	1994 – present
		Nil	1994	1994 – present
		Nil	1994	1993 – present

Note [1] Eligibility period start dates reflect respective establishment dates, except where available evidence indicates otherwise.

Military campaign medals

Emblem	Description	Established	Eligibility Period	Remarks
18th Century Campaign Medals
Yellow Cord		1766	1766^[15]	HEIC Issue. Awarded to Native officers who helped quell a mutiny among European troops.
Yellow Cord		1784	1778–1784	HEIC Issue. Awarded in gold to Subadars, silver gilt to Jemadars and other native officers, and silver to 'native' non-commissioned officers and soldiers.
Yellow Cord		1 April 1793	1790–1792	HEIC Issue. Awarded in gold to Subadars, silver gilt to Jemadars and Serrangs, and silver to 'native' non-commissioned officers and soldiers.
19th Century Campaign Medals
		1801	March 1799 – 8 May 1799	HEIC Issue. Awarded in gold, silver gilt, silver, bronze and tin dependent upon rank and position to both British and native soldiers. Authorised for British Army wear on 29 August 1815. Several other ribbons were worn unofficially.
Yellow Cord		31 July 1802	8 March – 31 August 1801	HEIC Issue. Awarded in gold to senior officers, and silver to all others eligible.
		1806	1808–1814	Issued to senior officers with battle/action clasps where appropriate.^[16]
Yellow Cord		15 May 1807	1795–1796	HEIC Issue. Awarded in gold to 'native' officers, and silver to 'native' non-commissioned officers and soldiers.
		1810	1808–1814	Issued to senior officers with battle/action clasps where appropriate.
Yellow Cord	Medal for capture of Rodrigues, Isle of Bourbon and Isle of France	1811	1809-1810	HEIC Issue. Awarded in gold to native officers, and silver to native non-commissioned officers and soldiers.
Yellow Cord		1812	1811	HEIC Issue. Awarded in gold to more senior native officers, and silver to native non-commissioned officers and soldiers.
		1816	16 – 18 June 1815
		1816	1814-1816	HEIC Issue. Awarded to native officers and to selected native non-commissioned officers and soldiers.
		1819	1818	HEIC Issue. Awarded to selected native and European non-commissioned officers and soldiers.
		1826	1824–1826	HEIC Issue. Awarded in gold to native officers and silver to native non-commissioned officers and soldiers.^[17]
Yellow Cord		1837	1837	HEIC Issue. Awarded to selected members of local forces.
		1839	21 – 23 July 1839	HEIC Issue.
		1842	1839–1842	HEIC Issue.
		1842	November 1841 – 16 April 1842	HEIC Issue.
		1842	February – May 1842	HEIC Issue.
		1843	5 July 1840 – 29 August 1842	Issued with clasps for Second China War where appropriate.
		22 September 1843	1842–1843	HEIC Issue. Issued in one of three types: "Meeanee 1843", "Hyderabad 1843" and "Meeanee/Hyderabad 1843".
		1843	1843	HEIC Issue, issued for the Battle of Gwalior, which was fought at Maharajpur and Panihaar. Medals indicated in central disc of star the battleground for which it was issued^[18]
		1843	29 December 1843	HEIC Issue.
		1843	29 December 1843	HEIC Issue.
		17 April 1846	7 September 1845 – 14 March 1849	HEIC Issue. Issued with battle/action clasps where appropriate.
		1847	1793–1840	Always issued with battle/action clasps.
		1 June 1847	1793–1814	Always issued with battle/action clasps.
		2 April 1849	7 September 1848 – 14 March 1849	HEIC Issue. Issued with battle/action clasps where appropriate.
		21 March 1851	1803–1826	HEIC Issue. Always issued with battle/action clasps.
