Ribbon
Equal
stripes of dark blue, to represent the service of the Royal and
Merchant Navies, red, to represent that of the Armies and light blue to
represent that of Air Forces. Worn with the dark blue stripe furthest
from the left shoulder.
Criteria
The 1939–45 Star was awarded for
any period of operational service overseas between 3 Sep 1939 and 8 May
1945 (2 Sep 1945 in the Far East).
The criteria are 180 days’
service between these dates, although some special criteria apply when,
at certain specified times, just 1 days’ service is required.
Naval personnel qualify after 180 days afloat in areas of operations
as laid out in the regulations between certain specified dates.
RAF air crew will qualify with 60 days service in an operational unit including at least one operational sortie.
Air crew of fighter aircraft engaged in the Battle of Britain
between 10 July and 31 October 1940 were awarded the Clasp ‘Battle of
Britain’ to be worn on the ribbon of the 1939-45 Star.