Medal Emblem Archives • Medal Makers - Commemorative and Military

Medal Mounting Style

Medals are mounted in accordance with the latest Tri-Service regulations (single uniform code) unless you specify otherwise in the “Additional Comments” section of the order form. This is especially important if you are still in uniform.

There are two styles of medal mounting available.

Medal mounting swing style is the more traditional method of mounting medals. Swing Style or ordinary style mounted medals are mounted on a medal brooch bar which can then be pinned to your tunic directly, through becketts or attached to a pocket holder. This style of medal mounting allows the medals to move or ‘swing’ when worn. Over time, the edge of the medals can become damaged due to the medals “clinking” together.

Medal mounting court style is alleged to have began during the reign of Queen Victoria. Those attending the Queen would wear medals court mounted to stop them “clinking”. Other sources suggest that the Cavalry first adopted the practice. Either way, this style of medal mounting is becoming more popular. Court mounted medals are fixed to a rigid backing material called buckram. The buckram is then covered in a felt material before the medals are mounted on their own ribbon length. This style of medal mounting holds the medals firmly in place and prevents them ‘clinking’ together and damaging each other when worn.

Please note – Commemorative medals manufactured by Bigbury Mint are presented “ready for wear” already swing mounted. There will therefore be nil additional cost when swing style as a single medal is selected.

Medal Order Of Wear

Bigbury Mint mount medals in accordance with the latest guidance from the Central Chancery Of The Orders Of Knighthood, as listed in the London Gazette.

A basic pictorial representation is given as follows;

Please note – medals not to scale and are for illustration purposes only.

Commemorative medals should not be mounted on the same row as Official medals.

Medal Mounting Service Selection

RN, RM and RFA medals are mounted with longer ribbons than ARMY and RAF. Officer ranks can also be mounted slightly differently. It is therefore important that you let us know which service code you wish to have the medals mounted in accordance with.

We will then mount the medals in accordance with the applicable Single Service dress regulations. This is especially important if you are currently serving.

If you are unsure or you are not in the Armed Forces then we will mount your medals as per standard practice following instructions laid down in the Army Dress Regulations.

Medal Emblem Guidance - Level 4 Awards

The following guidance is taken from the London Gazette, Supplement 1 dated 17th March 2003

Level 4 Award	Period	Abbreviated To (not official)	Format
Mention in Despatches	1914 – 1920	MiD	Bronze spray of oak leaves
Mention in Despatches	1920 – 1994	MiD	Single bronze oak leaf
King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct	1920 – 1952	KCBC	Single bronze oak leaf
King’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air	1920 – 1952	KCVSA	Single bronze oak leaf
Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct	1952 – 1994	QCBC	Single bronze oak leaf
Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air	1952 – 1994	QCVSA	Single bronze oak leaf
Gallantry Award (CBE, OBE, MBE, BEM)	1957 – 1974	CO	Silver crossed oak leaves
Mention in Despatches	1994 –	MiD	Single silver oak leaf
Queen’s Commendation for Bravery	1994 –	QCB	Silver spray of laurel leaves
Queen’s Commendation for Bravery in the Air	1994 –	QCBA	Silver eagle
Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service	1994 –	QCVS	Silver spray of oak leaves

The following guidance is taken from JSP761 – Honours and Awards in the Armed Forces – (V4.0 Dec 14);

Pt1. page 12-1. paragraph 12.02. United Kingdom emblems may be worn on the ribbons of service medals awarded by the United Nations and NATO.

Pt1. page 12-3. paragraph 12.19. In a change introduced in 2014 and made retrospective to all Level 4 awards received after 1962, up to three Level 4 emblems of any award may be worn on any one ribbon. On the ribbon and full-sized medal, they are to be full size emblems worn vertically in chronological order from the bottom of the ribbon. However if a number of clasps are already worn on the medal, then miniature forms of the emblem may be used. When only ribbons are worn, a single emblem is to be the full-sized emblem but miniature emblems are to be worn spaced horizontally across the ribbon when two or three are worn. The miniature form of the emblem is to be worn on miniature medals. Only one Level 4 award of each type may be worn on a single medal ribbon if the Level 4 award was received prior to 1962.

