Medal facts -

• This was the most common World War Two campaign medal, awarded unnamed.

• Service personnel, as well as civilians who formed part of recognised units such as the Civil Defence, received the medal.

• To qualify a person had to perform three years service at home, or six months overseas service in a non-operational area subjected to, or closely threatened by, air attack.

• The medal is cupro-nickel.

• It has a green ribbon, with an orange and a black stripe.

• The colours have meanings - green stands for England's green and pleasant lands, black is for the black outs during an air raid and orange is for the fires caused by these attacks.

 

Read Ernest Hardman's biography for details of a Defence Medal winner

 

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