		11 March 1854	1852–1895	Issued in silver. From 1885, issued in bronze to non-enlisted support personnel. Always issued with battle/action clasps.
		1854	1834–1835 1846–1847 1850–1853
		15 Dec 1854	1854–1856	Issued with battle/action clasps where appropriate.
		23 April 1856	1854–1855
		1858	1857–1858	Issued with battle/action clasps where appropriate.
		6 March 1861	1856–1860	Issued with battle/action clasps where appropriate.
		1869	1845–1848 1860–1866
		1869	October 1867 – April 1868
		1899	1866–1870
		June 1874	1873–1874
		Aug 1880	1877–1879	Issued with campaign clasp where appropriate.
		1881	1878–1880
		March 1881	1880
		Oct 1882	1882–1889
		1899	1886–1897	Issued by the Royal Niger Company for minor military operations.
		1892	13 November 1887 – 8 May 1900
		1895	1891–1894	Issued in silver to combatants and in bronze to support personnel.
		1 April 1896	3 March 1895 – 10 March 1902	Always issued with appropriate campaign clasps.
		1896	1895–1896
		1899	1896–1898
		1899	20 July 1897 – 2 May 1899	Always issued with appropriate campaign clasps.
		Apr 1901	11 October 1899 – 31 May 1902	Issued in silver to officers and enlisted personnel and in bronze to non-enlisted support personnel. Issued with appropriate battle or state clasps where appropriate.
		1902	1899–1902
20th Century Campaign Medals
Pre–World War
		1901	1900	Issued in silver to officers and enlisted personnel and in bronze to non-enlisted support personnel. Issued with battle/action clasps where appropriate.
		1901	March – December 1901
		1902	1 January – 1 June 1902	Issued with clasps South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902 where appropriate.
		1902	1900 – 1956
		1903	1899 – 1902	For South Africa or China.
		1 February 1905	13 December 1903 – 23 September 1904	Issued in silver to officers and enlisted personnel and in bronze to non-enlisted support personnel.
		1 January 1909	1908–1935	Issued in silver to officers and enlisted personnel and, during 1908–1912, in bronze to non-enlisted support personnel. Always issued with appropriate campaign clasps.
World War I
		Apr 1917	5 August – 22 November 1914	Issued with clasp 5 Aug – 22 November 1914 where appropriate.
		Dec 1918	5 August 1914 – 31 December 1915
		26 July 1919	5 August 1914 – 11 November 1918	Issued in silver to officers and enlisted soldiers and in bronze to non-enlisted support personnel.
		1 September 1919	5 August 1914 – 11 November 1918 1919–1920 11 Nov 1918 – 30 November 1919	World War 1. Issued with MID oak leaf cluster where appropriate. British Naval Mission to Russia North Sea mine clearance
		Apr 1920	4 August 1914 – 11 November 1918
		1 September 1919	4 August 1914 – 11 November 1918
Inter-World War
		6 August 1915	1909 – 23 December 1962	Always issued with appropriate campaign clasps.
		19 January 1923	12 November 1918 – 23 December 1962	Always issued with appropriate campaign clasps.
		3 August 1938	1936 – 1939	Always issued with appropriate campaign clasps. Issued with MID oak leaf where appropriate.
World War II
		July 1943	3 September 1939 – 2 September 1945	Issued with clasps Battle of Britain or Bomber Command where appropriate.
		May 1945	3 September 1939 – 8 May 1945	Issued with clasps Air Crew Europe or France and Germany where appropriate.
		December 2012	3 September 1939 – 8 May 1945	Awarded for any length of operational service north of the Arctic Circle by members of the British Armed Forces and the Merchant Navy. The qualifying period recognises the particular severity of the conditions experienced by those who served in the Arctic.
