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Research Section - Researching Medal Records



Army Medal Office

The office holds details of most campaign medals issued from the 1920s and is the authority for all questions concerning the entitlement to current campaign medals.

The Office provides two main services:

  • Issue of medals post First World War to those entitled persons who have never received them.
  • Replacement of medals under certain conditions for entitled personnel.
      Army Medal Office
      Building 250
      RAF Innsworth
      Gloucester
      Gloucestershire
      GL3 1EZ

      Web: www.army.mod.uk/contacts/divisions/medals.htm
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The Orders and Medals Research Society

For general information about medals:

      The Orders and Medals Research Society
      c/o 123 Turnpike Link
      Croydon
      Surrey
      CR0 5NU

      Tel: 020 8680 2701
      Web: www.omrs.org.uk
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The National Archives - First World War Medals

For First World War medal roll details:

      The National Archives
      Ruskin Avenue
      Kew
      Richmond
      Surrey TW9 4DU

      Tel: 0208 876 3444
      Web: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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London Gazette

The London Gazette (originally called The Oxford Gazette) is the world’s oldest continuously published newspaper and is still published "with Authority", as it has been since it was established by Charles II whilst the Court (effectively the government of the time) was removed to Oxford during the Great Plague of 1665.

It is published by the Government and contains among other items the official public notification of military awards.

Contemporary editions of the London Gazette up to 1939 and after 1945 published many citations to gallantry medals and decorations.

For the First World War period, the researcher is advised to visit The National Archives, Kew and/or a major library.

Military Medals (MM) were announced in the London Gazette but without citations. MM citations for 1915-18 can sometimes be traced in the War Diaries (by seeking the action for which the award was made) and in personal papers or published histories. War Diaries can be consulted at The National Archives (TNA) or in the Royal Engineers Library.

For the Second World War period, only notifications of the awards were published. Some foreign awards are also noted.

To contact the London Gazette:

      London Gazette
      PO Box 7923
      London
      SE1 5ZH

      Tel: 0207 3944517
      Web: www.gazettes-online.co.uk
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Corps of Royal Engineers Medal Rolls

The Institution of Royal Engineers, with the assistance of FoREM, are collating medal rolls of all those who have served in the Corps of Royal Engineers and the Corps of Royal Sappers and Miners. The information contained within each volume is designed to be of use to members of the Corps, family historians and medal collectors - Below is a table of the published and proposed volumes. The published volumes are available for purchase, provided that the information is available in the public domain, or can be viewed at the Royal Engineers Library.

Please contact the Institution of Royal Engineers if you wish to order or purchase any of these volumes.

Volume Title Published
I
Parts 1 & 2
Decorations, Gallantry and Distinguished Conduct Medals (VC to BEM, less MM) Anticipated late 2008
I
Part 3
The Military Medal (MM)  
I
Part 4
Mentions in Despatches  
II British Orders  
III Campaign Medals 1793-1856 Published and on sale
IV Campaign Medals 1857-1889 Published and on sale
IV
Chapter 1
The Indian Mutiny Medal 1857-1858 Published and on sale
V Queen's and King's South Africa Medals 1899-1902 Published and on sale
VI Campaign Medals 1890-1939 (including the Indian GSMs and the Africa GSM but not Kenya clasp). Anticipated August 2007. Will be for sale.
VII World War One  
VIII Spare  
IX World War Two  
X General Service Medal with Clasp Palestine 1945 – 1948 Published but NOT for sale
XI General Service Medal with Clasps S.E Asia 1945–1946, Bomb and Mine Clearance 1945-1949 and Cyprus. Published but NOT for sale
XII Queen’s Korea and United Nations Korea Medals Published but NOT for sale
XIII General Service Medal with Clasp Malaya. Published but NOT for sale
XIV General Service Medal with Clasps Near East 1956 and Arabian Peninsula 1957-1960 and Africa General Service Medal with Clasp Kenya.
(Note: Clasp Canal Zone will be added at a later date).
Anticipated October 2007, but will NOT be for sale.
XV General Service Medal with Clasps Brunei, Borneo, Radfan and Malay Peninsula. Anticipated early 2009, but will NOT be for sale.
XVI General Service Medal with Clasp South Arabia.  
XVII General Service Medal with Clasp Northern Ireland.  
XVIII General Service Medal with Clasps Dhofar, Lebanon, Kuwait, N. Iraq & S. Turkey and Air Operations Iraq.
Accumulated Campaign Service Medal
Operational Service Medal with clasps Afghanistan, Congo and Sierra Leone.
Rhodesia Medal
Polar Medal
 
IXX South Atlantic Medal
Gulf Medal
Iraq Medal
 
XX Coronation and Jubilee Medals  
XXI Long and Efficient Service Decorations and Medals  
XXII Academic and other Prize Medals  
XXIII Skill-at Arms Medals  
XXIV Foreign and Commonwealth Awards and Medals (except those connected to a British campaign, eg The Khedive’s Stars for Egypt)  
XXV UN and NATO Medals (except those connected to a British campaign, eg The UN Medal for Korea )  
     
Note: This list was last updated on 20 March, 2007 and is subject to change without notice.

Please contact the Institution of Royal Engineers if you wish to order or purchase any of the volumes.

Links to:

Sapper GCs page
Sapper VCs page
Collection page

Designated as a museum with an 'outstanding collection' the Royal Engineers Museum is a charity supported by private funds. Reg No: 295173
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Page revised:
Mon 14-Apr-2008
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