Order of Wear?

[JGGB]

What is the correct Order of Wear of the WWI medals?

[ulsterlad2]

JGGB, I take it you mean the 3 campaign medals?

From chest towards the left shoulder - The Star, BWM, Victory.

[dycer]

But presumably now,on the right chest?

George

[pioneecorps]

Hi, the soldier who earned them wore them on his left side, if you were wearing them as a family member, you would wear them on your right side. Gerwyn

[Nigel Marshall]

This is the official order of wear for the campaign medals awarded in respect of service during the Great War. It's important to note that no one person could be awarded all these medals in one group.

A person awarded any of the three variants of the Stars automatically qualified for the award of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

A person who received any of the three variants of the Stars could not be awarded the Territorial Force War Medal.

The Victory Medal could not be awarded on its own, therefore a Victory Medal must always be issued with at least a British War Medal (but the reverse is not true - some Naval personnel received the British War Medal but not the Victory Medal).

1914 Star with "15th August - 22 November 1914" clasp

1914 Star

1914-15 Star

British War Medal

Mercantile Marine Medal

Victory Medal

Territorial Force War Medal

Many British and Empire groups will be encountered which include foreign awards. The general rule of thumb is that Foreign orders are worn immediately after the British medals in the order in which they were awarded, likewise foreign decorations follow foreign orders, again in the order in which they were awarded. Then foreign medals in order of award.

It's a complex business!

Cheers,

Nigel

[JGGB]

Thanks, folks.

[NigelS]

It's a complex business!

Even more so if other awards & decorations were involved: this from The Times of 11th July '18

The following Army Council Instruction (No. 754 of 1918), showing the Orders, Decorations, and Medals should be worn, was issued yesterday:-

1. Pending the publication of amendments to the Dress Regulations for the Army, 1911, the following revised list, showing the order in which Orders, Decorations and Medals are to be worn, which has been approved by his Majesty the King, is published for information and guidance:-

(this in no way affects the precedence conferred by the Statutes of certain orders upon the members thereof.)

VICTORIA CROSS.

ORDER OF THE GARTER.

ORDER OF THE THISTLE.

ORDER OF ST. PATRICK.

ORDER OF THE BATH.

* ORDER OF MERIT (IMMEDIATELY AFTER KNIGHTS GRAND CROSS OF THE ORDER OF THE BATH).

ORDER OF THE STAR OF INDIA.

ORDER OF ST. MICHAEL AND ST. GEORGE.

ORDER OF THE INDIAN EMPIRE.

ORDER OF THE CROWN OF INDIA.

ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER (CLASSES I., II., AND III.).

ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE (CLASSES I., II., AND III.).

ORDER OF THE COMPANIONS OF HONOUR (IMMEDIATELY AFTER KNIGHTS AND DAMES GRAND CROSS OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE).

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER.

ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER (CLASS IV.).

ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE (CLASS IV.).

IMPERIAL SERVICE ORDER.

ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER (CLASS V.).

ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE (CLASS V.).

ROYAL RED CROSS (CLASS I).

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS (NAVAL).

MILITARY CROSS.

DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS.

AIR FORCE CROSS.

ROYAL RED CROSS (CLASS II).

ORDER OF BRITISH INDIA.

† INDIAN ORDER OF MERIT (MILITARY).

KAISAR-I-HIND MEDAL.

ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM IN ENGLAND.

ALBERT MEDAL.

QUEEN VICTORIA’S JUBILEE MEDAL, 1887 (GOLD, SILVER, AND BRONZE).

QUEEN VICTORIA’S POLICE JUBILEE MEDAL, 1887.

QUEEN VICTORIA’S JUBILEE MEDAL, 1897 (GOLD, SILVER, AND BRONZE).

QUEEN VICTORIA’S POLICE JUBILEE MEDAL, 1897.

QUEEN VICTORIA’S COMMEMORATION MEDAL, 1900 (IRELAND).

KING EDWARD’S CORONATION MEDAL.

KING EDWARD’S POLICE CORONATION MEDAL.

KING EDWARD’S DURBAR MEDAL (GOLD, SILVER, AND BRONZE).

