You can apply for a medal if you served in the armed forces and are eligible.

Find out the types of medal the Ministry of Defence (MOD) issues.

Eligibility

You can apply if you were awarded a medal for service in any of the following:

• the army
• the Royal Navy
• the Royal Marines
• the Royal Air Force (RAF)
• the Home Guard
• the reserve forces

You must meet the eligibility requirements for the medal you’re applying for.

If you’re applying for someone else’s medal

You can apply on behalf of a veteran if you have lasting power of attorney.

If the veteran has died, you must be the official next of kin. The general rules for the official next of kin are:

• the person’s spouse or civil partner has the first claim to the medal, and then the eldest child
• if there’s no spouse or child, the parent is entitled to apply
• if there’s no spouse, child or parent, the eldest grandchild is entitled to apply

How to apply

Download and fill in the medal application form.

If you’re applying on behalf of someone else, you must include a copy of either your lasting power of attorney or a death certificate.

Post the form, along with any supporting documents, to the MOD Medal Office - the address is on the form. Do not send the form by email.

After you’ve applied

You’ll usually get your medal within 12 weeks of sending the application form.

You can apply for a replacement medal if the original’s been stolen or accidentally destroyed, for example in a fire.

Get help

If you need to contact MOD about your medal application, email dbs-medals@mod.gov.uk.