Nature of Source
Introduction to Campaign Medals
Army campaign medals are a valuable resource for those researching their military ancestors. The records document the medals awarded to both officers and other ranks and for WWI, the rolls include most of those who saw active service overseas.
There were three types medals awarded to those serving in the army:
- Campaign Medals
- Gallantry Medals
- Good Conduct or Long Service Medals
Types of Records
Two main types of WWI records are available:
Medal Rolls (Series WO 329)
The rolls document the soldier’s details and medal awards on the official Medal Rolls and contain the battalion number and possibly other information. The volumes of rolls are organised by type of medal and by regiment. No battalion or other information is provided for the rolls of the Royal Artillery and the Royal Engineers and Corps.
Medal Index Cards (Series WO 372)
A Medal Index Card was created for each person by the Army Medal Office as a summary of information taken from the official Medal Rolls. This process meant a person could easily be located on a given volume and page on the medal roll.
The cards typically include:
- Name, rank, and service number
- Regiment and unit
- Medals awarded
- Medal Roll reference number and page
Using Medal Index Cards
With digitisation, locating a soldier’s index card or entry in the medal rolls is relatively straightforward searching on Ancestry and Findmypast. However, if The National Archive catalogue description and reference is needed, follow these steps:
- Locate the medal roll reference on the soldier’s medal index card.
- Open the Discovery catalogue at The National Archives.
- Type the roll number reference into the search box.
- Click on the top result. The entry will show the TNA catalogue description and reference.
WWI Campaign Medals
Six main campaign medals were awarded for World War I service:
The 1914 Star or Mons Star
Issued to men serving between 5 August and 22 November 1914 in France and Flanders/Belgium.
The 1914-1915 Star
Issued to men serving from 23 November 1914 to 31 December 1915 in France and Flanders/Belgium and from 5 August 1914 to 31 December 1915 for men serving in other operational theatres of war. The award was authorised to recognise those who had not received the 1914 Star.
The British War Medal
Issued to soldiers who served overseas between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. Service in Russia between 1919 and 1920 also qualified.
The Victory Medal
Issued to all soldiers and civilians who saw service in an operational theatre between 1914 and 1919 but not for those serving solely in India. The medal was never issued alone.
The Territorial Force War Medal
Issued to members of the Territorial Force and Territorial Force Nursing Service who had joined on or prior to 30 September 1914 and had served overseas between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918.
The Silver War Badge
Issued to officers and soldiers discharged or retired from the military as a result of sickness or injury at home or overseas during the war. The award is particularly useful as recipients had not necessarily served overseas and would therefore not have been awarded a campaign medal. The award provided the recipient with a public means of showing he had been honourably discharged.
Mentions in Despatches
Mentions in Despatches was the lowest form of gallantry awarded to servicemen and women during the war which was officially announced in the London Gazette. Although the gallantry was only recognised on paper those who were recognised in this way were entitled to wear an oak leaf emblem on the ribbon of the Victory Medal.
Royal Air Force, Royal Flying Corps and Royal Navy personnel were eligible for the first four campaign medals listed as well as the army gallantry medals.
Research Resources
The National Archives Research Guide provides a list of abbreviations used on the index cards and the alphanumeric codes used to indicate each operational theatre. A useful guide on how to interpret a WWI campaign medal index card can be found at The Long, Long Trail website. Contact the relevant regimental museum to find out if further information exists such as regimental histories. Additionally, war diaries held at TNA in series WO 95 may provide further insights into the daily experiences of your ancestor’s unit.
Medal Inscription Information
World War I medals are uniquely inscribed along the rim with detailed information about the recipient, including the soldier’s surname, first name or initial, rank, regiment, and service number. In contrast, medals from World War II and campaigns from the 19th century such as the Crimean War are not inscribed with this information.
Other Medal Records
The Military General Service Medal
The medal was instituted in 1847 to recognise service by officers and men serving in various military campaigns with the British Army. The award retrospectively covered the years from 1793 to 1814 including the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars, and the Anglo-American War of 1812. The Royal Navy and Royal Marine equivalent was the Naval General Service Medal 1915-1962. In 1962 both these medals were replaced by the General Service Medal and issued for all campaign across the services.
The Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
The medal was instituted in 1831 and remained in use until 1979. It was issued to other ranks and NCOs for long service with irreproachable character and conduct. The rolls are held at The National Archives in series WO 102 which is also available as part of the Digital Microfilm Records.