		May 1945	3 September 1939 – 5 June 1944	Issued with clasps Atlantic or France and Germany where appropriate.
		July 1943	10 June 1940 – 12 May 1943	Issued with clasps 8th Army or 1st Army or North Africa 1942 – 43 where appropriate.
		1945	8 December 1941 – 2 September 1945	Issued with clasp Burma where appropriate.
		1945	11 December 1941 – 2 September 1945	Issued with clasp Pacific where appropriate.
		May 1945	11 June 1943 – 8 May 1945
		May 1945	6 June 1944 – 8 May 1945	Issued with clasp Atlantic where appropriate.
		16 August 1945	3 September 1939 – 2 September 1945	Issued with KCBC silver oak leaf where appropriate.
		16 August 1945	3 September 1939 – 2 September 1945	Issued with MID bronze oak leaf or KCBC silver oak leaf where appropriate.
		6 June 1946	3 September 1939 – 2 September 1945
		22 October 1943	3 September 1939 – 1 March 1947	Issued with Maple Leaf, Dieppe, Hong Kong or Bomber Command clasps where appropriate.
		23 Dec 1943	6 September 1939 – 2 September 1945	Awarded by the Union of South Africa. Issued with the King's Commendation (South Africa) (1939–45) emblem where appropriate.
		Nov 1949	3 September 1939 – 2 September 1945
		30 Sept 1948^[19]	3 September 1939 – 2 September 1945
		1948	1939 – 1945
		17 Dec 1993	3 September 1939 – 2 September 1945
Post–World War
		Jul 1951	1 July 1950 – 27 July 1953
		21 November 2022	1952–1967	Issued for service as part of the UK's nuclear weapons testing programmes^[20]
		6 October 1964	24 December 1962 – 31 July 2007^[21]	Always issued with appropriate campaign clasps. Replaced 1918 GSM.
		1980	1 December 1979 – 20 March 1980^[22]	Recipients also received the Zimbabwean Independence Medal, although this is not authorised for wear^[23] ^[24]
		1982	2 April – 12 July 1982^[25]	Issued with Rosette for service between 35° and 60° South.
			2 April – 21 October 1982^[26]	Issued without Rosette for service between 7° and 60° South
		1992	2 August 1990 – 7 March 1991	Issued with clasp August 1990 or 6 Jan to 28 February 1991 where appropriate.
21st Century Campaign Medals
See below	Operational Service Medal (OSM)	1 January 2000^[27]	See below	Replaced General Service Medal 1962. Issued with a separate ribbon for each campaign.
		2002	5 May 2000 – 31 July 2002	Issued with Rosette for Op BARRAS or Op MAIDENLY where appropriate.
		2003	11 September 2001 – present	Issued with Afghanistan or Operation Pitting clasps where appropriate.
		2005	14 June 2003 – 10 September 2003	Always issued with Clasp DROC.
		23 February 2004	20 January 2003 – 22 May 2011	Issued with clasp 19 Mar to 28 April 2003 where appropriate.
		26 June 2004	19 March 2003 – 2013
		6 April 2011	9 November 2001 – present
		11 June 2015	23 March 2014 – 29 March 2016^[28]	First UK campaign medal issued for response to humanitarian crisis.^[29]
		2015	January 2008 – present^[30]	New GSM Medal for recipients that do not qualify for other medals.^[31] Always issued with appropriate clasps.
		2018	26 September 2014 – present	Issued with Clasp Iraq and Syria for service in area of operations.
		2023	TBC	General medal issued for humanitarian service.^[32] Always issued with appropriate clasps
		2024	11 December 2018 – present	General medal issued for service on operations that do not meet criteria for GSM or other campaign medals.^[33]

