WW2 Stars and Medals

[DirtyDick]

Hello

Just wondering whether anyone knows the total numbers of the various campaign stars and medals awarded to UK & Commonwealth forces? Also, does anyone have the precise dates of institution of these various awards? I know the Africa and original 1939-43 awards were planned during the War, but what about later campaign stars?

For many years there have been more and less desirable stars, but is this largely based upon scarcity value? I assume that the ACE Star was awarded in significant numbers (in 100,000s?) - albeit less than predominantly Army-oriented campaigns, but still significant - but is the great price difference of this often unnamed, unresearchable award compared to others more to do with the popularity of the RAF?

Also, does anyone know whether other WW2 stars are being faked, as seems to be endemic with the ACE?

For my own part, I know that the campaign stars were designed to be produced as cheaply as possibly (and also unnamed and had to be claimed rather than sent), and that the WW2 medals were cupro-nickel rather than silver, but does anyone have an indication of the overall cost?
Richard

[BeppoSapone]

Originally posted by DirtyDick@Jul 1 2004, 06:58 AM


For my own part, I know that the campaign stars were designed to be produced as cheaply as possibly (and also unnamed and had to be claimed rather than sent), and that the WW2 medals were cupro-nickel rather than silver, but does anyone have an indication of the overall cost?
Richard

Blood, Sweat and Tears?

[DirtyDick]

Touche, Beppo, although my thoughts were confined to the more immediate financial considerations!

Richard

PS Just seen a Monty Python 4 dvd set for sale on Play.com for just £21.99 with p&p!

[BeppoSapone]

Originally posted by DirtyDick@Jul 1 2004, 07:11 AM
Touche, Beppo, although my thoughts were confined to the more immediate financial considerations!

Richard

PS Just seen a Monty Python 4 dvd set for sale on Play.com for just £21.99 with p&p!

Say no more!

[Sgt Pilot Bernard Henson RAFVR]

Presumably one of the problems with these awards having to be claimed will be the compilation of Full Medal Rolls as they are still being issued in some numbers today{though the design detail has altered slightly[the rings are larger & now unsoldered~a fact confirmed by an enquiry I made to the Royal Mint in the 1970s;being instigated in the late Fifties when original stocks began to run out!}Numbers produced must run into many 100000s for most of them,the least contemporalily awarded medal being the Rhodesia Service Medal 1939~1945 of which around 1700 were awarded,conversely the British War Medal must be the most Prolifically Awarded WW2 Medal,& must number Millions,Production costs of each medal must have been Pennies in 1946~50,remembering a 1d Coin was around half/third the weight of a Star & its value was Only 1d!{including Manufacture}I would estimate the total cost per medal with Ribbon @ around 1 or 2 Shillings!{05/10p}