The Meritorious Service Medal
The medal was awarded to long serving NCOs from 1845. Between 1916 and 1928, the MSM was awarded to warrant officers (sergeant majors), NCOs, and other ranks from the army, Royal Navy, Royal Flying Corp and the Royal Air Force. The rolls up to 1919 can be found at TNA in series WO 101 and were announced in the London Gazette mostly without citation. For background information on the history of the Meritorious Service Medal and a list of those awarded the Medal with the London Gazette reference, see Sainsbury, J.D. For Gallantry in the Performance of Military Duty: Samson Books, 1980.
Records of later awards are kept with the MOD Medals Office.
Post-1920 Service Records
Service records for all ranks who served after 1920 remain with the Ministry of Defence with each military service maintaining its own record office. To access these records consult the MOD Guide ‘How to apply for access to personal data held by the Ministry of Defence’. Please note, The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is currently in the process of transferring ten million personnel service records to The National Archives for permanent preservation
See also
Army – Medal Rolls, Gallantry, Other Ranks & Officers, including WWI
Royal Air Force/Royal Flying Corps – Medal Rolls, including WWI
Royal Navy/Royal Marines/Royal Naval Air Service – Medal Rolls, Ratings & Officers
Where Found
- Series WO 372, War Office: Service Medal and Award Rolls Index, First World War. Search within or browse this series to find specific names of interest.
- Series WO 329, War Office and Air Ministry: Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War.
- Series WO 100, War Office: Campaign Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1984. The volumes are held on microfilm and arranged under campaigns and military unit, then rank and surname. These documents are free of charge to download as digital microfilm records.
- Series WO 102, War Office: Long Service and Good Conduct Awards, 1831-1979. These documents are free of charge to download as digital microfilm records.
MOD Medals Office
Post 1919 and WWII medal records are held at the Medals Office. The office provides a service for applying for or replacing an armed forces badge or medal.
Period Covered
1914 – 1918
Genealogical Value
Medal Index Cards
- Name of soldier.
- Soldier’s corps (regiment), rank, regimental number.
- Medals awarded.
- Possibly first theatre of war served in as well as other remarks.
- Medal Roll reference number and page
- Always check the back of the card for possible additional comments.
Medal Rolls
- As above plus the battalion number which could be useful for finding the battalion war diary which are held in series WO 95.
Further References
Medals
- Adler, Michael. British Jewry Book Of Honour 1914-1918 (Two volumes), Naval & Military Press, 2007
- Bishop, Richard, Hayward, John & Birch, Diana. British Battles and Medals: Spink & Sons, 2006
- Buckland, Christopher. ed. Waterloo Medal Roll: Naval & Military Press, 2001
- Duckers, Peter. British Campaign Medals, 1914-2005: Shire Books, 2006
- Duckers, Peter. British Campaign Medals, 1815-1914: Shire Books, 2004
- Duckers, Peter. British Gallantry Awards, 1855-2000: Shire Books, 2005
- Duckers, Peter. British Campaign Medals of the First World War: Shire Books, 2011
- Duckers, Peter. British Military Medals: A Guide for the Collector and Family Historian: Pen and Sword Books, 2013
- Mackay, James and Mussell, Philip. Medal Yearbook: Token Publishing
- Mullen, A.L.T. Military General Service Medal Roll 1793-1814: Naval & Military Press, 2001
- Norman, Charles Boswell. Battle Honours of the British Army: London, 1911
- Purves, Alec A. The Medals, Decorations & Orders of the Great War 1914-1918: Hayward, 1989
- Purves, Alec A. Collecting Medals and Decorations: Spink & Son, 1978
- Purves, Alec A. Orders and Decorations: Hamlyn, 1972
- Sainsbury, J.D. For Gallantry in the Performance of Military Duty: Samson Books, 1980 (The book includes a list of those awarded the Meritorious Service Medal with the London Gazette reference together with background information on the history of the medal)
- Spencer, William. Medals: The Researcher’s Guide: The National Archives, 2008
What Grandad Won in the War, DVD, Token Publishing
General
- Beckett, James Deuchar (ed). The Beckett Soldiers Index, A-C: Jade Publishing, 2003
- Beckett, James Deuchar (ed). The Beckett Soldiers Index, D-G Jade Publishing, 2009
- Beckett, James Deuchar (ed). The Beckett Soldiers Index, H-K: Jade Publishing, 2009
(Listing of soldiers from 1793 to about 1854 extracted from TNA series WO 120 and WO 116 and other sources such as marriage registers and medal awards. Arranged alphabetically by surname, forename and regiment including whether discharged at either Chelsea or Kilmainham Hospital. These published editions cover more ground than the Beckett Soldiers’ Index available at The National Archives) - Bevan, Amanda. Tracing Your Ancestors in the National Archives: The National Archives, 2006
