The

British Armed Forces The British Armed Forces, also known as His Majesty's Armed Forces, are the military forces responsible for the defence of the United Kingdom, its Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies. They also promote the UK's wider interests, s ...

recognises service and personal accomplishments of individuals while a member of the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...

with the awarding of various

awards and decorations Awards and decorations may refer to: * Award, something given to a recipient in recognition of excellence in a certain field * Civil awards and decorations, awarded to civilians for distinguished service or for eminence in a field of endeavour * Mil ...

. Together with rank and qualification badges, such awards are a means to outwardly display the highlights of a serviceperson's career.

Order of wear

All services use a common

order of wear Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of ...

, the following general rules apply: # The Victoria Cross and the George Cross # United Kingdom Orders # United Kingdom Decorations # Order of St John (all classes) # United Kingdom Medals for Gallantry and for Distinguished Service # United Kingdom Campaign and Operational Service Medals (including authorised United Nations medals and medals of other recognised international organisations). Worn in order of date of award # United Kingdom Polar Medals # United Kingdom Police Medals for Valuable Service # United Kingdom Jubilee, Coronation and Durbar Medals # Long Service and Efficiency Awards # Commonwealth Orders, Decorations and Medals instituted by the Sovereign. Worn in order of date of award. # Commonwealth Orders, Decorations and Medals instituted since 1949 otherwise than by the Sovereign (including those of the States of Malaysia and the State of Brunei). Worn in order of date of award. # Foreign Orders. If approved for wear, worn in order of date of award. # Foreign Decorations. If approved for wear, worn in order of date of award. # Foreign Medals. If approved for wear, worn in order of date of award. Note: Jubilee, Coronation and Durbar medals were worn before campaign medals until November 1918, after which the order of wear was changed, with them now worn after campaign medals and before long service awards.

British military medals and ribbons

Military orders and decorations

Note Eligibility period start dates reflect respective establishment dates, except where available evidence indicates otherwise.

Military campaign medals

Notes:

Coronation, Jubilee and Durbar medals

Efficiency and long service decorations and medals

National independence medals

Foreign and international

International campaign medals

Worn with other United Kingdom campaign medals in order of date of issue (except where noted otherwise).

Commonwealth orders

Worn after all United Kingdom awards (including international awards treated as United Kingdom awards). Honorary awards are worn before substantive awards.

Commonwealth decorations

Worn after all Commonwealth orders.

Commonwealth campaign and commemorative medals

Worn after all Commonwealth decorations.

Foreign orders

Worn after all Commonwealth awards.

Foreign decorations

Worn after all foreign orders.

Foreign campaign and commemorative medals

Worn after all foreign decorations.

Decorations and medals authorised for acceptance but not for official wear

Official permission has been granted for this medal to be accepted, but it is not authorised for wear.

Campaign medals authorised for acceptance but not for official wear

Official permission has been granted for these medals to be accepted, but they are not authorised for wear.

Campaign medals not authorised for acceptance or official wear

Official permission has been refused for these medals to be accepted and they are not authorised for wear.

Devices

References

Footnotes

Bibliography

* * * * * * * * * *

External links

UK Ministry of Defence Medals Office

UK Ministry of Defence Medals Office – British Armed Forces Medals
Decorations, campaign medals and other awards awarded 'On Her Majesty's Service'
The UK Honours System

Cabinet Office Ceremonial Secretariat website

London Gazette website
*
Medals of the World – United Kingdom Medals

War Medals and Their History
Detailed historical information on British military and naval awards from the

Spanish Armada The Spanish Armada (a.k.a. the Enterprise of England, es, Grande y Felicísima Armada, links=no, lit=Great and Most Fortunate Navy) was a Spanish fleet that sailed from Lisbon in late May 1588, commanded by the Duke of Medina Sidonia, an aris ...

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

{{British campaign medals Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom United Kingdom military-related lists