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Old 30th April 2012 | 13:54
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Pontius Navigator
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N4, I think it would be safe to exclude WW1. The only beneficiaries would be grandchildren and great-grandchildren who may have no understanding of the issues. I believe only 3 medals were issued with no recognition for actions in Africa or the Atlantic or Pacific.

In WW2 there were theatre stars but these were limited to a maximum of five. Those who served in Burma and the Pacific could be awared one, those who served in the Atlantic, France and Germany, and Aircrew Europe could be awarded only 2. On this rule of 5 some potential recipients of the Arctic or Bomber Comand awards (if created) would only be entitled to a rosette on one of the other medals.

My wife's father was awarded a defence medal probably on account of service at Hell Fire Corner. His father, OTOH, who served with the Patrol Service at Lowestoft was not awarded the defence medal.

There are plenty of post-war campaigns that had significant threat to life and limb that were not recognised with an individual medal. The 1962 General Service covered 18 campaigns and the 1918 GSM 17 campaigns with 10 of those post-WW2. That is an awful lot of medals not created and supplied.
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