- Brereton, J.M. A Guide to the Regiments and Corps of the British Army: Bodley Head, 1985
- Blank, Dr. Stuart. Researching British Military History on the Internet: Alwyn Enterprises, 2007
- Cox. Reginald H. W. Military Badges of the British Empire 1914-18: Ernest Benn, 1982
- Farmer, John, The Regimental Records of the British Army: Grant Richards, 1901 (Free download available at the Internet Archive)
- Fowler, Simon. A Guide to Military History on the Internet: Pen & Sword, 2007
- Fowler, Simon. Tracing your Army Ancestors: Pen & Sword, 2006
- Fowler, Simon. Tracing Your Army Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians: Pen & Sword Books, 2013
- Gaylor, John. Military Badge Collecting: Pen & Sword Books, 2002
- Grehan, John & Mace, Martin. British Battles of the Crimean Wars 1854-1856: Pen & Sword Books, 2014
- Kitzmiller, John. In Search of the Forlorn Hope: A Comprehensive Guide to Locating British Regiments and Their Records, 1640-WWI: Manuscript Publishing Foundation, 1988
- Murphy, Gerry. Where Did That Regiment Go? The Lineage of British Infantry and Cavalry Regiments at a Glance: The History Press, 2009
- Paterson, Sarah. Tracing Your Family History, Army: Imperial War Museum, 2006
- Pols, Robert. Dating Old Army Photographs: Family History Partnership, 2011
- Saks, David. Boerejode: Jews in the Boer Armed Forces 1899-1902: 2010
- Spencer, William. Family History in the Wars: The National Archives, 2007
- Spencer, William. Army Records: A Guide For Family Historians: The National Archives, 2008
- Storey, Neil. Military Photographs and How to Date Them: Countryside Books, 2009
- Swinnerton, Iain, An Introduction to the British Army: Its History, Traditions and Records: FFHS, 1996
- Swinson, Arthur. A Register of the Regiments and Corps of the British Army: The Archive Press, 1972
- The Great War: A Photographic Narrative: Imperial War Museum: Jonathan Cape, 2013
- Usher, George. Dictionary of British Military History: A&C Black Publishers, 2006
- Watts, Michael and Watts, Christopher. My Ancestor was in the British Army: Society of Genealogists, 2009
- Westlake, Ray. The Territorials 1908-1914: A Guide for Military and Family Historians: Pen & Sword Books, 2011
WWI
- Banks, Arthur. A Military Atlas of The First World War: Pen & Sword Books, 2013
- Bridger, Geoff. The Great War Handbook: A Guide For Family Historians & Students Of The Conflict: Pen & Sword Books, 2013
- Christopher, John & McCutcheon, Campbell. 1914 the First World War in Old Photographs: Over by Christmas: Amberley Publishing, 2014
- Doyle, Peter & Foster Chris. British Army Cap Badges of the First World War: Shire Publications, 2010
- Doyle, Peter. Great War British Tommy Manual: The British Soldier 1914-18 [All Models]-Haynes Owners’ Workshop Manuals: Haynes, 2013
- Doyle, Peter & Foster Chris. Remembering Tommy: The British Soldier in the First World War: The History Press, 2013
- Doyle, Peter & Foster Chris. What Tommy Took to War, 1914-1918: Shire Publications, 2014
- Doyle, Peter. The First World War in 100 Objects: The History Press, 2014
- Forty, Simon. Mapping the First World War: Battlefields of the Great Conflict from Above: Anova Books, 2013
- Fowler, Simon. Tracing Your Great War Ancestors: The Somme: A Guide for Family Historians: Pen & Sword Books, 2015
- Fowler, Simon. Tracing Your Great War Ancestors: The Gallipoli: A Guide for Family Historians: Pen & Sword Books, 2015
- Gregson, Keith. A Tommy in the Family: First World War Family History Tales and Research Tips: The History Press, 2014
- Hadaway, Stuart. Tracing Your Great War Ancestors: The Egypt and Palestine Campaigns: A Guide for Family Historians: Pen and Sword Books, 2017
- Holding, Norman, More Sources of WWI Army Ancestry: FFHS, 1998
- Holding, Norman & Swinnerton, Iain. WWI Army Ancestry: FFHS, 2004
- Holmes, Richard. Tommy: The British Soldier on the Western Front 1914-1918: Harper Perennial, 2005
- Holmes, Richard. Shots from the Front: The British Soldier 1914-18: HarperPress, 2010
- Holmes, Richard. The First World War in Photographs: Andre Deutsch, July 2014
- James, Brig. E. A. British Regiments 1914-18: Naval and Military Press, 2009
- Maddocks, Graham. Liverpool Pals: 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th Service Battalions The King’s Liverpool Regiment: Pen and Sword Books, 2015
- Paterson, Sarah. Tracing Your Prisoner of War Ancestors: The First World War: Pen & Sword, 2012
- Rawson, Andrew. The British Army 1914-1918: The History Press, 2014
- Spencer, William. First World War Army Service Records: The National Archives, 2008
- Swinnerton, Iain. Identifying Your World War One Soldier from Badges and Photographs: Federation of Family History Societies, 2001
Websites
GOV.UK
MOD medals. This series brings together Ministry of Defence medals related guidance and forms. This series brings together Ministry of Defence medals related guidance and forms with information about MOD medals, eligibility criteria and how to apply.
