Awards and decorations of the British Armed Forces are military orders, decorations and medals which recognise service and personal accomplishments while a member of the Royal Navy, British Army or Royal Air Force. Together with rank and qualification badges, such awards are a means to outwardly display the highlights of a serviceman's career.
Contents
- Order of wear
- Military orders and decorations
- Military campaign medals
- International campaign medals
- Commonwealth orders
- Commonwealth decorations
- Commonwealth campaign and commemorative medals
- Foreign orders
- Foreign decorations
- Foreign campaign and commemorative medals
- Decorations and medals authorised for acceptance but not for official wear
- Campaign medals authorised for acceptance but not for official wear
- Campaign medals not authorised for acceptance or official wear
- References
Order of wear
All services use a common order of wear, the following general rules apply:
- The Victoria Cross and the George Cross
- United Kingdom Orders
- United Kingdom Decorations
- Order of St John (all classes)
- United Kingdom Medals for Gallantry and for Distinguished Service
- United Kingdom Operational Service Medals (including authorised United Nations Medals and Medals of other recognised International Organisations). Worn in order of date of award
- United Kingdom Polar Medals
- United Kingdom Police Medals for Valuable Service
- United Kingdom Jubilee, Coronation and Durbar Medals
- Long Service and Efficiency Awards
- Commonwealth Orders, Decorations and Medals instituted by the Sovereign. Worn in order of date of award.
- Commonwealth Orders, Decorations and Medals instituted since 1949 otherwise than by the Sovereign (including those of the States of Malaysia and the State of Brunei). Worn in order of date of award.
- Foreign Orders. If approved for wear, worn in order of date of award.
- Foreign Decorations. If approved for wear, worn in order of date of award.
- Foreign Medals. If approved for wear, worn in order of date of award.
Military orders and decorations
Note [1] Eligibility period start dates reflect respective establishment dates, except where available evidence indicates otherwise.
Military campaign medals
Notes:
International campaign medals
Worn with other United Kingdom campaign medals in order of date of issue (except where noted otherwise).
Commonwealth orders
Worn after all United Kingdom awards (including international awards treated as United Kingdom awards). Honorary awards are worn before substantive awards.
Commonwealth decorations
Worn after all Commonwealth orders.
Commonwealth campaign and commemorative medals
Worn after all Commonwealth decorations.
Foreign orders
Worn after all Commonwealth awards.
Foreign decorations
Worn after all foreign orders.
Foreign campaign and commemorative medals
Worn after all foreign decorations.
Decorations and medals authorised for acceptance but not for official wear
Official permission has been granted for this medal to be accepted, but it is not authorised for wear.
Campaign medals authorised for acceptance but not for official wear
Official permission has been granted for these medals to be accepted, but they are not authorised for wear.
Campaign medals not authorised for acceptance or official wear
Official permission has been refused for these medals to be accepted and they are not authorised for wear.