Military awards and decorations of the United Kingdom

Awards and decorations of the British Military are military orders, decorations and medals which recognize service and personal accomplishments while a member of the British armed forces. Together with military badges, such awards are a means to outwardly display the highlights of a service member's career.

Order of wear
All services use a common order of wear, the following general rules apply:
 * 1) The Victoria Cross and the George Cross
 * 2) United Kingdom Orders
 * 3) United Kingdom Decorations
 * 4) Order of St John (all classes)
 * 5) United Kingdom Medals for Gallantry and for Distinguished Service
 * 6) United Kingdom Operational Service Medals (including authorised United Nations Medals and Medals of other recognised International Organisations). Worn in order of date of award
 * 7) United Kingdom Polar Medals
 * 8) United Kingdom Police Medals for Valuable Service
 * 9) United Kingdom Jubilee, Coronation and Durbar Medals
 * 10) Long Service and Efficiency Awards
 * 11) Commonwealth Orders, Decorations and Medals instituted by the Sovereign. Worn in order of date of award.
 * 12) Commonwealth Orders, Decorations and Medals instituted since 1949 otherwise than by the Sovereign (including those of the States of Malaysia and the State of Brunei). Worn in order of date of award.
 * 13) Foreign Orders. If approved for wear, worn in order of date of award.
 * 14) Foreign Decorations. If approved for wear, worn in order of date of award.
 * 15) Foreign Medals. If approved for wear, worn in order of date of award.

Military orders and decorations
Note [1] Eligibility period start dates reflect respective establishment dates, except where available evidence indicates otherwise.

Unofficial decorations and medals
Unofficial commemorative medals These medals are commercial commemoratives and may not be worn with uniform other than where noted.
 * Allied Cross
 * Allied Ex-Prisoners of War Medal
 * Arctic Campaign Veterans Medal
 * Bomber Command Medal
 * British Forces Germany Medal 1945-1989
 * British Army of the Rhine 1945-1989
 * Cold War Victory Medal
 * Cold War Medal (USA)
 * Eastern Service Medal
 * The Dunkirk Medal
 * Hong Kong Medal
 * Hors de Combat
 * Unofficial Golden Jubilee Medal
 * The National Service Medal
 * Medal for National Service
 * Normandy Campaign Medal
 * Operation Overlord Medal
 * Suez Canal Zone Medal 1951 - 1957
 * United Nations 50th Anniversary Medal
 * United Nations Nobel Peace Medal
 * International Veterans Millenium Medal 2000
 * Unknown Veterans Medal
 * Voluntry Service Medal
 * International Volunteers Service Medal UN, NATO, EU

International campaign medals
Worn with other United Kingdom campaign medals in order of date of issue (except where noted otherwise).

Commonwealth orders
Worn after all United Kingdom awards (including international awards treated as United Kingdom awards). Honorary awards are worn before substantive awards.

Commonwealth decorations
Worn after all Commonwealth orders.

Commonwealth campaign and commeomorative medals
Worn after all Commonwealth decorations.

Foreign orders
Worn after all Commonwealth awards.

Foreign decorations
Worn after all foreign orders.

Foreign campaign and commemorative medals
Worn after all foreign decorations.

Decorations and medals authorised for acceptance but not for official wear
Official permission has been granted for this medal to be accepted, but it is not authorised for wear.

Campaign medals authorised for acceptance but not for official wear
Official permission has been granted for these medals to be accepted, but they are not authorised for wear.

Campaign medals not authorised for acceptance or official wear
Official permission has been refused for these medals to be accepted and they are not authorised for wear.