King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

The Defence Medal  3rd Sept. 1939 to 2nd Sept. 1945

Face
The un-crowned head of King George VI surrounded by the inscription: ‘GEORGIVS VI D:G: BR: OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP.’ 

Reverse 
The Royal Crown resting on the stump of an oak tree and supported by two lions.  At the top left and top right respectively are the dates ‘1939’ and ‘1945’.  At the bottom are the words ‘THE DEFENCE MEDAL’. 

Size
Approx. 36 mm diameter.

Composition
Cupro-Nickel (Canadian Government issue are Silver)

Ribbon 
Approx. 31 mm wide.  Green with a central flame-coloured stripe (12mm wide approx.) with two narrow black stripes (each approx. 1 mm wide) central on the green edges.  The green symbolises the green land, the flame the enemy attacks, and the black the ‘blackout’ imposed during the war.

Suspension
The ribbon passes through a straight, plain, non-swivelling suspender.

Naming
All issued unnamed, but some have been engraved privately.

Bars
None.  A silver emblem of laurel leaves is worn on the ribbon by civilian (but not merchant navy) recipients of the King’s Commendation for brave conduct.

Awarded
These are fairly wide-ranging and complex, and cover service at home and abroad in all the Armed Forces, the Home Guard, police, fire service, ambulance service and members of civil defence organisations.

Qualifications relating to the Army are as follows:

1.  Three years service in non-operational areas subject to air attack or otherwise closely threatened.  2.  One year's non-operational service overseas, or six months non-operational service overseas in territories subject to air attack or under threat of invasion by the enemy.  3.  Three months service in operational bomb and mine disposal units.  4.  Three years service in the Home Guard.  5.  Service curtailed by death or service wounds due to enemy action qualified, as, in certain circumstances, did those who received an award or commendation.  The Defence Medal was not issued automatically.  Those who thought they qualified had to claim it.

The King’s Own
The Defence Medal is one of the commonest campaign awards issued.  It is probably true to say that this medal is, after the War Medal and The 1939-45 Star, the one most commonly qualified for by men of the Regiment during the Second World War.  Nevertheless, many who saw active service and were either taken prisoner or did not complete the requisite service did not qualify.  On the other hand many who wore The King’s Own badge as members of the various Home Guard battalions in North Lancashire did qualify.

Defence Medals in the museum's collection