Claiming Service Medals

UK service medals fall into several categories:

• Campaign medals: Awarded for participation in specific operations or conflicts — such as the South Atlantic Medal (Falklands), the Gulf Medal, the Iraq Medal (Op TELIC), and the Afghanistan Medal (Op HERRICK). Each has specific qualifying criteria, typically a minimum number of days in theatre.
• Service medals and long service medals: Awarded for completion of defined periods of service, such as the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (LS&GCM) for regular soldiers or the Reserve Forces Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
• Operational Service Medals: General operational service medals for qualifying service in defined areas or operations that do not have a dedicated campaign medal.
• United Nations and NATO medals: Awarded for service in UN or NATO operations and issued through the respective international bodies, often administered through the MODMO.
• Coronation and Jubilee medals: Issued for royal occasions to eligible serving personnel.

To claim medals you believe you are entitled to:

1. Check your eligibility. Medal qualifying criteria are published by the MODMO and for campaign medals are often specified in a specific Defence Instruction and Notice (DIN) or Honours and Awards Secretariat guidance.
2. Contact the MOD Medal Office in Glasgow. The MODMO can be contacted by post (MODMO, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP) or via the Veterans UK online portal at gov.uk/veterans-uk.
3. Provide your full name, service number, date of birth, branch of service, and details of the medal(s) being claimed, including the operation(s) you served on.
4. The MODMO will check service records. For some medals — particularly older ones — original record documents may be needed; these can be obtained from the MOD record holding centre.

Processing times vary significantly — from a few weeks for straightforward claims to several months for complex or historical claims. There is no charge for initial medal claims.

Official replacement medals can be obtained from the MODMO where original medals have been lost, stolen, or damaged:

• Replacements are issued stamped "Replacement" on the reverse — this distinguishes them from original awards.
• A charge applies for replacement medals (the current fee for a replacement medal is approximately £60–£100 depending on the medal type — check current MODMO rates).
• Where medals are stolen, a crime reference number from the police may be required.
• Non-official duplicate medals (identical to originals with no "Replacement" stamp) cannot be obtained through the MODMO. Unofficial duplicates from dealers are not for wearing on uniform.

Miniature medals for mess dress and formal civilian wear are not issued by the MODMO but can be purchased from official medal dealers and miniaturists.

Where a veteran has died without having claimed their medals, next of kin can make a claim on their behalf:

• Medals are generally issued to the next of kin in the order: spouse/civil partner, then children, then parents.
• Provide evidence of your relationship to the deceased (e.g., marriage certificate, birth certificate) and the deceased's service details.
• If multiple family members wish to claim or there is a dispute about entitlement, the MODMO can advise on the correct procedure.
• Campaign medals awarded to a deceased veteran retain their full honour and can be worn (on the right breast, in accordance with convention) by a family member at Remembrance events.