Atlantic Star

The Atlantic Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II.

The star was awarded for six months service afloat, in the Atlantic or in Home Waters, within the period 3 September 1939 to 8 May 1945. Also awarded to aircrew who have taken part in operations against the enemy at sea within the qualifying areas for Naval personnel, subject to two months service in an operational unit. The 1939-1945 Star must have been earned before commencing qualifying service for the Atlantic Star.

Merchant seaman also qualified for the medal. They were required to have served in the Atlantic home waters, North Russia Convoys or South Atlantic waters.

The star was immediately awarded if the service period was terminated by death, disability or wounding. The award of a gallantry medal or a Mention in Despatches also led to an immediate award.

British uniform regulations stipulated that neither the Air Crew Europe Star nor the France and Germany Star would be awarded to a recipient of the Atlantic Star. Subsequent entitlement to the Air Crew Europe Star or the France and Germany Star was denoted by the award of the appropriate clasp to the Atlantic Star. However, regulations stipulated that only the first clasp earned could be worn with the medal.

[edit] Description

 * The Atlantic Star is a six–pointed star of yellow copper zinc alloy, with a height of 44mm and a maximum width of 38mm.
 * The obverse has a central design of the Royal Cypher of King George VI, surmounted by a crown. The cypher is surrounded by a circlet containing the words ‘The Atlantic Star'.
 * The reverse is plain, although Stars issued to Australian and South African personnel have recipient names impressed.
 * The ribbon for this medal, along with those of the other Second World War campaign stars, is reputed to have been designed by King George VI. The shaded and watered blue, white, and sea-green stripes represent the colours of the Atlantic Ocean.

[edit] Clasps
Regulations only allow one clasp to be worn with the Star. When the ribbon is worn alone a silver rosette ribbon emblem is worn to denote the award of a clasp.
 * Air Crew Europe
 * Awarded to those who subsequently became entitled to the Air Crew Europe Star.


 * France and Germany
 * Awarded to those who subsequently became entitled to the France and Germany Star.

[edit] See also

 * British campaign medals
 * Australian campaign medals

[edit] Bibliography

 * Mackay, J and Mussel, J (eds) - Medals Yearbook - 2006, (2005), Token Publishing.
 * Joslin, Litherland, and Simpkin (eds), British Battles and Medals, (1988), Spink

[edit] References

 * UK MoD site
 * ADF Honours and Awards
 * Stephen Stratford Medals site
 * Veterans Affairs Canada site
 * NZDF Medals site
 * Atlantic Star Regulations from NZDF site

[edit] External links

 * Records of WW2 Medals issued to Merchant Seamen from The National Archives.