Family War Medals Preservation Guide

A medal tucked away in a drawer can survive for decades, but it can also pick up scratches, tarnish, ribbon fading and moisture damage without anyone noticing. A proper family war medals preservation guide starts with a simple point: these are not just collectables. They are official records of service, sacrifice and family history, and they deserve to be handled with the same care you would give to any important archive.

For many families, medals come down without much paperwork. You may have a campaign star, a Defence Medal, a General Service Medal or a group mounted for wear, but very little context beyond a name and a regiment. That makes preservation even more important. Once ribbons are sun-bleached, brooch fittings broken or original finishes stripped away by over-cleaning, part of that history is lost.

What damages medals over time

Most damage happens slowly. Fingerprints leave oils and salts on the surface, especially on polished silver and cupro-nickel. Damp storage encourages corrosion and mildew on ribbons. Strong sunlight fades colours and can weaken fibres. Poor-quality adhesive mounts and cheap frames can also cause long-term problems, particularly if medal groups are pressed too tightly against backing boards.

The other common problem is well-meant cleaning. Families often assume brighter means better, but aggressive polishing can remove original patina, soften detail and reduce historical integrity. That matters whether the medals are original issue pieces, officially named examples or carefully made replicas intended for respectful display.

Family war medals preservation guide: first steps

Before doing anything else, inspect the medals carefully. Check the metal for spots of corrosion, the ribbons for fraying or staining, and the suspensions, rings and brooch bars for weakness. If the medals are mounted, look at the stitching and backing as well. Loose mounts often fail at the least convenient moment.

It is worth noting how the medals are currently arranged. Take clear photographs of the front and back, particularly if you plan to have them remounted or framed. That record helps preserve the original order of wear and any family arrangement that may have been in place for years.

If paperwork survives with the group, keep it separate but close by. Service documents, issue slips, photographs and citations should not be folded into the medal ribbons or placed directly behind the medals in a frame where acids and pressure can cause harm. Store them in suitable archival materials and keep a written note of which documents belong with which group.

Handling medals properly

The safest habit is also the simplest: handle medals as little as possible. When you do need to move them, hold them by the edges or by the ribbon, with clean, dry hands. Cotton gloves can help with highly polished pieces, although they are less useful if they make you clumsy. A dropped medal will suffer more than one lightly touched by a clean hand.

Mounted groups need extra care because their weight puts strain on the stitching and brooch fitting. Never lift a heavy group by a single medal or let it dangle unsupported. If the pin assembly is bent or loose, stop using it until it has been properly repaired.

Should you clean old war medals?

Usually, less is better. Dust can be removed with a very soft dry cloth or a clean soft brush. Beyond that, cleaning becomes a matter of judgement. Some medals acquire a natural tone over time that collectors and families alike may prefer to preserve. Removing that tone can make a medal look unnaturally bright and, in some cases, diminish its character.

Ribbons should not be washed casually. Water can distort the weave, cause dyes to run and leave tide marks. Metal polish is a bigger risk again. It can lodge in lettering, damage gilded finishes and abrade detail on die-struck pieces.

If medals are badly tarnished, stained or have active corrosion, professional cleaning is the safer route. Specialist medal cleaning is not the same as household polishing. It should respect the medal’s age, finish and intended use, especially where parade wear, remounting or formal presentation is concerned.

Storage that actually protects them

Drawers and lofts are common, but neither is ideal. A loft brings heat swings and damp risk. A drawer may protect from light, but not from abrasion if the medals shift around. The best storage is stable, dry and dark, with minimal temperature fluctuation.

Individual medals or small groups should be kept in acid-free materials where possible. If boxed, they should not rattle about. If wrapped, the wrapping should be breathable and non-abrasive. Avoid PVC pouches and low-grade plastic boxes, which can trap moisture or off-gas over time.

Ribbons need support. If folded sharply for years, they can crease and weaken. Mounted medals generally store better lying flat in a fitted case than hanging from their own weight. If the group includes clasps or delicate suspension fittings, make sure these are not pressing into neighbouring medals.

Framing and display without causing harm

Display is often the right choice for family pieces because it keeps them visible, respected and less likely to be lost. But a poor frame can do damage as surely as poor storage. Direct sunlight is the first thing to avoid. It fades ribbon colours quickly, especially reds and blues, and can dry out backing materials.

A proper display uses secure mounting methods, quality backing and enough space that medals are supported rather than crushed. There is always a balance between presentation and reversibility. A tightly sealed decorative frame may look smart on the wall, but if it uses unsuitable adhesives or low-grade board it can create long-term problems.

For that reason, bespoke framing is often worth considering for important family groups. It allows for the medals, ribbons, service details and photographs to be arranged correctly, while keeping the items protected. Where medals are to be displayed rather than worn, this approach can offer the best mix of preservation and presentation.

Mounted for wear or preserved for display?

This depends on how the medals are used. Some families want a group preserved exactly as inherited. Others want it made suitable for remembrance services, parades or ceremonial occasions. Those are different jobs.

If medals are intended for wear, professional court mounting or swing mounting may be appropriate depending on period practice and personal preference. The key point is that the work should be accurate, durable and respectful of the original items. Old stitching, weak brooch bars and brittle ribbon backs are not reliable enough for regular use.

If the original medals are too fragile or valuable to wear, many families choose to preserve the originals and use MoD licensed replica medals for parade and remembrance. That is often the sensible compromise. It protects the heirlooms while still allowing the family story to be represented correctly in public.

When restoration is worthwhile

Not every medal group should be restored, and not every flaw needs correcting. Honest age is not damage. A light dulling of silver or minor wear to the ribbon may simply reflect service and time. Restoration becomes worthwhile when deterioration threatens the medal’s structure, legibility or safe handling.

Typical examples include broken suspender rings, detached ribbons, failed mounting boards, severe ribbon fraying and dirt build-up that is actively harming the material. In these cases, skilled restoration can stabilise the group without overworking it. The best result is usually one that looks right, not one that looks new.

This is where specialist support matters. A retailer and service provider with experience in British military medals will understand correct order of wear, period ribbon specifications, mounting standards and the difference between improving presentation and erasing history. That distinction is central to good preservation.

Recording the story behind the medals

Physical preservation is only half the job. A medal group without names, dates or regimental details can become anonymous within one generation. Write down what you know now, even if it is incomplete. Include full names, service numbers, units, likely conflicts, family anecdotes and where the medals came from.

If you later confirm details through records, add them to the file. Keep a printed copy with the medals and another with important family papers. A simple written history often becomes as valuable as the medals themselves because it gives future generations the context they would otherwise lose.

Empire Medals regularly serves families in exactly this position - preserving heirlooms while making sure presentation remains accurate and in keeping with British military standards.

Family war medals preservation guide: when to ask a specialist

If the medals are heavily tarnished, mounted incorrectly, intended for wear, or part of a valuable family group, it is best not to experiment. Professional cleaning, remounting, engraving and framing exist for a reason. The cost is usually modest compared with the risk of permanent damage from an improvised repair.

A good specialist will also tell you when not to interfere. That honesty matters. Some medals need nothing more than careful storage, a proper case and a written record.

The best preservation choice is rarely the most dramatic one. It is the steady, respectful approach that keeps the medal group safe, correctly presented and still recognisable to the family member who passed it down.