KING EDWARD’S POLICE MEDAL (SCOTLAND).

KING’S MEDAL, 1903 (IRELAND).

KING GEORGE’S CORONATION MEDAL.

KING GEORGE’S POLICE CORONATION MEDAL.

KING’S VISIT POLICE COMMEMORATION MEDAL, 1911 (IRELAND).

KING GEORGE’S POLICE CORONATION MEDAL.

KING GEORGE’S DURBAR MEDAL (GOLD††, SILVER, AND BRONZE).

MEDAL FOR DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT IN THE FIELD (MILITARY).

CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY MEDAL (NAVAL).

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL (NAVAL).

MILITARY MEDAL.

DISTINGUISHED FLYING MEDAL.

AIR FORCE MEDAL.

WAR MEDALS (IN ORDER OF DATE).

ARCTIC MEDAL, 1815-1855.

ARCTIC MEDAL, 1876.

ANTARCTIC MEDAL, 1901-1903.

CONSTABULARY MEDAL (IRELAND).

BOARD OF TRADE MEDAL FOR SAVING LIFE AT SEA.

** INDIAN ORDER OF MERIT (CIVIL).

EDWARD MEDAL.

INDIAN DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL.

KING’S POLICE MEDAL.

LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.

NAVAL LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.

MEDAL FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE.

INDIAN LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL (FOR EUROPEANS OF INDIAN ARMY).

INDIAN MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL (FOR EUROPEANS OF INDIAN ARMY).

ROYAL MARINE MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL.

INDIAN LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL (FOR NATIVE ARMY).

INDIAN MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL (FOR NATIVE ARMY).

VOLUNTEER OFFICERS’ DECORATION.

VOLUNTEER LONG SERVICE MEDAL.

VOLUNTEER OFFICERS’ DECORATION (FOR INDIA AND THE COLONIES).

VOLUNTEER LONG SERVICE MEDAL (FOR INDIA AND THE COLONIES).

COLONIAL AUXILIARY FORCES OFFICERS’ DECORATION

COLONIAL AUXILIARY FORCES LONG SERVICE MEDAL.

MEDAL FOR GOOD SHOOTING (NAVAL).

MILITIA LONG SERVICE MEDAL.

IMPERIAL YEOMANRY LONG SERVICE MEDAL.

TERRITORIAL FORCES EFFICIENCY MEDAL.

TERRITORIAL DECORATION.

SPECIAL RESERVE LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.

DECORATION FOR OFFICERS OF THE ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE.

DECORATION FOR OFFICERS OF THE ROYAL NAVAL VOLUNTEER RESERVE.

ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.

ROYAL NAVAL VOLUNTEER RESERVE LONG SERVICE MEDAL.

UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA COMMEMORATION MEDAL.

ROYAL VICTORIAN MEDAL (GOLD AND SILVER).

IMPERIAL SERVICE MEDAL.

MEDAL OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

MEDAL OF THE ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM IN ENGLAND.

BADGE OF THE ORDER OF THE LEAGUE OF MERCY.

ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER (BRONZE).

FOREIGN ORDERS (IN ORDER OF DATE OF AWARD).

FOREIGN DECORATIONS (IN ORDER OF DATE OF AWARD).

FOREIGN MEDALS (IN ORDER OF DATE OF AWARD).

2. The above order of decorations or riband representing the higher grade of a junior order will, however, when worn with that representing the lower grade of a senior order, be placed before the latter – e.g. the miniature or riband of the “Indian Empire” when worn by a G.C.I.E. who is also a K.C.B. will come before the miniature or riband of the “Bath.”

3. Dress Regulations, para. 60, will be amended in due course.

* The Order of Merit is worn around the neck on all occasions.

† The Indian Order of Merit (Military and Civil) is distinct from the Order of Merit instituted in 1902.

** The Indian Order of Merit (Military and Civil) is distinct from the Order of Merit instituted in 1902.

†† King George’s Durbar Medal in Gold can be worn in the United Kingdom by Ruling Chiefs of India only.

It will be seen that in the above list the D.S.O. is placed above the minor grades of the Royal Victorian Order of the British Empire.

NigelS