WW2 medals and what they mean

[mojo_jojo]

Hi there,
I'm just gathering some information on my great grandad John Arthur etherington scott (b.1906 d.1984) and my nan found his medals. I was just wondering what they mean or how to find out more. I havn't gotten his service records yet but did read the post about aquiring them but thought I could ask about the medals first. All I know is that he was in the army but not sure what his rank was or anything.

Thanks

Joanne

Trying to upload pics but hving issues with size

[mojo_jojo]

pic of medals

[mojo_jojo]

picture of thankyou

[KGarrad]

Left to right, the medals are:

Defence Medal
France & Germany Star (but has the ribbon of the Defence Medal!)
War Medal 1939-1945 (with correct ribbon)
1939-1945 Star (but has the France/Germany Star ribbon!)

[KGarrad]

Defence Medal
The Defence Medal is awarded for non-operational service such as those service personnel working in headquarters, on training bases and airfields and members of the Home Guard. The medal is also awarded for non-operational service overseas for example in India or South Africa.

To qualify for the Defence Medal, you must have either:

    1080 days (3 years) service in the UK between 3 Sep 1939 and 8 May 1945
    1080 days (3 years) service in the Home Guard between 14 May 1940 and 31 Dec 1944 (you will also need to fill out and send the Home Guard service questionnaire)
    360 days (1 year) non operational service overseas between 3 Sep 1939 and 2 Sep 1945
    180 days non operational service in an overseas area deemed to be closely threatened or subject to air attack between 3 September 1939 and 8 May 1945

The colours of the ribbon symbolise enemy attacks on Britain’s ‘green and pleasant land’ and the black out.

France & Germany Star
The France and Germany Star is awarded for operational service in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands or Germany between 6 June 1944 and 8 May 1945.

To qualify for the France and Germany Star, you must have:

    1 day of operational service in the army
    1 day of operational service as ground crew in the RAF
    1 operational sortie as aircrew in the RAF
    1 day afloat in operational areas of the North Sea in the Royal Navy (provided service was directly in support of land operations)

The colours of the ribbon represent the national colours of the United Kingdom, France and The Netherlands.

[KGarrad]

War Medal 1939-1945
The War Medal is awarded to all full time personnel of the armed forces wherever they were serving. The medal was granted in addition to campaign stars and the Defence Medal.

To qualify for the War Medal, you must have served at least 28 days between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945.

The colours of the ribbon represent the Union Jack.

1939-1945 Star
The 1939 to 1945 Star is awarded to personnel who completed operational service overseas between 3 September 1939 and 8 May 1945 (2 Sept 1945 in Far East).

To qualify for the 1939 to 1945 Star, you must have:

    180 days operational service in the army
    180 days operational service as ground crew in the RAF
    60 days operational service as aircrew in the RAF
    180 days service afloat in operational areas in the Royal Navy

The colours of the ribbon represent the 3 services. The star is worn with the dark blue stripe furthest from the left shoulder.

[KGarrad]

Links to Wikipedia pages:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1939%E2%80%931945_Star
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France_and_Germany_Star
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_Medal_(United_Kingdom)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Medal_1939%E2%80%931945

They should be worn in the sequence as above.

[mojo_jojo]

Links to Wikipedia pages:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1939%E2%80%931945_Star
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France_and_Germany_Star
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_Medal_(United_Kingdom)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Medal_1939%E2%80%931945

They should be worn in the sequence as above.

Thankyou very much, I shall have a read through the information you have given. Much appreciated. I wonder if my great grandad had gotten the medal ribbons muddled or if a family member has accidently changed them?

Jo

[cpercival]

What I found interesting was the fact that the ribbon bar across the tops of the actual ribbons contains the ribbon of the Africa Star in the centre.  Was that his original ribbon bar and has a subsequent family member had a guess at the ribbons?

C