Kiwi Medals

This is one of my favourite of the stars from WW2. This is because it is part of my grandfathers entitlement as he fought in the Solomon Islands against the Japanese.

The medal was awarded for operational service in the Pacific Theater between 8 December 1941 and 2 September 1945, and also for certain specified service in China, Hong-Kong, Malaya and Sumatra:

Hong Kong – between 8 December 1941 and 25 December 1941
China and Malaya – between 8 December 1941 and 15 February 1942
Sumatra – between 8 December 1941 and 23 March 1942
Second World War service in China, Hong Kong, Malaya and Sumatra after the above end dates was recognised by the award of the Burma Star.
The qualifying sea areas for the award of the Pacific Star are the Pacific Ocean (including the South China Sea) and the Indian Ocean east of a line running due south from Singapore round the South-East coast of Sumatra, through Christmas Island, and southwards along the meridian of 110 deg East.
The Pacific Star was authorized for immediate bestowal to any soldier or sailor who had been killed or wounded in combat.
British uniform regulations stipulated that Burma Star would not be awarded to a recipient of the Pacific Star. Subsequent entitlement to the Burma Star was denoted by the award of the Burma Star clasp.

The War Medal 1939–1945 was a British decoration awarded to those who had served in the Armed Forces or Merchant Navy full-time for at least 28 days between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945.

In the Merchant Navy, the 28 days must have been served at sea.

It is sometimes described as the “Victory Medal” for World War II, although that is not its correct name. Generally these things are unnamed but I have a one orphan that is named.

For those of you hunting down sets it is as follows, 1220764 N.K. Mohd AJAIB.

I otherwise have a trunkful of these.

The 1939–45 Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in the Second World War. The medal was awarded for operational service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945.

Army personnel had to complete 6 months service in an operational command. Airborne troops qualified if they had participated in any airborne operations and had completed 2 months service in a fully operational unit.
Air Force personnel had to participate in operations against the enemy providing that 2 months service had been completed in an operational unit. Non-aircrew personnel had to complete 6 months service in an area of (overseas) operational army command.
Naval personnel qualified if they completed 6 months service, and at least 1 voyage was made through an operational area.
Royal Observer Corps personnel for service of 1080 days.

There were a number of “Qualifying Special Areas” where operational service for “one day or part thereof” qualified for the special award of the 1939–45 Star. These were actions for which a more specific campaign medal was not issued. Examples are: France or Belgium: 10 May to 19 June 1940, St.Nazaire 22-28 March1942, Dieppe: 19 August 1942, Iraq: 10 April to 25 May 1941 and Burma (Enemy Invasion): 22 February 1942 to 15 May 1942.[1] The star was immediately awarded if the service period was terminated by death, disability or wounding. The award of a gallantry medal or a Mention in Despatches also led to an immediate award.

I have a few of these medals.

The 1914-15 Star was a campaign medal of the British Empire, for service in World War I.

The 1914-15 Star was approved in 1918, for issue to officers and men of British and Imperial forces who served in any theatre of the War between 5 August 1914 and 31 December 1915 (other than those who had already qualified for the 1914 Star).
Recipients of this medal also received the British War Medal and Victory Medal. Some 2,366,000 were issued, including: 283,500 to the Royal Navy & 71,150 to Canadians.

I have a few of these in groups but also one orphan, 9078 Spr. L.Edmunds R.E.