British campaign medals

British campaign medals are awarded to members of the British Armed Forces, Allied forces and civilians participating in specified military campaigns. Examples include the Defence Medal, for homeland defence in World War II, and the Atlantic Star for World War II sea service in the Atlantic.

18th century

 * Naval General Service Medal 1847 BAR.svg Naval Gold Medal (1794)

19th century

 * Waterloo Medal BAR.svg Army Gold Cross (1810)
 * Waterloo Medal BAR.svg Army Gold Medal (1810)
 * Ribbon bar, Waterloo Medal.png Waterloo Medal (1815)
 * Ghuznee Medal BAR.svg Ghuznee Medal (1839)
 * Kabul to Kandahar Star ribbon.png Candahar, Ghuznee, Cabul Medal (1842)
 * Kabul to Kandahar Star ribbon.png Jellalabad Medals (1842)
 * Kabul to Kandahar Star ribbon.png Medal for the Defence of Kelat-I-Ghilzie (1842)
 * China War Medal 1842 BAR.svg China War Medal (1842)
 * Kabul to Kandahar Star ribbon.png Scinde Medal (1843)
 * Kabul to Kandahar Star ribbon.png Gwalior Star (1843)
 * Sutlej Medal BAR.svg Sutlej Medal (1846)
 * Naval General Service Medal 1847 BAR.svg Naval General Service Medal (1847)
 * Military General Service Medal 1847 BAR.svg Military General Service Medal (1847)
 * Punjab Medal BAR.svg Punjab Medal (1849)
 * Army of India Medal BAR.svg Army of India Medal (1851)
 * India General Service Medal 1854 BAR.svg India General Service Medal (1854)
 * South Africa Medal (1854).png South Africa Medal (1854)
 * Crimea Medal BAR.svg Crimean War Medal (1854)
 * Baltic Medal BAR.svg Baltic Medal (1856)
 * Indian Mutiny Medal BAR.svg Indian Mutiny Medal (1858)
 * Second China War Medal BAR.svg Second China War Medal (1861)
 * New Zealand Medal BAR.svg New Zealand War Medal (1869)
 * Abyssinian War Medal BAR.svg Abyssinian War Medal (1869)
 * Canada General Service Medal BAR.svg Canada General Service Medal (1866–70)
 * Ashantee War Medal BAR.svg Ashantee Medal (1873–74)
 * South Africa Medal (1880).png South Africa Medal (1880) (1877–1879)
 * Afghanistan Medal BAR.svg Afghanistan Medal (1878–1880)
 * Kabul to Kandahar Star ribbon.png Kabul to Kandahar Star (1880)
 * Egypt Medal BAR.svg Egypt Medal (1882–1889)
 * Royal Niger Company's Medal, ribbon bar.png Royal Niger Company’s Medal (1886–1897)
 * British South Africa Comany Medal Ribbon.JPG British South Africa Company Medal (1890–1897)
 * Ashantee War Medal BAR.svg East and West Africa Medal (1892)
 * Central Africa Medal ribbon bar.png Central Africa Medal (1895)
 * India Medal BAR.svg India Medal (1896)
 * Ashanti Star BAR.svg Ashanti Star (1896)
 * Queens Sudan Medal BAR.svg Queen's Sudan Medal (1899)
 * East and Central Africa Medal BAR.svg East and Central Africa Medal (1899)
 * Queens South Africa Medal BAR.svg Queen's South Africa Medal (1899)
 * Queens South Africa Medal BAR.svg Queen's Mediterranean Medal (1899) (South African War)

Pre World War I

 * Third China War Medal BAR.svg China War Medal (1900)
 * Ashanti Medal BAR.svg Ashanti Medal (1901)
 * Kings South Africa Medal BAR.svg King's South Africa Medal (1902)
 * Africa General Service Medal BAR.svg Africa General Service Medal (1902)
 * Transport Medal BAR.svg Transport Medal (1902) (for South Africa or China)
 * Tibet Medal BAR.svg Tibet Medal (1905)
 * Ribbon - Natal Native Rebellion Medal.gif Natal Native Rebellion Medal (1906)
 * India General Service Medal 1909 BAR.svg India General Service Medal (1909)

