The 1939-45 Defence Medal was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II.

It was instituted to recognise both military and some types of civilian service. This type of service in the UK includes, but is not confined to, those civilian personnel who worked as members of:

Home Guard , Royal Observer Corps, Fire Brigades, including the National Fire Service (NFS), Civil Defence Messenger Service, Police, Coast Guard.

The qualifying time required depending on the area served is:UK – 1080 days Overseas non-operational – 360 days

The Burma Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II.The medal was awarded for service in the Burma Campaign between 11 December 1941 and 2 September 1945.

This medal was also awarded for certain specified service in China, Hong Kong, Malaya and Sumatra:

Hong Kong – between 26 December 1941 and 2 September 1945

China and Malaya – between 16 February 1942 and 2 September 1945

Sumatra – between 24 March 1942 and 2 September 1945

Second World War service in China, Hong Kong, Malaya and Sumatra after 8 December 1941 but prior to the above start dates was recognised by the award of the Pacific Star.

British uniform regulations stipulated that the Pacific Star would not be awarded to a prior recipient of the Burma Star. Subsequent entitlement to the Pacific Star was denoted by the award of the Pacific clasp.

The Pacific Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II.The medal was awarded for operational service in the Pacific Theatre between 8 December 1941 and 2 September 1945, and also for certain specified service in China, Hong-Kong, Malaya and Sumatra:

Hong Kong – between 8 December 1941 and 25 December 1941

China and Malaya – between 8 December 1941 and 15 February 1942

Sumatra – between 8 December 1941 and 23 March 1942

Second World War service in China, Hong Kong, Malaya and Sumatra after the above end dates was recognised by the award of the Burma Star.

The qualifying sea areas for the award of the Pacific Star are the Pacific Ocean (including the South China Sea) and the Indian Ocean east of a line running due south from Singapore round the South-East coast of Sumatra, through Christmas Island, and southwards along the meridian of 110 deg East.The Pacific Star was authorized for immediate bestowal to any soldier who had been killed or wounded in combat.British uniform regulations stipulated that Burma Star would not be awarded to a recipient of the Pacific Star. Subsequent entitlement to the Burma Star was denoted by the award of the Burma Star clasp

The Italy Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II.The medal was awarded for operational service (on land) in Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia, Pantelleria, the Aegean area and Dodecanese Islands, and Elba at any time between 11 June 1943 and 8 May 1945.

Other areas to qualify for the award are:

Sicily – between 11 June 1943 – 17 August 1943

Sardinia – between 11 June 1943 – 19 September 1943

Corsica – between 11 June 1943 – 4 October 1943

A total of 91,000 medals were issued to Canadians.

The Italy Star Association 1943-45 is a thriving body in the United Kingdom. The main reunion of the Association is in Chichester in May of each year, involving a service of Remembrance in Chichester Cathedral and a parade in the town. Members also take part in the march past the Cenotaph on Remembrance Day in London every year.

The motto of the Association is: “When you walk in peaceful lanes so green – remember us – and think what might have been” We do remember them.

The Atlantic Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II.The star was awarded for six months service afloat, in the Atlantic or in Home Waters, within the period 3 September 1939 to 8 May 1945. Also awarded to aircrew who have taken part in operations against the enemy at sea within the qualifying areas for Naval personnel, subject to two months service in an operational unit.

The 1939-1945 Star must have been earned before commencing qualifying service for the Atlantic Star.Merchant seaman also qualified for the medal. They were required to have served in the Atlantic home waters, North Russia Convoys or South Atlantic waters.The star was immediately awarded if the service period was terminated by death, disability or wounding.

The award of a gallantry medal or a Mention in Dispatches also led to an immediate award.British uniform regulations stipulated that neither the Air Crew Europe Star nor the France and Germany Star would be awarded to a recipient of the Atlantic Star.

Subsequent entitlement to the Air Crew Europe Star or the France and Germany Star was denoted by the award of the appropriate clasp to the Atlantic Star. However, regulations stipulated that only the first clasp earned could be worn with the medal.

The France and Germany Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II.The medal was awarded for operational service in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Germany from 6 June 1944 (D-Day) to 8 May 1945.

The qualifying sea area is the North Sea South of a line form the Firth of Forth to Kristiansand (South), in the English Channel and in the Bay of Biscay east of longitude 6° West, provided such service was directly in support of land operations in France, Belgium, the Netherlands or Germany.

British uniform regulations stipulated that neither the Atlantic Star nor the Air Crew Europe Star would be awarded to a recipient of the France and Germany Star. Subsequent entitlement to the Atlantic Star was denoted by the award of the Atlantic clasp.

A clasp for the Air Crew Europe Star was not issued as that Star could not be earned after 05 June 1944.Army personnel who entered Austria may not qualify for this award, as their service is recognised by the grant of the Italy Star.

The 1939/45 Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II. The medal was awarded for operational service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945.

Army personnel had to complete 6 months service in an operational command. Airborne troops qualified if they had participated in any airborne operations and had completed 2 months service in a fully operational unit.

Air Force personnel had to participate in operations against the enemy providing that 2 months service had been completed in an operational unit. Non-aircrew personnel had to complete 6 months service in an area of operational army command.

Naval personnel qualified if they completed 6 months service, and at least 1 voyage was made through an operational area.

Royal Observer Corps personnel for service of 1080 days

The star was immediately awarded if the service period was terminated by death, disability or wounding. The award of a gallantry medal or a Mention in Dispatches also led to an immediate award.