Set Of 5 NAMED Medals, Defence & War Medal, Italy, Africa & 1939-45 Stars. Amazing collection of 5 war medals all issued to one owner, D. Very rare to find all of these medals together and named to the same person. Note – bought as a set many years ago, writing on the top left has a slight error on the number, but 233508 is the correct one, as assured by the printed number on each medal. Date – 1945, Campaign – Second World War 1939-44, Branch of Service – British & Commonwealth Forces, Ribbon – Narrow red stripe on the centre, with a narrow white stripe on either side, broad red stripes at either side and two intervening stripes of blue, Metal – Cupro-nickel, Size – 36mm. Description – Obverse depicts effigy of King George VI, crowned and facing left. Circumscribed with “Georgivs VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX ET INDIAE IMP:” (George VI, omnipotent King of Great Britain and Emperor of India). Designed and marked by Percy Metcalfe below the truncated neck of the effigy. The reverse shows a triumphant lion standing on the body of a double-headed dragon. The dragon’s heads are those of an eagle and a dragon, to signify the principal occidental and oriental enemies during the Second World War (Axis powers). At the top, just to the right of the centre are the tears “1939″ and “1945″ in two lines. The initials “ECRP” of designer Edward Carter Preston are near the rim at the 9 o’clock position. All full time personnel of the armed forces wherever they were serving, so long as they had served for at least 28 days between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945 were eligible for this medal. It was granted in addition to the campaign Stars and the Defence medal. A few categories of civilians, such as war correspondents and ferry pilots who had flown in operational theatres, also qualified. Named on the edge of medal (pictured). Description- Obverse deprives the uncrowned effigy of King George VI, circumscribed “Georgivs VI D:G:BR:MN:REX F:D:IND:IMR” (George VI, By the grace of God, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India). P, Humphrey Paget the designer. The reverse depicts two lions flanking an oak sap crowned with the dates at the sides “1939″ & “1945″ and wavy lines representing the sea below. The words “The Defence Medal” appear in the exergue. P, but a different designer to the front; Harold Parker. It has a non-swivelling straight bar suspended which is attached to the medal with a single-toe claw mount and a pin through the upper edge of the medal. Awarded to service personnel for 3 years service at home or 6 months service overseas in territories subjected to air attack or otherwise closely threatened. Personnel of Anti-Aircraft Command, RAF ground crews, dominion forces stationed in the UK, the Home Guard, Civil Defence, NationalFire Service and many other civilian units qualified for this medal. The medal was generally issued unnamed in cupro-nickel, but the Canadian version was struck in silver. The british House of Commonw decided that Second World War campaign medals awarded to British Forces would be issued unnamed. Medals awarded to Australians, Indians and South Africans were impressed with the recipients name & details. Therefore this particular medal must be from the three places aforementioned, possibly South Africa or Australia. More details on D. F Brown could be found using soldier search websites etc. Named Italy Star Medal. Description – The six-pointed star has a circular has a circular centre with the GRI/VI monogram, surmounted by a crown and inscribed “The Italy Star” round the foot. Awarded for operational service on land in Italy, Sicily, Greece, Yugoslavia, the Aegean area and Dodecanese islands, Corsica, Sardinia and Elba at any time between 11 June 1943 and 8 May 1945. Medal is detached from ribbon as you can see from the pictures above. Named Africa Star Medal. Campaign – Africa 1940-43, Branch of service – British and Commonwealth Forces, Ribbon – Pale buff symbolising the sand of the desert, with a broad red central stripe, a dark blue stripe on the left and a light blue stripe on the right symbolising the three services, Metal – bronze. Description – The six-pointed star has a circular centre with the GRI/VI monogram, surmounted by a crown and inscribed “The Africa Star” round the door. Awarded for the entry into an operational area in North Africa between 10 June 1940 (the date of Italy’s declaration of war) and 12 May 1943 (the end of operation in North Africa), but service in Abyssinia (Ethiopia), Somaliland, Eritrea and Malta also qualified for the award. The first in a series of 8 bronze stars issued for service in the Second World War, it was awarded to personnel who had completed 6 months service in specified operational commands overseas, between Sept 3 1939 and Aug 15 1945c though in certain cases the minimum period was shortened. Any service curtailed by death, injury or capture also qualified, as did the award of a decoration or a mention in despatches. Any questions, feel free to message me. All of the above is hand typed, apologies if any typos. All information is from a reliable medal collecting book I own. This item is in the category “Collectables\Militaria\World War II (1939-1945)\Medals/ Ribbons”. The seller is “vintageventures100″ and is located in this country: GB. This item can be shipped to United Kingdom, Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Australia, United States, Bahrain, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, China, Israel, Hong Kong, Norway, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, Korea, South, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Bangladesh, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Barbados, Brunei Darussalam, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Egypt, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Grenada, French Guiana, Iceland, Jersey, Jordan, Cambodia, Saint Kitts-Nevis, Saint Lucia, Liechtenstein, Sri Lanka, Macau, Monaco, Maldives, Montserrat, Martinique, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Reunion, Turks and Caicos Islands, Aruba, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Chile, Bahamas, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Kuwait, Panama, Philippines, Qatar, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay.
- Type: Medals & Ribbons
- Issued/ Not-Issued: Issued
- Conflict: World War II (1939-1945)
- Country/ Organization: Great Britain
- Theme: Militaria
- Country/Region of Manufacture: Italy
- Modified Item: No
