WW2 campaign Medal?

[Desert Rat]

Can anyone identify the medal ribbon worn in these two pictures ?

The men are both 46th div, Royal Engineers. The time and location is approx mid/late 1945 in Austria.

 

 

[GPW Rookie]

It's either the War Medal or the Defence Medal, my money would be on the Defence as this had black lines on the ribbon to denote the blackout. Usually when only one ribbon is worn it's the 39-45 Star, but perhaps these chaps didn't serve overseas hence they would only be entitled to the War and Defence Medals.

[Desert Rat]

It's either the War Medal or the Defence Medal, my money would be on the Defence as this had black lines on the ribbon to denote the blackout. Usually when only one ribbon is worn it's the 39-45 Star, but perhaps these chaps didn't serve overseas hence they would only be entitled to the War and Defence Medals.

They both served overseas - Italy then Austria.

[wally dugan]

THE 1939 /45 defence medal had two green broad bars[this green and pleasent land] two black narrow stripes [the black out] and a wide orange band in the centre [fire bombing

[Desert Rat]

It could well be the Defence Medal. It just seems strange that the only medal they would be wearing abroad would be the Defence medal.

[GPW Rookie]

Agreed, but it's possible. The 39-45 Star was issued first when it was officially referred to as the 39-43 Star, then the Africa Star, but I can't see it being either of these., The lines which seem black are a give away for the Defence Medal although it's always difficult with a monochrome image. He could have just stuck on a medal ribbon for the photo. there are pre-made pin back ribbons for all of these WW2 campaign ribbons he could have just used one of these. Sometimes it's easy to read too much into why things are so in actual wartime photographs. Anyone who has tried to complete a mannequin to show a certain serviceman at a certain date will pull their hair out when photographic evidence always seems to show that things weren't as neat and well defined as we would all like to think!

[wally dugan]

I think it is not the 1939/1945 STAR because it was divided into three dark blue/red/light blue

symbolising ROYAL NAVY/ ARMY and RAF RESPECTIVELY

[Desert Rat]

Looks like the Defence medal but they were also entitled to the 39-45 War medal.

Maybe the Defence medal was all that was issued to them until they returned home ?

[wdbikemad]

Worth noting that many troops did not receive "gongs" until well after WW2 and demob.......especially those stuck outside the UK..........the 39-45 Star and Africa Star were available and worn before the end of hostilities but many of the other gongs didn't achieve issue until well after 45...........

 

My grandfather was demobbed in late-45 but got his medals via post during 1946-47 (he finished the war in Northern Germany - 51st HD Division).........and he shoved 'em in the boxes straight into his sock-drawer........!

[Snapper]

My father didn't get his until 1976!