World War I
During World War I (1914–1918) the following campaign medals were issued:
 * Ribbon - 1914 Star & Rosette.png 1914 Star
 * Ribbon - 1914 Star.png 1914–15 Star
 * British War Medal BAR.svg British War Medal
 * Mercantile Marine War Medal BAR.svg Mercantile Marine War Medal
 * Victory Medal ribbon bar.svg Victory Medal
 * Territorial Forces War Medal BAR.svg Territorial Force War Medal

The most frequent combinations are "trios" of either the 1914 or 1914–15 Star, the British War Medal and Victory Medal; and "pairs" of the British War and Victory Medals, these generally for servicemen who joined the war after 1915. A Memorial Plaque was issued to the next-of-kin of deceased service personnel.

Inter World War

 * General Service Medal 1918 BAR.svg General Service Medal (1918)
 * Naval General Service Medal 1915 BAR.svg Naval General Service Medal (1915)
 * India General Service Medal 1936 BAR.svg India General Service Medal (1936)

World War II
During World War II (1939–1945) the following were issued (with authorised Clasp or Emblem (if awarded) in brackets)—the first eleven are listed in the authorised Order of Wearing:


 * Ribbon - 1939-45 Star.png 1939–1945 Star (Battle of Britain or Bomber Command)
 * Ribbon - Atlantic Star.png Atlantic Star (Air Crew Europe or France and Germany)
 * Arctic Star bar.png Arctic Star
 * Ribbon - Air Crew Europe Star.png Air Crew Europe Star (Atlantic or France and Germany)
 * Ribbon - Africa Star.png Africa Star (8th Army or 1st Army or North Africa 1942–43)
 * Pacific Star BAR.svg Pacific Star (Burma)
 * Ribbon - Burma Star.png Burma Star (Pacific)
 * Ribbon - Italy Star.png Italy Star
 * France and Germany Star BAR.svg France and Germany Star (Atlantic)
 * Defence Medal ribbon.png Defence Medal (Silver laurel leaves (King's Commendation for brave conduct; civil))
 * Canadian Volunteer Service Medal BAR.svg Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (Overseas or Dieppe or Hong Kong or Bomber Command)
 * Newfoundland Volunteer War Service Medal BAR.svg Newfoundland Volunteer War Service Medal
 * War Medal 1939–1945 (UK) ribbon.png War Medal 1939–1945 (Oak leaf)
 * Ribbon - Africa Service Medal.png Africa Service Medal
 * Ribbon India Service Medal.png India Service Medal
 * New Zealand War Service Medal 1939-1945 BAR.svg New Zealand War Service Medal
 * Southern Rhodesia Medal for War Service BAR.svg Southern Rhodesia Medal for War Service
 * Australia Service Medal 1939-1945 BAR.svg Australia Service Medal

Post World War

 * Korea Medal.svg Korea Medal (1951)
 * Nuclear Test Medal ribbon (UK).jpg Nuclear Test Medal (1952–1967)
 * General Service Medal 1962 BAR.svg General Service Medal (1962)
 * Rhodesia Medal Ribbon.svg Rhodesia Medal (1980)
 * South Atlantic Medal BAR.svg South Atlantic Medal (1982)
 * Gulf Medal BAR.svg Gulf Medal (1991)

21st century

 * OSM for Sierra Leone BAR.svg Operational Service Medal for Sierra Leone (2000)
 * OSM for Afghanistan BAR.svg Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan (2002–2021)
 * OSM for Congo BAR.svg Operational Service Medal for the Democratic Republic of Congo (2003)
 * Iraq Medal BAR.svg Iraq Medal (2004–2011)
 * Iraq Reconstruction Service Medal Ribbon 100px.png Iraq Reconstruction Service Medal (2004–2013)
 * Civilian Service Medal (Afghanistan).png Civilian Service Medal (Afghanistan) (2011–present)
 * Ebola medal ribbon.png Ebola Medal for Service in West Africa (2014–2016)
 * General Service Medal 08 ribbon.png General Service Medal (2008) (2009–present)
 * OSM Iraq and Syria.png Operational Service Medal for Iraq and Syria (2016–present)
 * UK Humanitarian Medal.png Humanitarian Medal (2023–present)
 * WSMribbon_1.png Wider Service Medal (2024–present)