Atlantic Star Regulations.

ChrisKelly · April 27

I read the regulations relating to awards of the Atlantic Star to Royal Navy and Merchant Navy personnel, presented to the parliament in May 1945.

How, when and why were the regulations changed to allow award for "the last six months", so to speak... My relevant sources are below...

https://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/britishguide/hmso/campaign_stars_defence.htm

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a81dda3e5274a2e87dbfe4f/MEDALS_QUALIFICATIONS_LEAFLET-new.pdf

https://www.hms-vengeance.co.uk/atlstar.htm#:~:text=The last six months (8th,only - one day is enough.&text=After qualification for the 1939,six months service afloat first).

https://www.hms-vengeance.co.uk/atlstar2.htm

Farkas · May 8

I had to read those over a few times 🙃

With exceptions, the norm was first doing 6 months service to earn 1939-45 star.

Plus 6 months additionally in theatre to receive the star for that theatre, ie Atlantic, Italy etc

The 1945 regs do already say those in theatre on VE Day would receive the star for that theatre, regardless of time served therein, but then they would not be entitled to get a 1939-45 star as a result.

———————

Is this what you are questioning ChrisKelly?

The ‘reinterpretation’ in 1998, 🤷‍♂️.

The first 6 months earns a 1939-45 Star, & even if spent in the Atlantic theatre, does not count towards Atlantic Star qualification.

- Qualifying service for the new Stars may not run concurrently with service qualifying for, and preceding the date on which a candidate qualifies for the 1939-45 Star.

- The 1939-45 Star must be earned in operations before a candidate can begin to qualify for the Atlantic Star.

So this makes no sense 👇

The 1945/6 regulations clearly state…

Campaign Stars and Clasps. General

11. (i) Entry into operational service

(a) Service in ships making occasional visits to the defined areas for fuelling and so forth will not necessarily be a qualification.

(b) The expression " entry into operational service " in the case of the new Stars is subject to the qualification that six or two months operational service must already have been rendered. Qualifying service for any one of the new Stars may not run concurrently with service qualifying for, and preceding the date on which a candidate qualifies for the award of the 1939-45 Star.

———-/—////

I’ve not seen anything to suggest that the criteria has ever been changed, if that’s the case, I don’t understand that 1998 decision.

cheers

tony 🍻

ChrisKelly · June 11

Agreed, it's badly written. Sounds like something that came from the Lords. That's how those bluenoses talk and presumably write.

"The Last Six Months" interpretation sounds like award of the Atlantic Star can be made regardless of previous service...

One voyage in the area of opetations between 10 November 1944 and 8 May 1945 will qualify, even if the 1939-1945 Star hasn't been awarded first, by 160 days at sea [this is mentioned to preclude "special awards" of the 1939-1945 Star, granted for less than six months operational service].

Here's one interpreatation:

(6) Service spent in qualifying for one star could not run concurrently with service qualifying for another, except that an individual who had completed the six or two months' operational service required for the award of The 1939-45 Star was not required to complete this period of qualifying period a second time in order to begin to qualify for another star. A similar arrangement applied to the prior service qualification for awards in the Navy and Merchant Navy of The Pacific Star, The Burma Star and The Italy Star. An exception was made to this rule in the case of the Merchant Navy as regards to The Atlantic Star that is mentioned in the text referring to it.

(9) Personnel of the Navy and Merchant Navy who were on operational service in the Italian theatre on 8th May, 1945, or during the six months immediately preceding it, were granted The Italy Star by virtue of entry into a theatre of operations, and the prior six months' service requirement did not apply. A similar waiving of the prior service requirement extended to The Atlantic Star. The actual requirement for The Atlantic Star was thus reduced in that period until it consisted merely of entry into operational service.

(10) Personnel of the Navy and Merchant Navy who were on operational service on 2nd September, 1945, in the Pacific or Burma theatres, received The Pacific Star or The Burma Star, as the case might be, by virtue of entry into a theatre of operations, and the prior six months' service requirement did not apply. In such cases only one star was awarded for service at sea during the last six months in the Atlantic, Italy, Pacific and Burma areas. The star awarded was the one appropriate to the last area in which service was rendered. The 1939-45 Star was not awarded in cases where the operational service amounted to less than the necessary six months.

