British Campaign Medals of World War One


There was a total of five campaign medals available to individuals from Britain and her Dominions who served in an operational theatre during World War One. Of these five, recipients were usually eligible for a maximum of three medals, although a small number of exceptions occurred. The most common combination of medals was the British War Medal and Allied Victory Medal pair, followed by the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal trio - often referred to by the nickname 'Pip, Squeak and Wilfred'. In addition to the five campaign medals, service personnel who had been honourably discharged due to wounds or sickness could also be awarded the Silver War Badge. These medals were issued automatically to other ranks, however, in the case of commissioned officers the individual, or their next-of-kin, had to apply for them directly. (This section is still under construction, as such it will be updated on a regular basis.)