How to find your family's Second World War medals

Unlike the First World War, where most service personnel received campaign medals as a matter of course, medals for the Second World War were often awarded according to where and how long someone served.  

Common World War 2 awards included: 

• The 1939–1945 Star, awarded for operational service in the conflict. 
• The Defence Medal, for non-operational service, including home defence and certain overseas postings. 
• The War Medal 1939–1945, issued to everyone who served for at least 28 days. 
• Campaign stars, such as the Africa Star, Burma Star, or France and Germany Star, awarded for service in specific theatres of war. 

Each set of ribbons tells a story: where a soldier, sailor or airman went, and what part they played in the wider war effort. 

Unlike First World War campaign medals, most Second World War medals were not engraved with the recipient's name. This can make identifying them more challenging, especially if the medals have been separated from family papers or photographs. However, the combination of medals awarded is often unique to an individual's service, and can be linked back to their record with a little detective work. 

The key to finding out which medals your ancestor was entitled to is to look for their service record. 

• British Army service records (1939–1945). These are still held by the Ministry of Defence, but relatives can apply for them if they can provide proof of death and a fee. These records usually state which medals were awarded. 
• Royal Navy and Royal Air Force records. Similar application processes exist for naval and air force ancestors, and these files can confirm medal entitlement. 
• The London Gazette. Some awards, especially gallantry medals such as the Distinguished Service Order or Military Medal, were published here and can be searched online. 

If your ancestor's medals didn’t stay in the family, there are still ways to track them: 

• Family keepsakes: Start by asking relatives whether medals, ribbons or boxes might still exist. 
• Auction houses and medal dealers: Sometimes, medals surface in collections or sales. If you know the exact set your ancestor was awarded, you may be able to track them down. 
• Regimental museums: Many museums hold collections of medals donated or loaned by families, often displayed with service histories. 

While full Second World War service records are not yet publicly available, Findmypast’s collections can still help you trace wartime service and possible medal entitlement: 

• Prisoner of War records – noting captures, releases, and sometimes awards. 
• Casualty lists – detailing soldiers wounded or killed in action. 
• British Army, Navy and RAF records from earlier years – helping you confirm long-serving soldiers who also fought in WWII. 
• Newspapers – local reports often mention medal ceremonies, honours, and awards to servicemen and women. 

Imagine finding that your grandmother’s brother was awarded the Burma Star. By delving into the campaign’s history, you learn of the gruelling jungle conditions and fierce battles against Japanese forces. Suddenly, the medal isn’t just a ribbon – it’s a connection to resilience, survival, and family pride. 

By combining military records, newspapers, and family stories, you can trace the medals your relatives earned and understand the journeys behind them.