Date
Instituted: 1945.
Campaign: Second World War 1939-45.
Description: The obverse bears the
uncrowned head of King George VI and the legend ‘GEORGIVS VI: BR:
OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP:’. The reverse has the royal crown
on top of an oak tree with a lion either side, the words ‘THE DEFENCE
MEDAL’ below and the dates ‘1939’ and ‘1945’ at the top left and
right. The suspender is a straight, plain non-swivelling economy
type.
Metal: Cupro-nickel or silver.
Size: 36mm.
Clasps: None authorised for this medal.
| Ribbon: |
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Naming: Issued
un-named.
Comments: Awarded to personnel who served three years at
home or one year in a non-operational area, such as India, or six
months in an area subject to enemy air attack. Recipients included
anti-aircraft personnel, RAF ground crews, Dominion forces stationed
in the UK, the Home Guard, Civil Defence, National Fire Service
and other civil organisations.
Canadian
issues were made in silver. This medal is the most common of all
those awarded for the Second World War. |
