Reuniting Veteran Families with War Medals

While the number of Second World War and National Service veterans declines, their families and direct descendants continue to thrive and are active with AJEX. We are launching a campaign in the Jewish community to encourage people to research and claim their family medals. We hope many of these people will then join us to proudly march wearing the medals at the Annual Remembrance Parade & Ceremony on 19th November.

AJEX JMA is here to help you identify what medals you or your family member would have been given and how to claim or purchase replicas. Whether you need new ones or have the originals, let’s get the Jewish community’s medals out and on display, proud and clear! See below including discount codes from Medal Minters. 

The full list of medals awarded by UK is at www.gov.uk/guidance/medals-campaigns-descriptions-and-eligibility

If you need assistance please contact dan.fox@ajex.org.uk, National Chair, AJEX JMA

Applying for your own medals

The following advice is from the MOD for anyone alive applying for Second World War medal and post 1945 medals including those awarded for National Service.

You can apply if you were awarded a medal for service in any of the following:

The Army, The Royal Navy, The Royal Marines, The Royal Air Force (RAF), The Home Guard or the Reserve Forces.

You must meet the eligibility requirements for a medal that you are applying for, this may include the number of days that you were involved with a particular campaign as well as the role that you carried out.

Read the MOD advice and make sure you have all the paperwork they request including correct name, service number, regiment or unit and dates of service.

If you are applying for someone else’s medals

You can apply on behalf of a veteran if you have lasting power of attorney and can prove it. This proof must be sent along with the other evidence requested for a medal application.

How long will it take for the application to be processed?

The wait for a medal from the MOD will usually take a number of months. To claim a medal from WWII onwards write to Veterans UK, MOD Medal Office, G36, Innsworth House, Imjin Barracks, Gloucester, GL2 1HW

I think I missed out on medals – how do I check?

A full and thorough assessment of your entitlement will have taken place using your original Record of Service and the official regulations. If you want to challenge the entitlement that has been given, write back to the Medal Office giving your Service number, full name, full address and the reference from your first application.

First war medals

The MOD no longer issues First World War Medals. You can buy replicas through commercial suppliers.

Wearing a medal

At a military Parade or Remembrance event you are entitled to wear your own military medals from your own service on the left hand side of your jacket/tunic/blazer or coat.

Wearing the medals of a relative

After the First World War it became the custom for war widows to wear their deceased husbands’ medals at Remembrance events. This in now considered acceptable for all family of those issued military medals. If you are wearing a medal issued to a relative then it should be worn on the right-hand side of your clothing.

And an AJEX Discount

For those purchasing new medals ie replicas (or other items)

Bigbury Mint 9www.bigburymint.com) 5% with AJEXOFFER code for remainder of 2023

Award Medals (www.awardmedals.com) 10% with AJEX10 Code until 1st September 2023.