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Naval medals awarded to John Henry Robert Gill

Dateafter 1945

Object number00034314

NameMedals

MediumMetal (copper zinc alloy and nickel silver), cotton

DimensionsOverall: 100 x 175 x 3 mm, 180 g

ClassificationsCoins and medals

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Jack Gill

Terms

DescriptionThese five medals were awarded to John Henry Robert Gill for service in World War II and Naval Long Service and Good Conduct. Included is a 1939-1945 Star medal; 1939-1945 Defence medal; 1939-1945 War Medal; 1939-1945 Australian Service medal and a Long Service Good Conduct medal awarded on 9 October 1942. Each medal features Gill's initials 'JHR Gill' and his official number 18774 engraved on the reverse.HistoryThe 1939 - 1945 Star medal was granted for six months service in areas of active operations during World War II (or at least one voyage through an area of active operations in the case of the Merchant Navy). The 1939 - 1945 Star medal is a six-pointed star which features a Royal and Imperial cypher on the obverse. The ribbon consists of three equal stripes of dark blue, red and light blue, representing the Royal and Merchant Navies, the Army and the Royal Air Forces. The Defence Medal was awarded for 12 months service during World War II in non-operational areas, or six months service in a non-operational area subject to enemy air attack. In Australia, this included areas in the Northern Territory and the Torres Strait, and overseas areas of the Middle East and Malaya. The obverse of the Defence Medal features the uncrowned effigy of King George VI. On the reverse is an oak tree with a crown, two lions and the words 'The Defence Medal'. The ribbon is orange with green outer stripes, each green stripe having a black pin-stripe running down the centre. The green represents the Islands of the United Kingdom, the orange represents enemy attacks, and the black represents the black outs. The War Medal 1939-1945 was awarded for a minimum 28 days full-time service in the Armed Forces between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. The medal features the crowned effigy of King George VI on the obverse, and the reverse has a lion standing on a fallen dragon. The ribbon stripes are red, white and blue coloured, and represent the Union Flag. The Australia Service Medal 1939- 1945 was awarded to members of the Australian Armed Forces, the Mercantile Marine and civilian personnel who served full-time overseas for a minimum of 30 days (or 90 days part-time service) between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. The circular Australian Service Medal features a crowned effigy of King George VI on the obverse, with the Australian Coat of Arms surrounded by the words, 'The Australia Service Medal 1939-1945' on the reverse. The ribbon has a central khaki stripe, with two narrow red stripes either side, and a navy blue and light blue vertical stripes on each edge. The khaki represents the Australian Military Forces, the red represents the Merchant Navy, the dark blue represents the Royal Navy and the light blue represents the Royal Australian Air Force. The Naval Long Service Good Conduct medal was awarded to all ranks of British Commonwealth navies for 15 years service. In 1975, Australia replaced the medal with the National Medal (which was later superseded by the DFSM and now the DLSM). The obverse of the Naval Long Service Good Conduct medal features the sovereign's head (in this instance an uncrowned effigy of King George VI), and the reverse features a three-masted man-of-war. The ribbon is dark blue with white edges. Members of the Australian Armed Forces and the Mercantile Marine, along with other Armed Forces of the British Commonwealth, were entitled to Campaign Stars, the Defence Medal, and the War Medal which were authorised for British Forces. SignificanceThese medals are important national symbols of the Australian military personnel who served in World War II.