A single Defence Medal is common (Home Guard and such), a 1939-45 Star, DM, and War Medal trio is quite common, a DM and WM pair is quite common, a 39-45 and DM is distinctly odd. But this is possible, given the complexities of the WWII medals which were far greater than the regulations reflect (and those creating the regulations at the time knew this even as they wrote the rules). And, in some ways, this would be less confusing if the Order of the British Empire (no way to know which class, but the width suggests to me a CBE) were civil rather than military. Chronologically, I think the DM came along AFTER the WM (I'm talking decisions, not formal Army Orders), so it doesn't seem to be a matter of chronology. If it were only the 1939-43 (later 1939-45) Star and a ribbonless MiD, we could easily give ths ribbons a date. These ribbons, I think, tell a very interesting tale! And I do love puzzles, even if !