Defence Full Size Medal

The 1939-45 Defence Medal was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in WW2 to recognise both military and some types of civilian service. The type of civilian service in the UK included service with the Home Guard, Royal Observer Corps, Fire Brigades, including the National Fire Service (NFS), Civil Defence, Messenger Service, Police and Coast Guard.

The obverse of this cupro-nickel medal bears the uncrowned head of King George VI. The reverse shows 2 lions flanking a crowned oak sapling, with the dates 1939 and 1945 to the side along the lions backs. The wavy lines below represent the sea and below that are the words 'THE DEFENCE MEDAL'. The ribbon is a standard width of 32mm or 1.25" wide and green with a broad central orange stipe, and 2 narrow black lines to either side. The green represents 'this green and pleasant land', with the orange representing the fire bombing and the black stripes representing the black outs at night. 

The qualifying time required depended on the area in which personnel served: 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 days.

There were no clasps awarded for this medal, but civilians who received a Kings Commendation could wear a spray of silver laurel leaves on the ribbon of the Defence medal.

Our die-struck museum quality replica full-size medals are made to the same exacting standards as the original, with the word COPY discreetly added to the reverse of the medal in line with MoD licensing. All official medals are sent loose on the ribbon unless medal mounting is also purchased on the same order.

WWII medals were not engraved when originally issued, so replacements therefore are not suitable for engraving.