Correct order for medals?

Discussion in 'Service Records' started by Mahratta, Aug 14, 2011.

  1. Mahratta

    Mahratta Senior Member

    Hello, simple question that i dont know.
    Might wear my wife,s grandfathers medals up in loch ewe this year.

    Think they have to be worn on my left?


    But which medal should be 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
    (1st being near my left arm)
    1939-49 war medal
    1939-45 Star
    1939-45 Atlantic Star
     
  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    You wear them on the right if they are not your own. I'm not sure you can wear someone elses medals unless they are a blood relative.
     
  3. Vitesse

    Vitesse Senior Member

    You wear them on the right if they are not your own.
    Unless you're David Beckham. :rolleyes:
     
  4. spider

    spider Very Senior Member

    Order of precedence from the left (1st being closest to the centre of the chest)

    • 1939-45 Star
    • 1939-45 Atlantic Star
    • 1939-49 war medal
     
  5. spider

    spider Very Senior Member

    World War II
    1939-45 Star
    Atlantic Star
    Air Crew Europe Star
    Africa Star
    Pacific Star
    Burma Star
    Italy Star
    France and Germany Star
    Defence Medal
    War Medal, 1939-45
    AUSTRALIA SERVICE MEDAL 1939-45
     
  6. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    The medals awarded to a deceased Service/ex-Service person may be worn on the right breast by a near relative (mother, father, sister, brother, wife, husband, daughter and son). However, no one will shoot you if you dont fall into that bracket.

    The order of wear in your case would be
    *1939 -1945 Star nearest the chest then moving to the right the Atlantic Star and finally the War Medal.

    *Sorry the piece above [order of wear] is incorrect - you don't unmount medals and reverse them. You just wear them on the right side.

    Regards
    Hugh
     
  7. Mahratta

    Mahratta Senior Member

    Hello all,
    Thanks for the quick reply,s.
    And the correct answers.
     
  8. Son of POW-Escaper

    Son of POW-Escaper Senior Member

    The Royal Canadian Legion told me that I was not entitled to wear my father's medals under any circumstances. I had originally thought that a son WAS able to wear his father's medals, but they were emphatic.

    Perhaps we have different rules here?

    Marc
     
  9. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Interesting!
    I was under the impression close relatives (define close?) could wear medals on the right breast. But previous post infer the order of medals should be reversed if worn on the right? Is this correct - medals should be re-mounted in reverse order? I doubt many would know/understand that.
    As far as I know same rules should apply in Canada as a Commonwealth country.
     
  10. Assam

    Assam Senior Member

    Marc,

    I do not believe that it is "written in stone" anywhere, that you can't legally wear medals that you are not entittled too.

    The wearing of a "loved ones" medals on the right breast is more or less accepted"lore".

    on the right side basically negatives the "wearing of medals in order to deceive" provisions of the various commonwealth nations legislation & thereby avoid any charge.

    You can wear them, & there is really nothing anyone can do accept give you a gob full. You can't be ordered to remove them, but if they are that narrow minded they could remove you from the function, but i have yet to see that happen (albeit I have not been to a memorial function in Canada).

    Bear in mind, that it is usually the returned service association that controls functions & as such if that is their ruling, then you would have to abide by it.

    1 way around it is to attend functions held by the various commonwealth countries, eg: an Australian Anzac day service, they are organised by the Australian consulate & the Aust'n Department of Veterans affairs. not a RCL run event so they can't tell you what to do.

    food for thought.

    regards

    simon
     
  11. Assam

    Assam Senior Member

    Interesting!
    I was under the impression close relatives (define close?) could wear medals on the right breast. But previous post infer the order of medals should be reversed if worn on the right? Is this correct - medals should be re-mounted in reverse order? I doubt many would know/understand that.
    As far as I know same rules should apply in Canada as a Commonwealth country.

    Mike L

    I have never heard of that 1,

    Right breast yes,..but reverse?????
    Only time I have seen medals in reverse order were German Awards to Medical personel which ARE worn that way to show a non combative status.

    Providing they are worn on the opposite side to a Vet, there can not be an intention to deceive.

    Regards

    Simon
     
  12. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    That's what I thought Simon, hence the query!
     
  13. 17thDYRCH

    17thDYRCH Senior Member

    The Royal Canadian Legion told me that I was not entitled to wear my father's medals under any circumstances. I had originally thought that a son WAS able to wear his father's medals, but they were emphatic.

    Perhaps we have different rules here?

    Marc

    Marc,
    I am planning a trip to Holland next May and was thinking about wearing a beret with my Dad's regimental badge. Would the Royal Canadian Legion also frown on that?
    Cheers...from Toronto
     
  14. Assam

    Assam Senior Member

    17thDYRCH,

    Wouldn't wear the beret, that indicates inclusion & entittlement to wear the beret, if you weren't badged to the regiment you can't wear it.

    If the canadian legion is not organising the event, go for it regards medals, they can't stop you on foreign soil.

    Regards

    Simon
     
  15. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Randy
    I would object strongly if the badge was worn around the left ear area when it should be over the left eye- and do you have a real beret or is it one of these skull caps I see all the time perched like a pea on a water melon.....but then I'm always objectionable.....
    Cheers
     
  16. gunbunnyB/3/75FA

    gunbunnyB/3/75FA Senior Member

    hey guys, here in the states, only the service member who earns a medal can wear it.
     
  17. Assam

    Assam Senior Member

    hey guys, here in the states, only the service member who earns a medal can wear it.

    I assume that is covered under the Stolen Valour Act, which I believe carry stiff penalties. That applies of course to US medals only

    Regrds

    simon.
     
  18. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I think that Legion are being jobs worths, I'm a member of the RBL in the UK and they are no law makers on such things so I would ignore them.

    One of my old RSM's wore his grandfathers WW1 medals on remembrance parades and they were not reversed. His Military Medal was definately on the left.
     
  19. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

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