Sources:

https://www.birkenheadrsamedals.nz/medals-details.php?MedalNumber=260

https://www.birkenheadrsamedals.nz/medals-details.php?MedalNumber=245

ChrisKelly · June 11

This is the text of the 1998 decision:

THE ATLANTIC STAR

In the Merchant Navy the qualifications for the award of the Atlantic Star are:

a) The 1939-45 Star must have been earned by six months’ service at sea and there must be a further six months’ service anywhere at sea rendered since the 3rd September 1939, and until the 8th May 1945, with one or more voyages in the following area during the second six months...

If twelve months’ service at sea has not been rendered, the Atlantic Star will be awarded only in the following circumstances;

d) Seamen who have not already earned the 1939-45 Star but who served in the Merchant Navy at sea in the area specified in paragraph (a) above during the last six months of operational service up to the 8th May 1945, will qualify for the Atlantic Star, provided that service was not subsequently rendered in

another operational area. The 1939 – 45 Star will not be awarded in such cases.

RSS/MSF4707/Revised 27/07/98

Source:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a81dda3e5274a2e87dbfe4f/MEDALS_QUALIFICATIONS_LEAFLET-new.pdf

It was based on this:

COMMITTEE ON THE GRANT OF

HONOURS DECORATIONS AND MEDALS

IN TIME OF WAR

CAMPAIGN STARS

AND

THE DEFENCE MEDAL

THE 1939-45 STAR, THE AFRICA STAR, THE ATLANTIC STAR,

THE AIR CREW EUROPE STAR, THE ITALY STAR,

THE FRANCE AND GERMANY STAR,

THE PACIFIC STAR, THE BURMA STAR,

AND THE CLASPS TO THESE STARS.

THE DEFENCE MEDAL.

CHEVRONS FOR WAR SERVICE.

Presented by the Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and

Minister of Defence, to Parliament

by Command of His Majesty

May 1945

LONDON

HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE

THREEPENCE NET

Campaign Stars and Clasps. General

11. (i) Entry into operational service

(b) The expression " entry into operational service " in the case of the new Stars is subject to the qualification that six or two months operational service must already have been rendered. Qualifying service for any one of the new Stars may not run concurrently with service qualifying for, and preceding the date on which a candidate qualifies for the award of the 1939-45 Star.

(vii) The last six months

In the case of persons in operational service on the 8th May, 1945, that is to say, at the end of active hostilities in Europe, the Italy and France and Germany Stars will be granted by virtue of entry into a theatre of operations, and the prior six or two months service requirement will not apply. A similar waiving of the prior service requirement will extend to the Atlantic and Air Crew Europe Stars. The actual service requirement for the Atlantic Star will also be reduced to entry into operational service, and a similar provision will apply to air crew in relation to the Air Crew Europe Star. The 1939-45 Star will not be awarded in any of these cases in which operational service amounts to less than six or two months respectively.

Source:

https://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/britishguide/hmso/campaign_stars_defence.htm#google_vignette

Edited June 11 by ChrisKelly

ChrisKelly · June 17

This is what I got from the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, the descendant of the Bureau of Merchant Seamen and Shipping. It is a transcription of Merchant Shipping Notice 279, issued in 1946, and appended to include awards up to 1992. This notice originally governed awards of the campaign stars to merchant navy seamen.

QUALIFYING MEDALS FORM MSF4707.doc

ChrisKelly · July 2

An uncommon group... Authentic! Original issue!

Merchant seafarer George William Cann served with the Canadian Merchant Navy during the Second World War. He was awarded the Atlantic Star, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Bar, and the War Medal 1939-1945.

However... The CVSM was only authorized for Canadian Merchant Navy seafarers on 14 March 2001, by then - Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson. Nonetheless, his other two were originally awarded him for his war service prior to the turn of the century.

Sources:

https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/lifestyles/they-were-my-heroes-cape-breton-naval-veteran-to-be-honoured-saturday-100928271/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrienne_Clarkson