Clasp Order Of Campaign

If a medal has more than one clasp they are mounted with the most recent campaign furthest away from the medal.

For example : General Service Medal with Northern Ireland, Cyprus 1963-1964 and Lebanon clasps;

On one hand, the clasp order could be;
1. Cyprus 63-64 – nearest the medal
2. Northern Ireland
3. Lebanon – Furthest from medal towards the top of the ribbon.

On the other hand the clasp order could be;
1. Cyprus 63-64 – nearest the medal
2. Lebanon
3. Northern Ireland – Furthest from medal towards the top of the ribbon.

depending on when the recipient served in Northern Ireland.

Emblem Order of Award

The following guidance is taken from JSP761 – Honours and Awards in the Armed Forces – (V4.0 Dec 14);

Pt1. page 12-3. paragraph 12.19. …..On the ribbon and full-sized medal, they are to be full size emblems worn vertically in chronological order from the bottom of the ribbon…..

Pt1. page 12-4. paragraph 12.22. …..Irrespective of the date of each award, when 2 or more different emblems are worn on a single riband, the order of precedence to be applied from the top is:

MiD
QCB
QCBA
QCVS

Sending Your Medals to Bigbury Mint

Bigbury Mint are extremely well practised in the care and restoration of medals.

If you are sending your medals in to be framed, mounted or cleaned please ensure they are suitably protected (bubble wrap or “Jiffy” envelope).

Please send your medals to;

Bigbury Mint Ltd
Unit 1
River Park
Ermington
Devon
PL21 9NT
United Kingdom

Please ensure you include your contact details with the medals!

We strongly recommend that your medals are sent using Royal Mail Special Delivery or International equivalent⁽¹⁾ as they can be tracked and traced for peace of mind. We will always return medals using a Special Delivery Service. When we receive your medals we will contact you to confirm receipt and to discuss the work you require. We will always clean medals and renew ribbons at no extra cost unless we are specifically asked not to.

Should you have any questions about sending your medals, please CONTACT US

(1) Bigbury Mint will not be responsible for any customs charges. Please ensure you complete customs forms correctly such that any charges incurred are paid by the sender.

Russian Medal Mounting

Russian Medals can be mounted in their native Style, individually or as part of a medal group at extra cost;

Example of Russian Medal Mounting Style

Medals in Frame

We have two options available to display medals in the frame;

Medal display frame mounted medals Medals are mounted ready for wear and then placed on a block within the frame. This allows for the easy removal and replacement of the medals as required, meaning they can be removed for wear on parade or for cleaning.

Medal-Display-Frame-Medal-Attachment The medals will hang from the block at a slight angle much as they would if they were being worn on the chest.

Medals are not mounted ready for wear and instead are placed flat against the frame backing with the medal ribbon secured through a slot. This means that the medals cannot be removed from the frame and cannot be worn.

Medal Naming / Engraving

For medals that were issued prior to January 1st 2009 we engrave them as follows using capital letters and full stops as appropriate;

SERVICE NUMBER RANK INITIALS SURNAME SERVICE or ARMY REGIMENT

For medals that have been issued after January 1st 2009⁽¹⁾ we engrave as follows;

RANK INITIALS SURNAME (Post Nominal) SERVICE SERVICE NUMBER

PLEASE NOTE – IF YOU DO NOT WISH US TO ENGRAVE THE MEDAL USING THE ABOVE PROTOCOL, THEN YOU MUST SPECIFY EXACTLY HOW YOU WISH US TO ENGRAVE THE MEDAL IN THE “Additional Comments” TEXT AREA AT THE END OF EACH PURCHASING FORM.

Engraving on medals is limited to 45 characters including spaces and full stops.

Bigbury Mint use the diamond drag method of engraving, an example of which is shown here.

(1) JSP761 – Honors and Awards in the Armed Forces V4.0 Dec 14 – Annex C to Chapter 12

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