THE 1939-45 STAR

[Guest pikemedals]

THE QUALIFICATIONS WERE

NAVY

1, SIX MOUNTS SERVICE AFLOAT IN AREAS OF ACTIVE OPERATIONS

2,NAVAL PERSONNEL WHO DID NOT COMPLETE THEIR SIX MOUNTS' SERVICE

AFLOAT BUT TOOK PART IN A COMMANDO RAID, ETC.FOR WHICH THE ARMY

WERE ELIGIBLE FOR THE STAR, ALSO RECEIVED IT.

3,MEMBERS OF THE FLEET AIR ARM COULD QUALIFY FOR THE STAR,EITHER BY

SIX MOUNTHS' SERVICE AFOAT OR UNDER ANY OF THE QUALIFICATIONS

APPLICABLE TO THE ROYAL AIR FORCE.

ARMY

1, SIX MONTHS, SERVICE IN AN OPERATIONAL COMMAND,EXCEPT FOR SERVICE

IN DUNKIRK,NORWAY AND IN SOME SPECIFIED COMMANDO RAIDS AND

OTHER SERVICES FOR WHICH THE QUALIFYING PERIOD WAS ONE DAY.

AIRBORNE TROOPS QUALIFIED IF THEY HAD PARTICIPATED IN ANY AIRBORNE

OPERATIONS AND HAD COMPLETED TWO MONTHS' SERIVER IN AN

OPERATIONAL UNIT.

R.A.F.

1, OPERATIONS AGAINST THE ENEMY, PROVIDING THAT TWO MONTHS,SERVICE

HAS BEEN COMPLETED IN AN OPERATIONAL UNIT.

2,NON-AIRCREW PERSONNEL HAD TO COMPLETE SIX MONTHS' SERVICE IN THE

AREA OF AN OPERATIONAL ARMY COMMAND,EXCEPT THAT SERVICE AT

DUNKIRK AND IN NORWAY,ETC,ALSO COUNTED

MERCHANT NAVY

1,PERSONNEL WHO COMPLETED SIX MONTHS' SERVICE AFLOAT,PROVIDING THAT

AT LEAST ONE VOYADE WAS THROUGH AN OPERATIONAL AREA. SERVICE

PERFORMED DURING THE EVACUATION OF DUNKIRK ALSO QUALIFIED.

SERVICE IN FISHING VESSELS AND IN COASTAL CRAFT WAS ALSO INCLUDED.

SERVICE WHICH WAS CURTAILED BY DEATH, OR DISABILITY DUE TO SERVICE,

WOULD QUALIFY FOR THE AWARD.

Edited May 12, 2005 by pikemedals

[Guest Rick Research]

It is my understanding that civilians who entered the Channel (whether they survived or not) in small craft for the 1940 Dunkirk evacuation were also qualified, regardless of whether they earned any other WW2 star or medal. Is that correct?

In that way, a "lone 1939-45" might turn up, as otherwise inexplicable as the U.S. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, which in addition to the obvious military personnel, was also awarded to all civilian internees of the Japanese--

including babies born in captivity!

[Guest Darrell]

Here is my Wife's Grandfather's 1939-1945 Campaign Star (he was KIA near Caen July 1944):