Notes:

Coronation, Jubilee and Durbar medals

Emblem	Description	Established	Date of Event	Remarks
	Queen Victoria Golden Jubilee Medal^[34]	1887	21 June 1887	Issued in Gold, Silver or Bronze
		1897	20 June 1897	Issued in Gold, Silver or Bronze
		1902	26 June 1902	Issued in Silver or Bronze
	King Edward VII Delhi Durbar Medal	1903	January 1903	Issued in Gold or Silver
		1911	23 June 1911	Civil/Military award
		1911	December 1911	Issued in Gold or Silver
		1935	6 May 1935
		1937	12 May 1937
		1953	2 June 1953
		1977	6 February 1977
		2002	6 February 2002
		2012	6 February 2012
		2022	6 February 2022	On 12 November 2020, the British Government announced that a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal would be struck and awarded in 2022.^[35] The Platinum Jubilee Medal was awarded to people who work in public service, including representatives of the Armed Forces, the emergency services and the prison services.^[36] ^[37]
		2023	6 May 2023

Efficiency and long service decorations and medals

Emblem	Description	Post nom	Estab.	Eligibility Period	Remarks
Meritorious Service
	Meritorious Service Medal (Army)	–		1845 – present
	Meritorious Service Medal (Royal Navy)	–	1919	1928 – present
	Meritorious Service Medal (Royal Marines)	–	1849	1947 – present
	Meritorious Service Medal (Royal Air Force)	–	1918	1928 – present
Accumulated Campaign Service
		–	1994	1969–2011	Replaced with ACSM 11
		–	2011	2008 –	Qualifying period reduced from 36 to 24 months
Long Service and Good Conduct
		–		1830–1930	Army
		–		1930 – present	Army
		–		1830–1847	Navy
		–		1848 – present	Navy
Meritorious Service (resumed)
		MSM		1918–1928
Long Service and Good Conduct (resumed)
		–			For Europeans of the Indian Army.
Meritorious Service (resumed)
		–			For Europeans of the Indian Army.
		–		1849–1947
		–		1918–1928
Long Service and Good Conduct (resumed)
		–		1919 – present	Air Force
		–
		–	1909	1919–1932
	Indian Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (for the Indian Army)	–
		–
		–
		–
Meritorious Service (resumed)
	Indian Meritorious Service Medal (for the Indian Army)	–
		–
Part Time Forces Long Service
		ERD
		VD		1892–1930
		–		1894–1930	HAC ribbon
		VD		1894–1899
		–		1896–1930
		VD			1921–1927
		–
Gunnery
		–	1903	1903–14
Part Time Forces Long Service (resumed)^[38]
		–	1904	1904–1930
		–	1904	1904–1908
	Territorial Decoration	TD	1908	1908–1999
	Territorial Decoration (HAC)	TD	1908	1908–1999
		–	1968	1968–1972
	Efficiency Decoration	TD/ED		1930–
	Efficiency Decoration (HAC)	TD		1930–1999
	Efficiency Decoration (T&AVR)	TD		1967–1999
	Territorial Force Efficiency Medal	–	1908	1908–1921
	Territorial Efficiency Medal	–	1921	1921–1930
	Efficiency Medal	–		1930–1999
	Army Emergency Reserve Efficiency Medal	–	1953	1953–1967
	Efficiency Medal (Territorial & Volunteer Reserve)	–		1930–1999
	Efficiency Medal (HAC)	–		1930–1999
		–	1908	1908–1930
		RD		1908–1999
		VRD
		–
		–
		–
		–
		–
		–
		AE		1942–1999	Only award to officers entitles use of postnominal.
	Volunteer Reserves Service Medal	VR		1999 – present
	Volunteer Reserves Service Medal (HAC)	VR		1999 – present
		UD			Only award to officers entitles use of postnominal.
		–
Marksmanship
		–	1966	1966–
		–	1958	1955–
		–	1869	1870–82 1923–
		–	1953	1953–
Part Time Forces Long Service (resumed)
		–	February 1950	1950 – present
		–
		–
		CD		1949 – present
		–	1950	1941–1995
		–
		–
		–
Voluntary Service Medals
		–	1961	1961–
		–	1945	1939–1946

National independence medals

Emblem	Description	Estab.	Eligibility Period	Remarks
		1910
		1947
		1949
		1955	1949–51
		1961
		1962
		1960
		1962
		1964
		1970
		1975
		1978

Foreign and international

International campaign medals

Worn with other United Kingdom campaign medals in order of date of issue (except where noted otherwise).