GOV.UK
Ministry of Defence Medal Office: Medals: campaigns, descriptions and eligibility. Details of the medals awarded to serving members of the armed forces, veterans and MOD employees; and who can receive them.
The National Archives
Rank abbreviations used in the medal index cards. These abbreviations are taken from The Collector and Researcher’s Guide to the Great War by Howard Williamson, with kind permission of the author.
The National Archives
Unit abbreviations used in the medal index cards. These abbreviations are taken from The Collector and Researcher’s Guide to the Great War by Howard Williamson, with kind permission of the author.
The National Archives Research Guide
How to look for records of British Army medal index cards 1914-1920. These records are index cards created by the Army Medal Office towards the end of the First World War. They record the medals that men and women who served in the First World War were entitled to claim.
The National Archives Research Guide
How to look for records of British military campaign and service medals. This research guide provides information which will prove useful if you are searching for records of a campaign or service medal awarded to someone who fought with the British armed services prior to the Second World War.
The Long, Long Trail
How to interpret a campaign medal index card. The medal index cards are not easy to interpret. Here are some tips that will help you make sense of a card you have found.
The Long, Long Trail
The campaign medal index cards. The campaign medal rolls are a vital source of information. The index cards were the original aid for locating a man’s entry or entries in the issuing rolls.
Findmypast Article
Britain, Campaign, Gallantry & Long Service Medals & Awards abbreviations.
Forces War Records
UK Military Medals. Guide and descriptions and images of Campaign medals, Gallantry awards, Long Service medals and Coronation & Jubilee medals.
Forces War Records
Guide to British and Commonwealth Campaign Medals. The aim of this Campaign Medal Tutorial is to help aid you with your genealogy search and understanding of the British and Commonwealth Campaign Medals.
GreatWar
The Great War. British WW1 Medals. Guide to campaign medals and gallantry or meritorious service awards.
Identify Medals
Medals from Great Britain. British Military Medals & Awards. The site offers information on all military medals, awards and decorations of the United Kingdom given by the British Armed Forces in recognition of service and personal accomplishments of individuals while a member of the Royal Navy, British Army or Royal Air Force.
Imperial War Museum
British First World War Service Medals.
Imperial War Museum
Army Family History: Medal Records. Resources for researching campaign and service medals.
Empire Medals
The company is licensed by the Ministry of Defence to produce and sell replica military and civilian medals and awards. They offer a wide range of products and services for those interested in military history and memorabilia.
Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine
British military medals and medal ribbons. There are a wealth of websites that can help you identify and research military medals and medal ribbons. We select the best.
National Army Museum
The website features a section dedicated to medals, showcasing various aspects of military honours and decorations.
North East Medals
The company specialises in British military medals and has a section ‘Guides to British Medals’.
Peter Ghiringhelli
British Gallantry, Orders, Decorations, and Campaign ribbons. The site shows, and very briefly explains, all the gallantry medals and campaign stars that could be awarded to all British service personnel and civilians in World War 2. It includes those Orders, medals and WW1 campaign stars that could have been worn by the older participants of WW2.
BFBS
Armed Forces honours: What are the different medals that can be awarded?
Online Databases
The National Archives
British Army Medal Index Cards, 1914-1920. Search individual medal index card using. From search results you can select an individual record and download it (charges apply).
Ancestry
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920. The Medal Index Cards collection is the most complete listing of individuals who fought in the British Army in WWI, containing approximately 90% of soldiers’ names. The Index Cards were created in order to keep in one place details about a soldier’s medal entitlement.
