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General
Wearing of Medals
War medals are
not freely available for wear by all. Medals are only to be
worn by those to whom the medal has been conferred. The only
exception to this ruling occurs on Remembrance Day and Anzac
Day. On these two occasions, descendants may wear the medals
of deceased recipients but only on the right breast.
Medals are worn
according to the Campaign period (left of centre, across to
the left shoulder) with the first conferred being closest to
the left of centre. In instances such as the granting of both
the Australian Service Medal 1945-1975, and the current ASM,
the latter would fall second as the first recognises prior
service.
Miniature medals
should only be worn after 6pm at formal dress functions.
Wearing of
Commemorative Medals (by private individuals)
The following is
an extract from ‘Sabretoche’, The Journal of the Military
Historical Society of Australia, Vol X1X, April 1978, No 2.
(page 129).
From the number
of inquires, there is obviously misunderstanding or lack of
knowledge presently causing confusion, about what AWARDS,
private individuals may wear. In a nutshell, an individual,
(in other than uniform) may wear any award, Foreign, private (ie
Club or Association), etc, that he or she has been awarded.
There is no law on what may be worn, except of course for
falsely wearing awards or medals. Although there is a
suggested order of procedure of wearing awards, a private
citizen is not even bound by these rules of precedence and
could wear his VC at the end of his Service medals, without
breaking the law. The Uniform automatically relate to the
wearing of any awards to these regulations covering the
wearing of a uniform.
Commemorative
Medals: Tobruk Service Medal - Dunkirk Veterans Medal -
Somme Commemorative medal - Belgium Medal - B.C.O.F. Medal -
Bomber Command Medal - Hazardous Service medal [Atomic
Veterans Association] - HMAS “Voyager” Survivors Medal - HMAS
“Voyager” Rescuers Medal - 40th Anniversary, end of Korean War
Medal - Front Line Infantry Service Medal - Gallipoli Star
Anniversary Medal – National Serviceman Medal - Z Forces medal
for Commando, Jaywick, Rimau - Philippines Service Medal -
Malta Siege Medal - Arctic Convoy Medal - Russian Army 40th
Anniversary Medal - Netherlands Commemorative Cross - Foreign
Service Commemorative Medal.
Wearing of
Unit Citations: According to chapter 8, paragraph 840 and
841 of the Navy DI, unit citations (both Australian and
Foreign) are to be positioned centrally on the left breast
with citations dressed per first row of ribbons with medal
ribbons centrally positioned 5mm directly above unit citations
(Australia having precedence over Foreign). Citations are to
be positioned with top edge of citation 20mm centrally below
bottom line of medals.
Navy (USN) Unit
Citations are, unlike Army or Air Force, in so much that the
citation emblem is a ribbon and worn whilst in uniform on the
left side, Army/RAAF emblems are worn on the right when in
uniform.
Below is a copy
of the Army Dress Manual in regards to the wearing of
Citations: REFERENCE ARMY STANDING ORDERS FOR DRESS(ASOD).
Chapter 28
Para 420
Commendations and Citations will be worn on the RIGHT side
above the pocket (or in the same place if there is no pocket).
Chapter 32-8
Para 3152
A person in the immediate family of a deceased recipient of a
Decoration or Medal may wear the insignia awarded to that
member, on occasions specially designated for military
commemoration. The medals or ribbons of the medals are to be
worn on the RIGHT breast and only when the person is in
civilian clothes, they are NOT permitted to be worn on uniform
under any circumstances. This would also include Citations.
Chapter 32
Para 3206
Medal ribbons may be arranged on receipt of new awards and
before investiture or receipt of the medal. In this case the
Riband of the new medal is to be worn in the appropriate order
of procedure (Note that this means AFTER you have received
official notice that you are entitled to the medal).
Chapter 32
Para 3208
Medals MAY be Court Mounted at the expense and option of the
member, UNLESS Court Mounting is ordered for the performance
of a members duties (i.e. RSM can order you to do so if deemed
necessary). This applies to all services. When wearing Medals,
you may place a piece of the ribbon corresponding to the new
medal in the spot where the medal shall hang.
Acknowledgement: The information contained on this
web-page was supplied by the VLSVA WA and has been reproduced
without alteration. |
