Defence Medal 1939-1945:


Defence Medal Obverse


Defence Medal Reverse

 The Defence Medal was awarded for non-operational service. This type of service in the UK included those service personnel working in headquarters, on training bases and airfields and members of the Home Guard. Home Guard service counts between the dates of 14 May 1940 and 31 December 1944. The Defence Medal was also awarded for non-operational service overseas, for example in India or South Africa.

The British issue medals were made of cupro-nickel and 36mm in diameter, others were of silver (.800 fine). The obverse shows the bareheaded effigy of King George VI, facing left, and the legend: GEORGEIVS VI D: BR: OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP:

On the reverse, the Royal Crown rests on the stump of an oak tree, flanked by a lion and a lioness. At the top left is the date 1939, and at the top right, the date 1945. The base of the medal has the words 'THE DEFENCE MEDAL' in two lines. The ribbon is flame coloured in the centre flanked by stripes of green to symbolise enemy attacks on Britain's green and pleasant land, with narrow black stripes to represent the black-out.
Area  Time required
UK  1080 days
Overseas non-operational  360 days
Overseas non-operational in an area deemed to be closely threatened or subject to air attack  180
Original 1939-45 Defence Medal from my collection. The Defence Medal is valued at between £16 - £18.
   
   
   
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