Atlantic Star Medal

Documents found at the Royal Navy Medal Office, may mean that many World War II Naval personnel, who were originally classed as not being eligible for the Atlantic Star Medal, may now be able to receive it.

The Atlantic Star was awarded for service in the 'Battle of the Atlantic', between 2nd September 1939 and 8th May 1945. But as with all campaign Medals, entitlement is subject to strict criteria.

Recipients of the medal must have first been eligible for the 1939 - 1945 Star, for which the main criteria for Naval personnel, was to have served 6 months afloat in any Operational Area.

The rules laid down in an 'Admiralty Fleet Order' in 1946, had been interpreted to mean that entitlement to the Atlantic Star Medal, required a sailor to serve for 6 months in that war zone after his first 6 months at sea, even though his initial 6 months afloat also may have included service in the Atlantic.

Therefore, in some cases, a sailor may have served more than 6 months in the Atlantic and was not regarded as eligible for the Atlantic Star campaign medal.

It was during a search for an Atlantic Star applicant, that the discovery of the post-war documents were found, which have resulted in the change of interpretation of the rules. Under the 'new' interpretation, Royal Navy Officer's or Ratings who served for 6 months in the Atlantic at any time during 12 months afloat in Operational Areas are entitled to the Atlantic Star Medal. An article in 'Navy News' (November 1998) revealed the facts.     For criteria, specifically for HMS. Vengeance personnel, see below.

Claiming for Other Campaign Medals:

The vast majority of Service personnel receive campaign medals awarded to them while they are still in the Armed Forces, as they are required to be worn for ceremonial duty and other functions for which their uniform is required. If, however an individual leaves the Armed Forces before the medal can be issued, it is his or her responsibility to claim them from the Ministry of Defence Medal Office. As a result, there are still many veterans who have not received the medals to which they are entitled. By far the largest group of veterans were those who were in the Armed Forces during the Second World War.

As a general rule, most Second World War Service personnel were not issued with medals before they were de-mobilised at the end of the war and consequently they had to claim them after they had left the Services. This differed from the arrangements at the end of the First World War when the majority of medals were sent out automatically. This was not considered to be practical after the Second World War, as most people had returned to civilian life before the medals were instituted in 1948 . At the time they were encouraged to visit their local Post Office, pick up a buff card and enter onto it their number rank and name, and send it to the Minister for War to request their medals.

Many had much more pressing things to worry about, like where were they going to live as a result of their house being demolished by bombing, or where were they going to find a job. It was decided at the time that only those people who remained in the Armed Forces would receive their medals automatically.. Although the availability of medals for wartime service was widely advertised at the time, many people did not come forward. As a consequence , nearly 60 years later, the MOD Medal Office are receiving in the order of 250 applications for WW2 medals per week from either veterans, or their next of kin, They are still issued in the first instance free of charge. Medals can be issued to the legal next of kin of deceased ex-Servicemen/women; however proof of kinship will be required.

To claim medals that have not been issued, or to request the replacement of medals lost either by theft or destroyed by fire  (see below for special instructions), please write to the Medal Office at the address below. The following information (or as much as possible) will be required:
Service Number, Regiment/Corps (Army/RM), Branch/Trade (RAF and RN), Full Name, Date of Birth, Rank and date of discharge, plus, of course, your current name and address.

All information about medals issued to First World War veterans is held at the National Archive at Kew.

Claims for medals for service in the Home Guard are also dealt with by the MOD Medal Office.
Contact the Ministry of Defence Medal Office at the following address:

Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA),
(Joint Personnel Administration Centre),
MOD Medal Office,
Innsworth House,
Imjin Barracks,
Gloucester.
GL3 1 HW

Email: Medals@SPVA.mod.uk