Understanding Military Medals

Military medals were awarded for a range of reasons, including campaign service, gallantry, and long service. Understanding how these awards were issued, and how they appear individually or as part of a group, is an important part of collecting. The following section outlines some of the key points to consider when looking at military medals.

One of the first things new collectors notice is that medals are often found in groups rather than individually. These groups reflect the service of the individual and can vary considerably in size and composition.

For the First World War, a typical group might consist of two or three medals. The most commonly encountered combination is the British War Medal and Victory Medal, often referred to simply as a “pair”. A three-medal group, including the 1914–15 Star, is sometimes known as a “trio”, and you may occasionally hear the informal nickname “Pip, Squeak and Wilfred”.

What makes First World War medals particularly appealing to collectors is that they are usually named. The recipient’s service number, rank, name, and unit are impressed around the rim, and this information allows for further research into their military service.

Second World War medals are slightly different. While individuals may have received multiple campaign stars for service in different theatres, these medals are generally unnamed. This can make research more difficult, although it is sometimes still possible where supporting documents are present.

Some medal groups are more complex and may include awards from different conflicts, or medals recognising long service or gallantry. In these cases, the group as a whole tells a broader story, and understanding how the medals fit together can be an important part of collecting.

Miniature medals can also be interesting, as you can seen from the group of Boer War and WW1 medals shown here.

Over time, you begin to recognise patterns in how medals were awarded, and this helps when assessing both their historical context and their potential interest.