The defence medal ribbon WW2 (Verdedigings medaille lint)

The Defence Medal was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II. It was instituted to recognise both military and some types of civilian service.

This type of service in the UK includes, but is not confined to, those civilian personnel who worked as members of:

• Home Guard
• Royal Observer Corps
• Fire Brigades, including the National Fire Service (NFS)
• Civil Defence Messenger Service
• Police
• Coast Guard

The qualifying time required depending on the area served is:

• UK: 1080 days
• Overseas non-operational: 360 days
• Overseas non-operational in an area deemed to be closely threatened or subject to air attack: 180 days