Emblem	Description	Eligibility Period	Remarks
		27 June 1950 – 27 July 1955	Established 12 December 1950
		10 July 1960 – 30 June 1964^[39]
		27 March 1964 – present
		1 April 1989 – 31 March 1990
		1989–1990^[40] 3 Jul 1992 – 12 January 1996 Apr 1991 – present	For: Peshawar UNOCHA Sarajevo Airlift Iraq UNSCOM
		1 April 1991 – 6 October 2003
		1 April 1991 – present
		25 July 1991 – 30 June 1992^[41]	For service in the Former Yugoslavia.
		1 October 1991 – 31 March 1992
		1 March 1992 – 31 December 1995
		1 April 1992 – 30 September 1993
		1 July 1992 – 31 December 2002^[42]	Issued with clasp Former Yugoslavia.
		1 July 1992 – 31 December 1996	For Service in the Former Yugoslavia.
		23 August 1993 – present
		1 October 1993 – 31 March 1996
		1 February 1995 – 1 June 1997
		Jan 1996 – Jan 1998
		1 June 1998 – 30 September 1999
		13 October 1998 – 31 December 2002	Issued with clasp Kosovo.
		7 June 1999 – 24 October 1999
		10 June 1999 – present
		1 October 1999 – present
		25 October 1999 – present
		30 November 1999 – present
		15 September 2000 – present
		1 June 2001 – 31 December 2002
		1 January 2003 – 20 December 2004 1 Jan 2003 – 29 Mar 2010 1 Jan 2003 – 31 March 2003	Issued with clasp Non Article 5 for: Balkans Kosovo Macedonia
	NATO Non-Article 5 medal for the Balkans	29 Mar 2010 – present
		2 Dec 2004 – present	Issued with clasp Althea.
		23 Mar 2011 – 31 Oct 2011	Issued with clasp OUP-LIBYA/LIBYE.
		30 June 2014 – 30 May 2015	Issued with clasp EUFOR RCA.
	Multinational Force and Observers Medal	March 1982 - present	First awarded in 2017; retrospective for service from 1982 onwards^[43] Silver numerals on ribbon indicate additional periods of service
	United Nations Service medal for UNMISS	2011–present
		2003 – present	Issued with clasp Meritorious.

Commonwealth orders

Worn after all United Kingdom awards (including international awards treated as United Kingdom awards). Honorary awards are worn before substantive awards.

Commonwealth decorations

Worn after all Commonwealth orders.

Commonwealth campaign and commemorative medals

Worn after all Commonwealth decorations.

Emblem	Description	Established	Eligibility Period	Remarks
			12 August 1966 – present^[44]	Sultanate of Brunei. Seconded forces only.
			31 August 1957 – 15 September 1963	Malaysia. Seconded forces only.
		Malaysia 2004	31 August 1957 – 31 December 1966	Permission to wear as at 6 Nov 11.
			12 December 1963 – 30 November 1967	Kenya. Seconded forces only.
		1959^[45] ^[46]	23 May 1965 – 30 September 1976	Oman. Seconded forces only. Referred to in JSP761 as Muscat/Oman Dhofar Campaign Medal.
			11 August 1966 – 31 December 1989	Malaysia. Seconded forces only.
			1 June 1994 – 26 April 2003	Republic of South Africa. BMATT personnel only.
		25 March 2000^[47]	16 September 1999 – 10 April 2000	Australia
		1992^[48]	10 June 1940 – 8 September 1943	Malta. Not able to be worn whilst in Crown Service

Foreign orders

Worn after all Commonwealth awards.

Emblem	Description	Established	Eligibility Period	Remarks
		1799	1799–1801	Ottoman Empire. Knight First Class and Knight Second Class. Awarded to senior British officers during the Napoleonic wars.
		19 May 1802	1914–1918 1944	France. Awarded to surviving United Kingdom citizens who participated on French soil in the Great War (1914–18),^[49] or in the French liberation campaigns (1944).^[50]

Foreign decorations

Worn after all foreign orders.

Foreign campaign and commemorative medals

Worn after all foreign decorations.

