Medals
| From the Boer War 1899-1902 to the Gulf
War and Somalia in the 1990s, all Australian defence personnel who
served in a war zone have received at least one medal. These medals,
known as war medals or campaign medals, are engraved with the recipient's
service number, rank and name on the rim of the medal. The original
Anzacs on Gallipoli received three medals: the 1914-15 Star, the
British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Those who only served in
France and Belgium or Palestine received the latter two medals.
World War I medals have the unit engraved after the name. |
The Military Medal which belonged to Private Ron
Claffey, 2/23rd Battalion Second AIF |
For World War II there are twelve medals and stars, including the recently
introduced Civilian Service Medal. The time requirement for the Australia
Service Medal 1939-45 has recently been reduced. This means that all
World War II service personal are entitled to both the War Medal 1939-45
and the Australia Service Medal 1939-45 even if they did not go overseas.
The Defence Medal was awarded for service in Darwin and other threatened
areas. For operational service overseas, over 200,000 received the 1939-45
Star.
A similar number received the Pacific Star and nearly 100,000 the Africa
Star. RAN and RAAF personnel were awarded the majority of the other
five campaign stars: Atlantic, Air Crew Europe, Italy, France and Germany,
and Burma. Service in Korea, Malaya Emergency, Indonesian Confrontation,
Vietnam and, more recently, the Gulf and Somalia all earned medals.
Additional awards have been given for peacekeeping and other service
overseas.
|
Thousands of Australians have been awarded medals
or have been mentioned in dispatches, although gallantry and meritorious
service awards are given out sparingly. The most famous and prestigious
of the bravery awards is the Victoria Cross. Ninety-six VCs have
been won by Australian servicemen since 1900. Fifty-five VCs are
presently displayed in the Hall of Valour at the Australian War
Memorial. Nearly 10,000 Military Medals have been awarded, mostly
in World War I. Many gallantry awards are accompanied by a citation
that gives brief details of the action being commended. Medals
are relics of service and sacrifice. They are a permanent memorial
to individual Australians who served their country in times of
great danger, many at the cost of their lives. They are worn proudly
by returned servicemen and women on national days of commemoration
such as Anzac Day and other significant anniversaries.
|
Medals issued posthumously to Private R. Kenny,
killed in France in 1916 |
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