| The War Medal 1939-1945 is of cupro-nickel, the obverse having the crowned
head of George VI with the usual legend, and the reverse a British Lion standing over a
vanquished dragon with the dates 1939 and 1945 in two lines in the top right. The ribbon
shows a narrow central red stripe with a narrow white stripe on either side,
a broad red stripe at either edge, and two intervening stripes in blue. The ribbon may also
carry one bronze oak leaf emblem, signifying mention in dispatches. The medal was awarded to
all full time personnel who completed twenty-eight days service (operational or non-operational)
during the qualifying dates. There was a separate requirement for merchant seamen, that the
service must have been at sea. Service terminated by death, injury or capture also qualified.
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