Emblem	Description	Established	Eligibility Period	Remarks
		21 February 1856^[51]	1854–1856^[52]	Ottoman Empire
			1882–1891	Khedivate of Egypt. Bronze star. Issued to all who were awarded the Egypt Medal.
			1896–1899	Khedivate of Egypt.
			1910	Khedivate of Egypt.
		1963	23 May 1965 – 30 June 1976	Sultanate of Oman. Issued with clasp Dhofar where applicable. Seconded forces only.
		1970	23 July 1970	Sultanate of Oman. Seconded forces only.
		1979	1 July 1976 – 17 November 1985	Sultanate of Oman. Seconded forces only.
		1976	23 May 1965 – 2 December 1975	Seconded forces only. Referred to in JSP761 as the 'Muscat Victory Medal (As Sumood)'.
		1985	1941–1945	USSR. For Arctic convoy service. Also known as the Russian Convoy Medal 1941–1945 40th Anniversary Medal.^[53]
		2000	18 November 2000	Sultanate of Oman. Seconded forces only.
		2005	18 November 2005	Sultanate of Oman. Seconded forces only.
	40th Renaissance Medal	2010	18 November 2010	Sultanate of Oman. Seconded forces only.
	45th Renaissance Medal	2015	18 November 2015	Sultanate of Oman. Seconded forces only.

Campaign medals authorised for acceptance but not for official wear

Official permission has been granted for these medals to be accepted, but they are not authorised for wear.^{[41] [42]}

Emblem	Description	Eligibility Period	Remarks
		17 January 1991 – 28 February 1991	Saudi Arabia Established 1991
		2 August 1990 – 31 August 1993	Kuwait Established 1994
		26 October 2001 – present	Issued with clasp Article 5.
		16 May 2002 – present	Issued with clasp Article 5.
		14 June 2003 – 10 December 2003	Issued with clasp Artemis for service in the Congo.
		8 December 2008 – present	Issued with clasp EUNAVFOR ATALANTA for service in counter-piracy operations.

Campaign medals not authorised for acceptance or official wear

Official permission has been refused for these medals to be accepted and they are not authorised for wear.^[42]

Emblem	Description	Eligibility Period	Remarks
		8 October 2005 – 1 February 2006	Issued with clasp Pakistan.
		1 June 2003 – present^[54]	Issued with clasp ISAF.
		18 August 2004 – present	Issued with clasp NTM-Iraq.
		13 July 2005 – present	Issued with clasp AMIS.

Devices

Emblem	Description	Remarks
		Represents the award of a bar to a decoration, or service in a specified zone of the area of operations when used on a campaign medal. They are worn when the ribbon only is worn. For selected campaign medals, they are also worn on the riband of the campaign medal (when worn with full or miniature medals) to indicate service in a specified zone.
	Crossed silver oakleaves	From 14 January 1958, any individual made a member of the Order of the British Empire for gallantry (in the grades of Commander, Officer, Member), or awarded the British Empire Medal for gallantry, could wear an emblem of two crossed silver oak leaves on the same riband, ribbon or bow as the badge.
		A bar is worn on the riband of a decoration (when worn with full or miniature medals) to denote each additional award of the decoration. Bars are positioned with even spacing between the top and the bottom of the ribbon.
		Worn on the riband of campaign medals (when worn with full or miniature medals) to denote the particular campaign, battle, or region the recipient operated in to receive the award. Clasps are positioned at the bottom of the ribbon with successive clasps placed adjacent to each other (with a small gap). The earliest earned clasp is positioned at the bottom whilst the most recent is placed at the top.

See also

• Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom
• British campaign medals
• List of military decorations
• State decoration

