Campaign medals - when were they awarded ?

Discussion in 'WW2 Militaria' started by martin14, Jul 24, 2013.

  1. martin14

    martin14 Senior Member

    It was my understanding that campaign medals ( 1939-1945 Star, Africa Star, Italy Star, etc )

    were awarded to veterans only after 1945, when the war ended.


    Were campaign medals given out during the campaigns ?
     
  2. TimRE

    TimRE Member

    I still have my father's original mailing packet that his medals came in, dated 1951. He has the The Italy Star, The 1939-1945 Star, The Defence Medal, and one that just says 1939-1945 on one side.
     
  3. hutchie

    hutchie Dont tell him Pike!!

    As far as I'm led to believe you had to apply for your medals, you got a form from the post office to complete and received your medals unlike ww1 where they were automatically posted out
     
  4. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    As far as I recall - my stars and medals arrived shortly after I was de mobbed in 1947 - no application - just arrived in the mail

    Cheers
     
  5. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Ribbons .... Yes..... Stars & Medals....No.

    That is, at least some of them, and the Africa Star, in general, was being worn in Italy by an awful lot of men.

    I know we have discussed this in another recent thread and I will search for it forthwith.

    Ron
     
  6. bofors

    bofors Senior Member

    Hi

    I agree with Ron, the Africa Star ribbon was worn in Italy before the end of the war, I have a picture of my Dad with only that one.
    Cant find the other discussion?

    regards
    Robert
     
  7. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

  8. martin14

    martin14 Senior Member

    Thank you Ron !

    So it seems the Africa Star was sent out before the end of the war.
    I was wondering when the Burma Star was actually delivered to the troops, but it's a small deal.
     
  9. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Martin

    Note well that it was the RIBBON and not the actual medal that was issued.

    I don't think any actual medals were sent out during the war.

    Ron
     
  10. martin14

    martin14 Senior Member

    Ron, thank you for that clarification.

    :)
     
  11. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    My Father and his comrades (those that were entitled) were issued with their first ribbon, Africa Star, January/February 1944. It caused quite a bit of 'trouble' in Hertford and around the North of London where 51st Highland Division were billeted when the newly arrived Americans turned up with chests full of ribbons.!!!! Dad got his actual medals after wars end. His Military Medal arrived in 1950.
     
  12. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Just checked up with my records

    The sheet below confirms that the Africa Star was authorised on 19/2/44

    Ron
     

    Attached Files:

  13. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    My father received his medals in 1949
     
  14. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    We have discussed this elsewhere on the forum, a little while back though.

    Here is a link to Churchill's statement in the House of Commons, explaining the timing and award of the Africa Star and 1939-43 Star, later 1939-45 Star ribbons.


    http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=1943-08-03a.2091.4
     
  15. zola1

    zola1 Member

    Hi,

    Any tips on the restoration of my late uncles WW2 medals ?....they are looking a bit tired after nearly 70yrs. ;) .

    DSC07528.JPG

    Derrick
     
  16. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Derrick

    You have a bit of a problem there....................

    In my own case, a work colleague completely renovated my own rack and Court Mounted them in the process so that the only "original" parts were the medals themselves. They now look presentable and are easy to clean.

    In your late uncles case I would venture to suggest that apart from taking them off that dreadful bar you leave them alone, un-cleaned and perhaps tastefully place them in a picture frame.

    Ron
     
  17. zola1

    zola1 Member

    Ron,


    Good idea, i don't want to over do them, just a respectful spruce up, i'll do some looking around for a suitable frame ...depth of the medals etc being the main issue and how to support them with the original ribbons being so fragile !


    Derrick
     
  18. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

  19. Hesmond

    Hesmond Well-Known Member

    Back in the 1970s i was a eletricial aprentice to a ex RAF lad who had served in the Western Desert , i recall him discussing medals and when awarded , one point he made with his squadron was the uproar when some lads recived theirs and others did not ,aparently there was a stand off with the co as to if they would be worn on parade untill all the lads had been issued with the medals .
     
  20. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    I have met a few British Officers from Indian Regiments over the years, they had to apply for their own entitlement after the war. Some took a look at the "quality of the WW2 awards and didn't bother", their own words exactly.
     

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