How to Display War Medals with Proper Respect

A medal group can hold a complete service story in a remarkably small space. The campaign medal, clasp, long-service award or memorial plaque may be the only physical record a family has of a relative's military life. Knowing how to display war medals properly protects that history while giving it the dignity it deserves.

The right method depends on whether medals are intended for wear, permanent presentation or safe long-term storage. A parade-ready mounted group has different requirements from a framed family collection, and a rare original should be treated differently from a modern MoD Licensed Replica Medal. In every case, accuracy, secure fixing and suitable materials matter more than an elaborate display.

Start with the correct order of wear

Before mounting or framing anything, establish the correct order of wear. British medals are worn on the left breast and arranged according to the official Order of Wear, not by the date a recipient joined the Service, the conflict most familiar to the family, or the apparent importance of an award.

For a named recipient's group, preserve the arrangement in which the medals were issued or worn wherever possible. This is particularly valuable with historic groups, where the combination of medals, ribbons and clasps can help identify a period of service. Do not rearrange a family group simply to make the ribbons look more colourful or to place a particular campaign first.

There are occasions when specialist advice is worthwhile. Commonwealth awards, foreign decorations, unofficial commemoratives and replacement medals can all affect the correct arrangement. If the medals will be worn at a formal event, use the current official guidance for the relevant Service and seek professional mounting where there is any uncertainty.

Keep clasps, ribbons and naming together

A clasp records a specific period, action or theatre of service and should always remain with its medal. Check that the ribbon is appropriate to the medal and that it is neither faded nor fitted back to front. Original ribbons can be fragile, but they are part of the object's history. If the medals are being framed rather than worn, retaining an aged original ribbon is often preferable to replacing it for cosmetic reasons.

Naming around the rim should remain visible where practical, especially in a family display. A discreet caption can provide the recipient's rank, name, Service number, unit and dates of service, but it should support the medals rather than compete with them.

How to display war medals for wear

Medals worn on parade or at a commemorative service need professional, secure mounting. The two recognised styles are swing mounting and court mounting.

Swing-mounted medals hang individually from their ribbons and move naturally when worn. This is the traditional style and is often suitable for smaller groups. Court mounting fixes the medals to a rigid backing so that they lie flat and do not swing. It offers a neater profile, reduces movement and is commonly preferred for larger groups or formal ceremonial wear.

Neither style is universally better. Court mounting can make a substantial group more comfortable and easier to keep aligned, while swing mounting retains the original movement and appearance of individual medals. The deciding factors are the number of awards, the occasion, the recipient's preference and any Service expectations.

Avoid home-made mounting with safety pins, adhesive tape or improvised bars. Pins can damage ribbon, bend suspension bars and leave the group sitting unevenly on the jacket. A properly mounted set should be secure, balanced and correctly spaced, with ribbons cut and folded to the appropriate length. Full-size medals and miniature medals require different bars and proportions, so they should never be mounted together.

Framing medals as a family display

Framing is often the best choice for medals that are no longer worn. It protects a group from handling and provides a clear way to present a veteran's service to future generations. A well-planned frame does not need to be crowded. The medals should remain the central feature, with supporting material selected carefully.

A traditional arrangement places the medal group across the centre or lower half of the mount, with a photograph, cap badge, rank insignia, citation or service details above. If there is a memorial plaque, it may be displayed separately or in a deeper frame, depending on its size and condition. Documents such as pay books, certificates and letters are usually best copied for display, keeping the originals safely stored away from light.

Choose a mount board that is acid-free and a frame deep enough that medals do not press against the glazing. UV-filtering glass or acrylic helps reduce fading to ribbons, photographs and paper documents. The display should be fixed with conservation-friendly methods rather than glue applied directly to metal or fabric.

A dark blue, bottle green, black or neutral grey backing often works well for British medal groups because it gives ribbons and metalwork definition without becoming overly decorative. The frame itself should be restrained. Polished wood, painted timber and simple black mouldings can all be appropriate, provided the style suits the period and the room where it will be displayed.

Include only items that add meaning

A crowded frame can make an important group difficult to read. Select items with a direct connection to the recipient: a portrait in uniform, cap badge, unit title, copied citation or concise engraved plate. A complete story is not always a display of every object in the family archive.

If medals belong to more than one relative, separate panels or individual frames are usually clearer than combining unrelated groups. Mixing medals from different recipients risks losing the identity and service history attached to each group.

Preserve original medals before displaying them

Original medals are historical objects, not merely decorative items. Handle them by the edge where possible, with clean dry hands, and avoid repeated polishing. Patina on older silver, bronze and copper medals is normal. Aggressive cleaning can remove original surface detail, soften naming and reduce collector interest.

Keep medals away from direct sunlight, radiators, fireplaces, kitchens and damp external walls. Heat, humidity and ultraviolet light are especially hard on silk and synthetic ribbons. A display placed in a bright south-facing room may look impressive initially but can fade within a relatively short period.

Do not use household metal polish, lacquer, glue or sticky pads on historic medals. Some products leave residues that are difficult to remove and may cause long-term deterioration. If a medal is heavily tarnished, stained or has loose suspension components, specialist cleaning and restoration are safer choices than an enthusiastic home repair.

For medals not currently on display, use individual acid-free sleeves or a lined medal case in a dry, stable environment. Avoid ordinary plastic bags for prolonged storage, particularly where moisture may be trapped. Keep ribbons flat where possible and do not stack heavy medals on top of one another.

Originals, replacements and replicas

A display can contain original medals, officially issued replacements or high-quality replicas, but clarity is essential. Original medals carry the physical history of service. Replacements allow a veteran or family member to recreate a lost group for wear or presentation. MoD Licensed Replica Medals are a practical option where the original has been lost, is too valuable to wear, or is being preserved in a frame.

Where a display uses replacements or replicas, record this discreetly in the accompanying documentation. This prevents confusion later and protects the provenance of any original pieces in the family. For collectors, retaining a written record of where medals were obtained, together with any service papers or research, is as valuable as the visual presentation.

Choose a display that can be maintained

A medal display should be inspected occasionally, especially during changes of season. Check for fading, dust, loose fittings or signs of condensation inside the frame. Dust the outside of glazing with a soft cloth, but do not spray cleaner directly near the frame edges where liquid could enter.

For a mounted wearable group, inspect the ribbons, brooch bar and fastenings before each event. A loose medal or fraying ribbon is easier to address early than after it has been worn in poor weather or caught on clothing. Professional medal mounting, cleaning and bespoke framing services from a specialist such as Empire Medals can be particularly useful for large groups, delicate originals and presentation pieces intended to become family heirlooms.

The most respectful display is one that remains accurate, secure and legible. Give the medals room to speak for themselves, preserve the recipient's name alongside them, and ensure the next person who sees the group can understand that these are not ornaments, but a record of service.