References

Bibliography

• Book: Duckers, Peter. British Campaign Medals 1815–1914. 2000. 2008. Shire Publications. Oxford. 978-0-7478-0465-9. 44397385. DuckersBCM1815.
• Book: Duckers, Peter. 2. British Campaign Medals 1914–2005. 2001. 2008. Shire Publications. Oxford. 978-0-7478-0649-3. 72145103. DuckersBCM1914.
• Book: Duckers, Peter. 2. British Gallantry Awards 1815–2000. 2001. 2010. Shire Publications. Oxford. 978-0-7478-0516-8. 248128466. DuckersGallantry.
• Book: Duckers, Peter. 2. British Orders and Decorations. 2004. 2009. Shire Publications. Oxford. 978-0-7478-0580-9. 55587484. DuckersOD.
• Book: Duckers, Peter. 2. The Victoria Cross. 2005. 2006. Shire Publications. Oxford. 978-0-7478-0635-6. 61302377. DuckersVC.
• Book: Honours and Appointments Secretariat. Order of Wear. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121015000000/http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/documents/digitalasset/dg_068133.pdf. dead. 15 October 2012. Adobe Acrobat. 3 January 2015. c. 2004. UK Honours and Appointments Secretariat. London. HASOOW2004.
• Book: London Gazette. Dates for the Introduction of Medals as shown by the Royal Warrants Published in the London Gazette. Microsoft Word. 30 May 2010. 7 April 2009. London Gazette. London. LGIntro2009.
• Book: Martin, Stanley. The Order of Merit: One Hundred Years of Matchless Honour. 2007. I.B. Tauris & Co. New York. 978-1-86064-848-9. 50527777. 14 June 2010. Martin2007.
• Book: Ministry of Defence. JSP761 – Honours and Awards in the Armed Forces . Adobe Acrobat. 12 March 2017. 5th. October 2016. UK Ministry of Defence. London. JSP761.
• Book: Tinson, Ashley R.. Orders, Decorations and Medals of the Sultanate of Oman. 1977. 1995. Spink. London. 0-907605-59-1. 5616224.

External links

• UK Ministry of Defence Medals Office
• UK Ministry of Defence Medals Office – British Armed Forces Medals: Decorations, campaign medals and other awards awarded 'On Her Majesty's Service'
• The UK Honours System
• Cabinet Office Ceremonial Secretariat website
• London Gazette website
  • Medals of the World – United Kingdom Medals
• War Medals and Their History Detailed historical information on British military and naval awards from the Spanish Armada to World War I