Ancestry
UK, WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920. This collection contains records of men and women who served in WWI and were entitled to medals and awards. Records include details such as name, rank, unit and possibly other service details. Most pieces concern those serving in the Army.
Ancestry
UK, Silver War Badge Records, 1914-1920. This database contains indexed images of rolls listing military personnel awarded Britain’s Silver War Badge for service in World War I. The dataset set links to the original entry from the issuing Medal Roll.
Ancestry
UK, Military Campaign Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1949. This database contains lists of more than 2.3 million officers, enlisted personnel and other individuals entitled to medals and awards commemorating their service in campaigns and battles for the British Army not including WWI or WWII medal and award rolls.
Findmypast
Britain, Campaign, Gallantry & Long Service Medals & Awards. Explore this vast collection of campaign, gallantry, and service medals and awards across various branches of the military. The records include names from the British Army, Royal Marines, Royal Navy, and Merchant Navy. These are the names of men and women who showed exceptional courage and fortitude in the face of danger. You will find records from both world wars as well as the Peninsular War, Waterloo, Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902, Indian Mutiny and many more conflicts.
Forces War Records
The website is focused on military history and records with access to over 645 million records, covering a wide range of conflicts. The site offers extensive medals and awards records including: Medal rolls, citations for gallantry awards, campaign medal records and long service and good conduct medals covering various conflicts and branches of service.
The Genealogist
WW1 Campaign Medal Cards. This index was created by the Army Medal Office of those who served in the First World War who were entitled to one or more Campaign or Gallantry Medals.
The Genealogist
Military Medal Collection. Search servicemen awarded the Military Medal in The First World War. It was awarded to the Other Ranks (N.C.O.’s and Men) and was first instituted in 25 March 1916 during The First World War, to recognise bravery in battle.
Ancestry
UK, Citations of the Distinguished Conduct Medal, 1914-1920. Search more than 25,000 citations for recipients awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, Great Britain’s second highest military honour for non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel, in the years surrounding the Great War.
Ancestry
UK, British Army World War II Medal Cards, 1939-1945. This collection contains an index of cards with information about medals awarded by the British Army for service during the Second World War. Records include a link to the image available on Forces War Records and Fold3.
Forces War Records
UK, WWII, British Army Medal Cards, 1939-1945. This collection contains an index of cards with information about medals awarded by the British Army for service during the Second World War. The cards served as applications for war service medals, including the Defence Medal, the War Medal 1939-45 and campaign stars that were awarded for service in specific theatres of the war. Veterans or their family members were required to submit an application to claim the appropriate medals, and many veterans didn’t file applications to receive their military honours.
Findmypast
Royal Fusiliers Collection, 1863-1905. The collection comprises the names of close to 5000 officers and men who took part in a series of British military campaigns between 1863 and 1904. Information is taken largely from medal rolls and includes the name, number (for other ranks), battalion, campaign and medal clasps awarded.
Findmypast
Waterloo Roll Call, 1815. Discover if your ancestor appears in Charles Dalton’s Battle of Waterloo roll call; a list of almost 4,000 men (mostly officers) who took part in this epic battle.
Royal Mint Museum
Waterloo Medal Roll. Searchable database of the names of all those who were awarded the campaign medal for taking part in the Battle of Waterloo
Findmypast
Anglo-Boer War Records, 1899-1902. Discover ancestors who served in the Anglo-Boer War between 1899 and 1902. This database contains over hundreds of thousands of names extracted from more than five hundred sources that can reveal the unit your ancestor served with, as well as details of medals, honours or awards that he or she won.
Noonans
Military General Service Medal Roll, 1793-1814. Search roll lists of all 26,089 recipients issued in 1848 to surviving veterans as a retrospective award.
Naval & Military Archive
The site offers a number of medal and award records including: Campaign Medal Rolls 1914-1919; Distinguished Conduct Medal Citations 1914-1920; Silver War Badge 1914-1918; De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour 1914-1924; Men of the Battle of Waterloo 1815; Victoria Cross 1854-2006.
The Gazette
Official Newspaper of Record – London, Edinburgh and Belfast. The Gazette consists largely of statutory notices and includes honours and awards for gallantry or meritorious service, officer commissions, appointments and promotions and casualties.
CD Roms
Naval & Military Press
The company has produced a number of CD/DVD-ROM products including details of some 4.6 million soldiers awarded First World War Campaign Medals and the recipients of the Silver War Badge 1914-1918.
