Medals from Great Britain from Pre-WW1
British Military Medals & Awards up to 1914
Before World War I, British medals and orders were primarily awarded for military campaigns, acts of bravery, and long service. These medals often recognized participation in specific wars or battles, and their designs frequently featured the reigning monarch and relevant emblems or inscriptions.
On this page, you will find all military and campaign medals, orders of knighthood, awards, and decorations of the United Kingdom given before the Great War. This includes Orders of Chivalry that trace their origins to the Middle Ages and decorations awarded for distinguished military service.
See more: Great Britain’s Orders of Knighthood – British Medals Order of Wear, How to Apply and Request Records
Popular Pre-WW1 British
Medals, Orders & Decorations
These distinctions were important not only for acknowledging individual and collective valor but also for their role in preserving the legacy and tradition of British military history. Explore the most renowned medals, orders, and decorations bestowed by the United Kingdom before the onset of the First World War, and learn more about the events surrounding them.
The Order of the Thistle
The Order of the Thistle is an order of chivalry revived by King James VII of Scotland (James II) in 1687 and re-established in 1703.
The Most Noble Order of the Garter
The Order of the Garter is an order of chivalry founded by Edward III in 1348 and regarded as the most prestigious British order of chivalry.
The Ashantee Medal
The Ashantee Medal is a British campaign medal awarded to British, Colonial, and allied native forces during the Third Anglo-Ashanti War.
The Crimea Medal
The Crimea Medal is a campaign medal issued to officers and men of British units who fought in the Crimean War of 1854–56 against Russia.
The Waterloo Medal
The Waterloo Medal is a British military medal established in 1816-17 and struck for all those who participated in the Waterloo campaign.
All United Kingdom Medals
from the Pre-WW1 Period
Explore the prestigious medals awarded during the Victorian and Edwardian eras, showcasing gallantry, service, and campaigns before the outbreak of World War I. For example, the Victoria Cross, which was established in 1856 and it is the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy, or the Order of the Bath, instituted in 1725, for senior military officers and, later, civil servants for their distinguished service.
British 19th Century Campaign Medals
The proliferation of campaign medals during the 19th century contributed to the glorification of war and militarism, promoting the idea that military prowess and conquest were the ultimate expressions of national power and prestige. There are quite a few British 19th century military medals — so you can use the button below to learn more about them.
The India Medal
The India Medal was approved in 1896 and issued as an award to officers and men of the British and Indian armies.
The Central Africa Medal
The Central Africa Medal is a campaign medal awarded for service in Eastern and Central Africa and 1894-1898 in British Central Africa.
The British South Africa Company’s Medal
The British South Africa Company Medal was sanctioned by Queen Victoria to troops who had been engaged in the First Matabele War.
The Army Gold Medal
The Army Gold Medal is a British campaign medal awarded to field and general officers in recognition of successful commands in campaigns.
The Queen’s Mediterranean Medal
The Queen’s Mediterranean Medal was awarded to troops who had replaced their regular Army counterparts in garrisons across the Mediterranean.
The Queen’s South Africa Medal
The Queen’s South Africa Medal is a military decoration established in 1900 and presented to military personnel in the Boer War.
The East and Central Africa Medal
The East and Central Africa Medal is a British campaign medal awarded for military operations in the Uganda Protectorate and Southern Sudan.
The Queen’s Sudan Medal
The Queen’s Sudan Medal was awarded to British and Egyptian forces which had taken part in the Sudan campaign between 1896 and 1898.
The Ashanti Star
The Ashanti Star was a British medal awarded to members of the expedition against the Ashanti King Prempeh, in the Fourth Anglo-Ashanti War.
The East and West Africa Medal
The East and West Africa Medal was a campaign medal awarded for minor campaigns that took place in East and West Africa around 1887.
All Other Pre-WW1 Medals
Before World War I, various medals and decorations were awarded by nations around the world to recognize military service, valor, and other achievements. For example, during the Napoleonic Wars (early 19th century), both Napoleon’s France and its adversaries awarded medals to soldiers for acts of bravery, participation in battles, and other meritorious service, while the Crimean War (1853-1856) saw the issuance of several campaign medals by participating nations, including Britain, France, and the Ottoman Empire.
Below you will find the COMPLETE list of Pre-WW1 British medals. There’s a lot of them!
More British Medals
British Medals from the WW1 Period
During World War I, the British government instituted several new medals to honor the service and bravery of its soldiers and allied personnel. These medals not only recognized combat service but also contributions to the war effort on the home front.
British Medals from the WW2 Period
During World War II, Britain instituted several medals to recognize the service, bravery, and sacrifice of its military personnel and civilians. These medals reflect the extensive and varied nature of the conflict, covering service across different theaters of war, specific acts of gallantry, and long service.
