Awards and decorations of the British Armed Forces

The British Armed Forces recognises service and personal accomplishments of individuals while a member of the Royal Navy, British Army or Royal Air Force with the awarding of various awards and decorations.

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, in accordance with the 2019 order of wear:
 * 1) The Victoria Cross and the George Cross
 * 2) United Kingdom Orders
 * 3) United Kingdom Decorations
 * 4) Order of St John (all classes)
 * 5) United Kingdom Medals for Gallantry and for Distinguished Service
 * 6) 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
 * 7) United Kingdom Polar Medals
 * 8) United Kingdom Police Medals for Valuable Service
 * 9) United Kingdom Jubilee, Coronation and Durbar Medals
 * 10) Long Service and Efficiency Awards
 * 11) Commonwealth Orders, Decorations and Medals instituted by the Sovereign. Worn in order of date of award.
 * 12) 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.
 * 13) Foreign Orders. If approved for wear, worn in order of date of award.
 * 14) Foreign Decorations. If approved for wear, worn in order of date of award.
 * 15) Foreign Medals. If approved for wear, worn in order of date of award.

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.

Military orders and decorations
Note [1] Eligibility period start dates reflect respective establishment dates, except where available evidence indicates otherwise.

Military campaign medals
Notes:

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.

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.