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Information
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The
Registry of Shipping & Seamen
distribute medals issued to Merchant Seamen (not commemorative medals).
To claim medals you need proof of the individuals service record, plus
details of the"Ships Movements Cards"from
the Public
Records Office
in files BT389
to claim for individual Campaign
Stars. If you or a relative
have never been issued with the entitlement owed, they will be issued
free of charge to the individual entitled or the direct next of kin
once proof is verified. If you wish to replace lost or stolen medals
they will be replaced if you can prove these facts. You can also purchase
the medals yourself from a reputable dealer (I have first hand knowledge
of this because I have replaced family members medals).
You can
write/phone the R.S.S. first
to check if certain records of issue are still there, phone
029 20 448800. If not they will send you a letter telling
you the information above.
Registry of Shipping
& Seamen, Anchor Court, Ocean Way, Cardiff, CF24 5JW
Merchant Seamen qualified for
eight medals during W.W. II, these included
the 1939-45 War Medal, 1939-45 Star, and six campaign star medals.
Medals are worn on the left
hand side, left of the center across to the left shoulder in order of
the campaign date. Medals
can be worn by next of kin on certain occasions, such as Remembrance
Day, and must be worn on the right hand side.
"The object of giving
medals, stars and ribbons is to give pride and pleasure those who have
deserved them. At the same time a distinction is something which everybody
does not possess. If all have it, it is of less value. There must therefore,
be heartburnings and disappointments on the border line. A medal glitters,
but it also casts a shadow. The task of drawing up regulations for such
awards is one which does not admit a perfect solution. It is not possible
to satisfy everybody without the risk of satisfying nobody. All that
is possible is to give the greatest satisfaction to the greatest number
and to hurt the feelings of the
fewest." (Speech by Winston Churchill 22nd March 1944)
The following source of information
was taken from "Ribbons & Medals"
by H. Taprell Dorling, "The
Seventh Edition of the Medals Year Book," compiled by Daniel
F Collins, and the Registry of Shipping &
Seamen.
War
Medal 1939-45
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Awarded to all
who's service included at least 28 days at sea, or whose service
was terminated by death, injury, or capture. Ribbon
Denotes The
colours of the Union Flag.
Bronze
Oak Leaf This
emblem is for a mention in dispatches, or the King's Commendation
for brave conduct and is attached to the War Medal ribbon. Only
one emblem is worn no matter how many times a person may have
been mentioned.
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1939-45
Star
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Awarded for service
between 3rd September 1939 and 2nd 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.
Ribbon
Denotes Dark
Blue represents the Royal & Merchant Navies, Red the Army,
and Light Blue for the RAF.
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Atlantic
Star 1939-45
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Awarded after
the Battle of the Atlantic for service between 3rd September
1939 and 8th 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.
Ribbon
Denotes The
colours are watered and shaded to represent the Atlantic Ocean.
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Africa
Star 1940-43
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Awarded for
service between 10th June 1940 and 12th May 1943, serving in
the Mediterranean. A Merchant Seaman might also qualify serving
in operations off the Moroccan coast between 8th November 1942
and 12th May 1943. The minimum qualifying period was one day.
Ribbon
Denotes The
Buff colour represents desert sand, Dark Blue for both Navies,
Red the Army, Light Blue the RAF.
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Pacific
Star 1941-45
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Awarded for
service in the Pacific Ocean, South China Sea or the Indian
Ocean between 8th December 1941 and 2nd September 1945
Ribbon
Denotes The
central colours represent the the forests and beaches of the
Pacific, Dark Blue Both Navies, Red Army, and Light Blue the
RAF.
Any person qualifying
for both the Pacific Star and the Burma Star is awarded only
the first Star earned. A Clasp is worn denoting service for
the other Star.
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Burma
Star 1941-45
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Awarded for
service in the Burma Campaign between 11th December 1941 and
2nd September 1945. Awards were confined to Navy service in
the Bay of Bengal enclosed by lines running 300 miles off the
Southern point of Ceylon to a point 300 miles from the Southern
most tip of Sumatra, continued to the Western side of the Sunda
Strait. Also including the Straites of Malacca.
Ribbon
Denotes The
colours represent the British Commonwealth forces, both Navies,
and the Sun.
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Italy
Star 1943-45
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Awarded for
service between 11th June 1943 and 8th May 1945, in the Mediterranean
and the Aegean Sea. Operations in and around the Dodecanese,
Corsica, Greece, Sardinia and Yugoslavia after 11th June 1943
would also qualify. Awarded only to those who qualified for
the 1939-45 Star
Ribbon
Denotes The
colours of the Italian Flag
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France
& Germany Star 1944-45
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Awarded for
service between 6th June 1944 and 8th May 1945, in direct support
of operations in France, Belgium, Holland or Germany, in the
North sea, the English Channel or the Bay of Biscay
Ribbon
Denotes The
colours of the Union Flag, and the colours of France and Holland.
Any person qualifying
for this Star and the Atlantic Star is awarded only the first
earned, plus Clasp. A silver rose emblem is worn on the ribbon
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Commemorative Medals for Merchant
Seamen
There are also
seven commemorative medals to which seaman qualify, these medals cannot
be worn along side campaign medals, but it is now socially acceptable
to wear them underneath. You can apply for these commemorative medals
at Award Productions.
The same rules apply for next of kin wearing these medals as for campaign
medals.
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Restoration
of Peace
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Malta 50th
Anniversary
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Merchant
Navy Service
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Hors De
Combat
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Arctic Campaign
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Allied ex
PoW
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Normandy
Campaign
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