Second World War Medals

The following campaign stars and medals were instituted in recognition of service in the Second World War and are worn in the order shown:

1. 1939-45 Star

   The ribbon is dark blue, red and light blue in three equal vertical stripes and is worn with the dark blue stripe furthest from the left shoulder.
   Clasp or Emblem (if awarded): Battle of Britain

2. Atlantic Star

   The ribbon is blue, white and sea green shaded and watered and is worn with the blue edge furthest from the left shoulder.
   Clasp or Emblem (if awarded): Air Crew Europe or France and Germany

3. Air Crew Europe Star

   The ribbon is light blue with black edges and a narrow yellow stripe on either side.
   Clasp or Emblem (if awarded): Atlantic or France and Germany

4. Arctic Star

   The ribbon has seven vertical stripes, one narrow stripe of light blue at either edge, one in white at the centre, with intervening stripes of dark blue and red on both sides.

5. Africa Star

   The ribbon is pale buff, with a central vertical red stripe and two narrower stripes, one dark blue, the other light blue. This ribbon is worn with the dark blue stripe furthest from the left shoulder.
   Clasp or Emblem (if awarded): 8^th Army, 1^st Army or North Africa 1942-43

6. Pacific Star

   The ribbon is dark green with red edges, a central yellow stripe, and two narrow stripes, one dark blue, the other light blue. This ribbon is worn with the dark blue stripe furthest from the left shoulder.
   Clasp or Emblem (if awarded): Burma

7. Burma Star

   The ribbon is dark blue with a wide central red stripe flanked on either side by stripes of orange in the centre of the blue.
   Clasp or Emblem (if awarded): Pacific

8. Italy Star

   The ribbon consists of five vertical stripes of equal width, one in red at either edge and one in green at the centre, the two intervening stripes inwhite.

9. France and Germany Star

   The ribbon consists of five vertical stripes of equal width, one in blue at either edge and one in red at the centre, the two intervening stripes in white.
   Clasp or Emblem (if awarded): Atlantic

10. Defence Medal

    The ribbon is flame coloured with green edges, upon each of which is a narrow black stripe.
    Clasp or Emblem (if awarded): A bronze oak leaf emblem awarded to those who received a King's Commendation.

11. Canadian Volunteer Service Medal

    The ribbon is green, scarlet, royal blue, scarlet and green.
    Clasp or Emblem (if awarded): A silver clasp with a maple leaf emblem in relief for overseas service, the Dieppe Bar for those who participated in the Dieppe Raid on August 19, 1942, the Hong Kong Bar for those involved in the Battle of Hong Kong between December 8 - 25, 1941, and the Bomber Command Bar for service with Bomber Command between September 3, 1939 and May 8, 1945.

12. War Medal 1939-45

    The ribbon consists of a narrow central red stripe with a narrow white stripe at either side followed by two intervening blue stripes and a broad red stripe at either edge.
    Clasp or Emblem (if awarded): A bronze oak leaf awarded to those who were Mentioned in Despatches.

Clasps

In the following instances, where someone qualified for the award of more than one campaign star or clasp, only the star first earned will be granted, the award of the second star being denoted by the wearing of a clasp on the ribbon of the star first earned.

1939-45 Star

The clasp "Battle of Britain" is granted only for personnel who flew in fighter aircraft engaged in the Battle of Britain between July 10 and October 31, 1940 and is worn on the ribbon of the 1939-45 Star.

Atlantic Star, Air Crew Europe Star and France and Germany Star

Personnel qualifying for the Atlantic Star, the Air Crew Europe Star or the France and Germany Star, or two of these stars, will be awarded only the campaign star for which they first qualified. They will, however, be awarded a clasp to show that they rendered qualifying service for a second star. A further clasp will not be awarded to those who rendered service which would have qualified for the third star.

The Africa Star

A clasp "North Africa 1942-43" may be earned for service with the 8^th Army between October 23, 1942 and May 12, 1943, with the 1^st Army between November 8, 1942 and May 12, 1943, or with the 18^th Army Group Headquarters between February 15 and May 12, 1943 if personnel did not already qualify for either the 8^th or 1^st Army Clasp.

Pacific Star and Burma Star

The Pacific Star and the Burma Star are alternative awards. Personnel, who by their service qualified for both the Pacific and the Burma Stars, will be awarded only the campaign star for which they first qualified. They will, however, be awarded a clasp to show that they rendered service which qualified for the second star.