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The Australian Cadet Forces Service Medal is for Officers or Instructors of cadets who have, on or after 14 February 1975, completed 15 years qualifying service. Clasps are awarded for additional 5 year periods of qualifying service. Prior to 1975, adult officers and senior instructors of cadets in…

The Australian Active Service Medal 1945-75 was approved in 1997. It may be awarded for service in, or in connection with prescribed warlike operations from 3 September 1945 until 13 February 1975. Design The medal is nickel-silver. The obverse has a Federation Star surrounded by the legend The…

The purpose of the Army Combat Badge (ACB) is to recognise the unique service of a member who deployed on warlike operations and whose mission involved the likelihood or actual engagement in close combat. The ACB is to be worn by eligible personnel on the left breast above medals or medal ribbons…

The Anniversary of National Service 1951-1972 Medal was introduced in 2001 to recognise those who completed their obligation under the 2 National Service schemes that had operated in Australia between 1951 and 1972. Eligibility for the medal is dependent upon a person's obligation to serve and upon…

The Afghanistan Medal was introduced in 2004 to recognise Australian involvement in military operations in Afghanistan and other prescribed areas within Operation Slipper, Operation Palate, and Operation Palate II. The eligibility requirement is 30 days service or 30 sorties in the prescribed area…

The Air Force Ground Combat Badge recognises service by permanent or reserve Air Force members whose deployed role required them to operate within a combat or escalated threat environment beyond that routinely experienced within a deployed base. In exceptional circumstances, service in a non-…

Since 1975, 1945 to 1975, Long Service Awards, Australian Defence Medal, Anniversary of National Service 1951-1972 Medal, Badges.

The following information is advice regarding at home care of medals.

Defence Honours and Awards has guidance to cover the replacement of lost, stolen or damaged medals.

Recipients of awards are granted insignia as a visual expression of the honour conferred on them. When a person holds more than one award, the main insignia are mounted on a medal bar in the order set out in the Australian order of wearing.

The War Medal 1939–45 was awarded for 28 days full-time service in the armed forces between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. Operational and non-operational service may be counted if it was 28 days or more in duration. In the merchant navy, there was a requirement that the 28 days should have…

The Victory Medal was authorised in 1919 to commemorate the victory of the Allied Forces over the Central Powers. Each of the Allied nations issued a Victory Medal to their own nationals. Each nation used the standard ribbon but used different designs on the medal to reflect national identity and…

The Queen’s South Africa Medal was awarded for service in the Boer War in South Africa. The Australian colonies raised units and a number of Australians who were not able to join Australian units enlisted in British and South African units. Design The medal is a silver and bronze medal with the…

The Pacific Star was awarded for entry into operational service in the Pacific Theatre of Operations between 8 December 1941 and 2 September 1945. Navy and Merchant Navy personnel were eligible if the 1939-45 Star was earned by 6 months service or if they entered the Pacific Theatre between 2 March…

The Naval General Service Medal 1915-62 was instituted in 1915 for service in minor naval war-like operations. The medal was issued with a clasp denoting the area or purpose of operations. Subsequent service was recognised by the award of further clasps to be worn on the original medal. Design The…

The Mercantile Marine Medal was awarded to members of the Mercantile Marine who qualified for the British War Medal 1914-20 and served at sea on at least one voyage through a danger zone. Design The medal is bronze with the effigy of George V on the obverse. The reverse shows a merchant ship moving…

The Korea Medal was instituted in July 1951 and awarded for service in Korea between 1 July 1950 and 27 July 1953. Eligibility Personnel who served in the Korean War may be eligible to receive up to 3 medals: Korea Medal United Nations Service Medal (Korea) Australian Active Service Medal 1945-75…

Following Queen Victoria’s death during the South African War, King Edward VII authorised a medal to be awarded to all who: served in South Africa on or after 1 January 1902 completed 18 months service before 1 June 1902. The medal was never issued alone, but always with the Queen's Medal. Design…

The Italy Star was granted for operational service in: Sicily up to 17 August 1943 Sardinia up to 19 September 1943 Corsica up to 4 October 1943 the Aegean, Dodecanese, Greece and Yugoslavia up to 8 May 1945. Design The 6–pointed star is yellow copper zinc alloy. The obverse has a central design…

The General Service Medal 1962 was instituted in 1964 to supersede both the Naval General Service Medal 1915 and the General Service Medal 1918-62 (Army and RAF). The medal is always issued with a clasp denoting the area or purpose of operations. Subsequent service is recognised by the award of…

The General Service Medal 1918-62 was instituted in 1923 as a general service medal similar to the Naval General Service Medal 1915-1962 and awarded for minor conflicts for which no other specific campaign medal was awarded. The medal was always issued with a clasp denoting the area or purpose of…

The General Service Badge was issued to persons who served full-time for a period of 28 days or more, continuously or in aggregate, and discharged without becoming eligible for the Returned from Active Service Badge during World War II. The badge was also available to approved representatives of…

The France and Germany Star was granted for operational service on land in France, Belgium, Holland or Germany after the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944 until 8 May 1945, the date of the end of active hostilities in Europe. Design The 6–pointed star is yellow copper zinc alloy. The obverse has a…

The Defence Medal was awarded for: 6 months service in a prescribed non-operational area subject to enemy air attack or closely threatened in Australia and overseas 12 months non-operational service in the forces overseas from or outside Australia. Within Australia, the qualifying area was the…

The Burma Star is awarded for operational service in the Burma Campaign from 11 December 1941 to 2 September 1945. Eligibility Requirements included: Navy - 6 months qualifying service for 1939-1945 Star first, then operational service in the Bay of Bengal and in the Malacca Strait Army - service…

The British War Medal 1914-20 was instituted by King George V in 1919 to mark the end of World War I and record the service given. Eligibility The British War Medal 1914-20 was awarded as follows: Navy - 28 days mobilised service in Australia, at sea or overseas during prescribed periods. Army -…

The Australia Service Medal 1939-1945 was instituted in 1949 to recognise the service of members of the Australian Armed Forces and the Australian Mercantile Marine during World War II. Eligibility The medal was originally awarded to those who served at home or overseas for at least 18 months full-…

The Atlantic Star was awarded to commemorate the Battle of the Atlantic between 3 September 1939 and 8 May 1945. It was designed primarily for convoys and their escorts and anti-submarine forces, as well as for crews of fast merchant ships that sailed alone. Eligibility The star was awarded for 6…

The Arctic Star was awarded to those who served in areas above the Arctic Circle during World War II. The Arctic Star was intended to commemorate service in the Arctic convoys and was designed primarily for the ships of the convoys to North Russia and their escorts. The Arctic Star was granted for…

The Anzac Commemorative Medallion was instituted 1967. It was awarded to surviving members of the Australian forces who served on the Gallipoli Peninsula, or in direct support of the operations from close off shore, at any time during the period from the first Anzac Day in April 1915 to the date of…