My South Atlantic Medal followed me around 4 stations before being awarded to me 8 years late after I have received 2 other medals. I assumed, I hadn't qualified for it.
It was at in the Chief Clerks drawer, when I went in to sign for my promotion, he said "oh by the way, we found this medal for you" and slid it across his desk at me. Had my name stamped around the rim, so why hadn't they bothered to locate me on whatever unit it was passed to? Blunties!!