Notes and References

1. Guidance on the Order of Wear
2. Book: Howard N Cole.. Coronation and Royal Commemorative Medals.. 3. Published J. B. Hayward & Son, London. 1977.
3. London Gazette, "Dates for the Introduction of Medals", p. 5.
4. London Gazette, "Dates for the Introduction of Medals", p. 3.
5. , Subjoined Statutes of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.
6. Duckers, Peter, British Orders and Decorations, pp. 21–24.
7. Martin, Stanley, The Order of Merit, p. 31.
8. , Statutes of the Order of the British Empire.
9. Duckers, Peter, British Orders and Decorations, pp. 30–32.
10. London Gazette, "Dates for the Introduction of Medals", p. 2.
11. , DSO Awards for the Battle of Ginnis and Third Anglo-Burmese War
12. London Gazette, "Dates for the Introduction of Medals", p. 4.
13. London Gazette, "Dates for the Introduction of Medals", p. 1.
14. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/37252/pages/4443 Royal Warrant for the Burma Gallantry Medal
15. Book: Steward, W. Augustus. War Medals and Their History. 1915. Stanley Paul and Company. 978-1-4086-9712-2. 9–17. 31 August 2010. London. Google Books. 459070961.
16. Book: Steward, W. Augustus. War Medals and Their History. 1915. Stanley Paul and Company. 978-1-4086-9712-2. 25–26. 31 August 2010. London. Google Books. 459070961.
17. Book: Joslin, Litherland and Simpkin.. British Battles and Medals.. 101. Published Spink, London. 1988.
18. http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/coins/collection/watson/page411.html Gwailor Campaign Star (Maharajpoor)
19. http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/warrants/c1warrant.html Royal Warrant – New Zealand War Service Medal
20. Web site: 'An enduring symbol of gratitude': Thousands who took part in UK's nuclear test programme to receive medal . Robinson, James . 21 November 2022 . Sky News . 28 July 2023 .
21. Ministry of Defence, JSP761, Chapter 8, Annex A, para 3, 'General Service Medal 1962'
22. Ministry of Defence, JSP761, Chapter 12, Annex B, 'Wearing of Orders, Decorations and Medals by Service Personnel'
23. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/56878/supplement/3353 The Zimbabwean Independence Medal is not mentioned in the official British order of wear.
24. Book: John Mussell . Medal Yearbook 2013 . 2013 . Token Publishing . Honiton, Devon . 978-1908828002 . 393 .
25. Ministry of Defence, JSP761, Chapter 8, Annex A, para 1, 'Medals for Individual Campaigns or Operations'
26. https://www.gov.uk/medals-campaigns-descriptions-and-eligibility Medals: campaigns, descriptions and eligibility
27. Ministry of Defence, JSP761, Chapter 8, Annex A, para 2, 'Operational Service Medal'
28. Web site: The Ebola Medal for Service in West Africa . June 2015 . gov.uk . HMSO . 12 June 2015 .
29. Web site: Ebola medal for over 3000 heroes . . 11 June 2015 . gov.uk . HM Government . 12 June 2015 .
30. Web site: Defence Secretary awards new medal to 46 troops . 12 June 2016 . Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) . 12 June 2016 .
31. Web site: Armed Forces personnel from Plymouth among first to receive new medals . Channon . Max . 11 June 2016 . Plymouth Herald . 12 June 2016 .
32. Web site: New British Humanitarian Medal to honour UK disaster rescuers . . 23 July 2023 . BBC News . BBC . 23 July 2023 .
33. Web site: Operational medals is broadened with the new Wider Service Medal . . 26 March 2024 . UK Government . 28 March 2024 .
34. Book: Howard N Cole.. Coronation and Royal Commemorative Medals.. 1, ribbon chart. Published J. B. Hayward & Son, London. 1977.
35. Web site: Extra Bank Holiday to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
36. News: Queen's Platinum Jubilee to include extra bank holiday. BBC News. 12 November 2020. 2020-11-12. en.
37. Web site: Extra Bank Holiday to mark The Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022. 2020-11-12. GOV.UK. en.
38. Web site: Archived copy . 29 August 2010 . 3 December 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081203220533/http://www.remuseum.org.uk/articles/medal_Aug07.pdf . dead .
39. Ministry of Defence, JSP761, Chapter 8, Annex A, para 4, 'United Nations'
40. Ministry of Defence, JSP761, Chapter 8, Annex A, para 5, 'United Nations Special Service Medal'
41. Ministry of Defence, JSP761, Chapter 8, Annex A, para 9, 'European and Other International'
42. Ministry of Defence, JSP761, Chapter 8, Annex A, para 6, 'NATO'
43. London Gazette 11 January 2019 Supplement:62529 Page:328
44. Ministry of Defence, JSP761, Chapter 8, Annex A, para 8, 'Foreign and Commonwealth'
45. Web site: Arab Medals – Oman. gmic.co.uk. Gentlemen's Military Interest Club. 13 June 2010. 6 February 2007.
46. Web site: Barrio. Antonio Prieto. Ribbon Collection – Oman. Colecciones Militares. en, ar. gif.
47. Book: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S159 International Forces East Timor Medal Letters Patent and Regulations. AusInfo. 978-0-642-43441-8. 15 June 2010. Canberra. 30 March 2000.
48. Web site: Rooker. R.J. 152 Hyderabad F Squadron Battle Honours and Medals. 152hyderabad.co.uk/]. 15 June 2010.
49. Web site: The London Gazette: 15 October 1998. Issue: 55282. Notice ID:L-55282-24SI..
50. Web site: MOD press release: 25 July 2014. Legion d'Honneur awarded to surviving veterans of 1944 French campaigns..
51. Web site: Hayward. John. Numismatic Notes Part 7: After the War was Over – Turkish Crimea Medal 1856–1862. spink.com]. Spink. 15 June 2010. London. https://web.archive.org/web/20110725040923/http://www.spink.com/resources/research_articles/john_hayward/jh7.asp. 25 July 2011. dead. Date based on offer to British forces by the Sultan of Turkey.
52. Duckers, Peter, British Campaign Medals 1815–1914, p. 17.
53. Web site: The Russian Convoy Medal . veterans-uk.info . Service Personnel and Veterans Agency . London . 15 June 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110113145616/http://www.veterans-uk.info/medals/russian.html . 13 January 2011 .
54. http://www.nato.int/shape/about/natomedals.htm NATO Medals