07. How can I claim my medals from my time in service?

In many cases, you will have received the campaign medals awarded to you while you were still in the armed forces, because you must wear them for ceremonial duties and other functions. However, you may have left the armed forces before your medal was given to you. If so, you must claim the medal from the medal office for the service you were in. 

Also, most Second World War servicemen and women were not given medals before they were demobilised at the end of the war, so they had to claim them after they had left the Services.

If you are a relative of a serviceman or woman who has died, you can claim their medals. However, you may need to prove your relationship to the person before you can be given the medals. 

Do I have to pay for the medals?
You do not need to pay for medals the first time they are provided. But if you are applying for replacement medals which have been lost, for example in a burglary or a fire, you will have to pay a fee for them. If you are claiming replacement medals, you will have to provide some proof that you lost the originals, with, for example, a police or insurance report.

How do I claim a service medal?
To claim a medal or to find out if you are able to receive one, you must write to the medal office for the service you were in. See 'Further help' for details on how to contact the medal offices. When you write, you need to give as much of the following information as you can:

• your full name and date of birth;
• your service number;
• your regiment or corps (for the Army);
• your branch or trade (for the RAF and Royal Navy);
• your rank and the date you were discharged; and
• your name and address now.

Claims for medals for service in the Home Guard are dealt with by the Army Medal Office.

If you are claiming a First World War medal for a member of your family, you should collect as much of this information as you can before contacting the medal office for the service they were in.