Family Medal Research: A Practical Starting Point

A named medal can turn a small piece of family history into a clear line of enquiry. Family medal research begins with the details already in front of you: a name, service number, regiment, ship, dates, ribbon colours, engraving, or even a photograph showing how awards were worn. Taken together, these clues can help establish not only what a relative received, but where they served and how their medals should be preserved or displayed.

The aim is not simply to identify a medal. Good research builds a reliable record that respects the recipient's service and prevents assumptions from becoming part of the family story.

Start with the medals and the family archive

Before making enquiries, photograph every medal individually and as a group. Capture both sides, the suspension, ribbon, clasps, edge naming and any case or box. Use daylight where possible and avoid polishing a medal before it has been recorded. Original surface finish, ribbon condition and naming styles can all provide useful evidence.

Write down exactly what is inscribed, including initials, abbreviations, punctuation and service number. A small difference can matter. Several men may share the same surname and initials, while a service number can distinguish one record from another. If a medal is unnamed, record its design, wording and ribbon rather than relying on a family description such as “Grandad's war medal”.

Photographs, discharge papers, pay books, letters, diaries, newspaper cuttings and memorial cards are equally valuable. A studio portrait may show cap badges, rank insignia or a ribbon bar that answers a question raised by the medals themselves. Keep copies together in a simple research file, noting who supplied each item and what is known directly versus remembered by relatives.

Identify the award before drawing conclusions

British medals can look similar at first glance, particularly when viewed without their ribbons. The obverse portrait, reverse design, ribbon and suspension are key identifiers. Campaign medals often relate to a defined period, theatre or operation, whereas long-service, jubilee, coronation and service-specific awards follow different rules.

Clasps deserve particular attention. A clasp can identify a campaign, area of operations or qualifying date that is not apparent from the medal alone. It may also explain why two otherwise similar medal groups are not identical. Do not assume that every ribbon indicates a separate medal: ribbon bars, emblems and rosettes can represent distinctions within an award or the way an award has been worn.

It is also worth checking whether the group is complete. A relative may have received medals at different times, kept one separately, or worn replacements for parade use. Conversely, a group assembled by a collector may contain medals from more than one recipient. Matching naming, rank, unit details, mounting style and entitlement records is more reliable than judging a group only by appearance.

Original medals, replacements and replicas

An original issued medal and a later replacement are not the same object, but both can have a legitimate place in a family display. Originals carry their own historical material value and should be assessed carefully before cleaning, repair or remounting. A replacement may be the appropriate choice where the original has been lost, is too fragile for wear, or needs to remain safely framed.

MoD Licensed Replica Medals are designed for accurate commemorative and ceremonial use. They can allow a family member to wear a relative's awards respectfully on the right breast at appropriate occasions, while the original medals remain protected. When documenting a collection, clearly label originals, official replacements where known, and modern replicas. That clarity protects the history of the group for the next generation.

Use service records to test the family account

Service records are often the most useful source in family medal research, although access and surviving detail vary by service, date and individual circumstances. Records may confirm date of enlistment, unit postings, promotions, overseas service, wounds, discharge and next of kin. They can also reveal that a family story has combined the experiences of two relatives.

Begin with the fullest possible identity: full name, date and place of birth, service number, branch of service, and approximate dates of service. A regiment or ship named on a medal can narrow the search considerably. Be prepared for spelling variations, transferred units and changes in rank. A soldier may have served with more than one battalion, and a naval rating's ship at the time of an award may not be the vessel most often mentioned by the family.

For First World War service, medal rolls and medal index material can be particularly valuable for confirming campaign awards and the units under which entitlement was recorded. They are a strong starting point, not always the final answer. They do not necessarily provide a complete narrative of service, and later amendments, duplicate issues or administrative notes need careful reading.

Second World War and later awards require a different approach. Entitlement may depend on specific qualifying service, operational deployment or a formal recommendation. Some medals were issued automatically, while others needed a claim or were created after the period of service. If a medal appears absent, it does not automatically mean it was never earned.

Read a group in its proper order

The order in which medals are worn is governed by the official order of wear, not by the date a family acquired them or by visual preference. This matters when replacing missing medals, creating a court-mounted group or preparing awards for ceremonial wear. A group mounted incorrectly can obscure the recipient's entitlement and look out of place on parade.

Court mounting secures the medals against a backing, while swing mounting allows them to move freely from the ribbon. Each is seen in British military tradition, but practical considerations matter. Court mounting is often preferred for a neat, stable presentation, particularly for regular wear, while swing mounting retains the traditional movement of the medals. Existing historic mounting should not be altered casually. It may reflect the recipient's own choices and forms part of the group's story.

If ribbons are faded or frayed, replacement ribbon can improve the appearance of a wearable set. For a historic display, however, retaining original ribbon fragments or photographing them first may be the better decision. The right choice depends on whether the priority is conservation, presentation, regular wear or a combination of the three.

Preserve the evidence, not just the metal

Medals are often stored in lofts, garages or drawers where damp, heat and household chemicals can do lasting damage. Keep them dry, away from direct sunlight, and separate from loose objects that may scratch the surface. Avoid adhesive tape, PVC sleeves, harsh metal polish and improvised cleaning methods. These can remove original finish, stain ribbons or leave residues that are difficult to reverse.

Gentle handling is usually enough. Hold medals by the edge where possible, use clean dry hands, and support a mounted group rather than lifting it by one ribbon. If a medal has active corrosion, damaged suspension, broken ribbon or heavy tarnish, seek specialist advice before attempting a repair. A well-meaning clean can reduce both historical integrity and future value.

Framing offers protection as well as presentation when it is properly planned. A good display may include medals, service photographs, cap badges, documents and a concise account of service, but it should not crowd the items or expose them to damaging materials. Consider whether the display will hang in a bright room, whether original documents should be copied rather than framed, and whether a removable backing is needed for future research.

Record what remains uncertain

The most credible family histories acknowledge gaps. Use phrases such as “believed to have served”, “recorded on the medal roll” or “family tradition states” where proof is incomplete. Distinguish facts taken from official records from interpretations based on photographs or oral history. This is especially important where medals have been inherited without paperwork.

A concise provenance note is worthwhile: who owned the medals, how they passed through the family, when they were photographed, and what sources support the identification. Include copies of research findings with the medals or frame, but store originals separately and safely. Future relatives may find a missing record, photograph or letter that changes the picture.

Empire Medals can assist with accurate replacement medals, ribbons, professional mounting, engraving and bespoke framing where a family group needs respectful presentation. Specialist workmanship is particularly valuable when a set combines historic originals with replacement awards intended for wear.

A medal group does not need to answer every question immediately to be worth preserving. Start with what can be proved, care for the objects as they are, and leave a clear trail for the person in your family who will continue the research.