Eight
medals were awarded to British merchant seamen who served in World
War Two and who met the qualifications for each medal. The Mercantile
Marine Office usually issued the ribbons at the port, with the
medal normally following on some time later, after it had been
produced by the Mint. It is believed that the Atlantic Star and
the 1939-1945 ribbon were issued in advance of the others.
| Medal |
Qualification |
War
Medal
(1939-1945) |
Generally
awarded if the service period qualified for one of the Stars
and if terminated by death, disability due to service or
capture as a prisoner-of-war. A merchant seaman had to have
served a minimum of 28 days at sea |
Atlantic
Star
(1939-1945) |
Awarded
after the Battle of the Atlantic for service between 3 September
1939 and 8 May 1945 and if the service period was terminated
by their death or disability due to service. The qualifying
service period for the Atlantic Star could only begin after
the 1939-1945 Star had been earned by 6 months' service.
A merchant seaman had to serve in the Atlantic, home waters,
North Russia Convoys or South Atlantic waters. The Atlantic
Star was also awarded to those awarded a gallantry medal,
with no minimum qualifying period. |
| 1939-1945
Star |
Awarded
for service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945
and if the service period was terminated by death or disability
due to service. A merchant seaman could qualify after 6
months' service with at least one voyage in an operational
area. The 1939-1945 Star was also awarded to recipients
of a gallantry medal, with no minimum qualifying period. |
Africa
Star
(1940-1943) |
Awarded
for service between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943, serving
in the Mediterranean. A merchant seaman might also qualify
serving in operations off the Moroccan coast between 8 November
1942 and 12 May 1943. The minimum qualifying period was
one day. |
Pacific
Star
(1941-1945) |
Awarded
for service in the Pacific Ocean, South China Sea or the
Indian Ocean between 8 December 1941 and 2 September 1945.
Generally the qualifying service period for the Pacific
Star could only begin after the 1939-1945 Star had been
earned by 6 months' service. |
Burma
Star
(1941-1945) |
Awarded
for service in the Burma Campaign between 11 December 1941
and 2 September 1945. A merchant seaman qualified serving
within a restricted area in the Bay of Bengal. Generally
the qualifying service period for the Burma Star could only
begin after the 1939-1945 Star had been earned by 6 months'
service. |
France
& Germany Star
(1944-1945) |
Awarded
for service between 6 June 1944 and 8 May 1945, in direct
support of land operations in France, Belgium, Holland or
Germany, in the North sea, the English Channel or the Bay
of Biscay (service off the coast of the south of France
could qualify for the Italy Star, see below). There was
no minimum time qualification for a Merchant Seaman. |
Italy
Star
(1943-1945) |
Awarded
for service between 11 June 1943 and 8 May 1945, in the
Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea. Operations in and around
the Dodecanese, Corsica, Greece, Sardinia and Yugoslavia
after 11 June 1943 would also qualify. Generally the qualifying
service period for the Italy Star could only begin after
the 1939-1945 Star had been earned by 6 months' service.
There were no clasps awarded with the Italy Star. |
A
single oak leaf emblem attached to the War Medal ribbon denotes
a Mention-in-Despatches; the silver oak leaf, a King's Commendation
for Brave Conduct. Even if a person had several "mentions",
he would only have one emblem.
Anyone
who qualified for both the Pacific Star and the Burma Star would
be awarded the first Star earned. A Clasp would be worn to signify
service for the other Star.
Anyone
who qualified for both the France & Germany Star and the Atlantic
Star would be awarded the first Star earned, with a Clasp. A silver
rose on the ribbon bar signifies the award of a bar. |
