- Time Period: World War II
- Institution: 7 December 1940
- Country: Great Britain
The Pacific Star is a military campaign medal of the British Commonwealth nations, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. It was established in 1945 to recognize service in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
The Pacific Star was awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth forces who served in specified territories and operational areas in the Pacific region between December 7, 1941, and September 2, 1945. These areas included Southeast Asia, the Pacific Ocean, and the Indian Ocean.
The Pacific Star serves as a symbol of recognition for the bravery, dedication, and sacrifices made by military personnel who served in the challenging and often harsh conditions of the Pacific Theater during World War II. It honors their contributions to the Allied efforts in the region.
The Pacific Star Design
The set of nine campaign stars was designed by the Royal Mint engravers. They are six–pointed stars, struck in yellow copper zinc alloy to fit into a 44 millimetres diameter circle.
The obverse has a central design of the Royal Cypher “GRI VI”, surmounted by a crown and the inscription “THE PACIFIC STAR”.
The reverse is plain and follows a no-engraving policy.
The ribbon of the Pacific Star medal consists of three equal vertical stripes of color: The left and right stripes of the ribbon are dark blue, representing the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, and the central stripe is light blue, symbolizing the tropical skies and waters of the Pacific Theater.
The combination of dark and light blue stripes on the ribbon represents the unique and challenging environment in which military personnel served during the Pacific campaign of World War II.
Find This Campaign Medal
More WW2 British Campaign Medals
During World War II (1939–1945) British campaign medals were awarded to members of the British Armed Forces and civilians for active service in specific military campaigns or operations. These included:
The India Service Medal
The India Service Medal – 1939-1945 is a Commonwealth campaign medal awarded to Indian Forces for three years service in India in WW2.
The Southern Rhodesia Service Medal
The Southern Rhodesia Service Medal 1939-1945 is a campaign medal awarded to members of the Southern Rhodesia Defence Forces for home service.
The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal is a British medal granted to persons of any rank in the Naval, Military or Air Forces of Canada.
The Africa Star
The Africa Star is a military campaign medal awarded to those who served in the Second World War specifically in North Africa.
The Air Crew Europe Star
The Air Crew Europe Star is a military campaign medal awarded to subjects of the British Commonwealth for service in the Second World War.
The Africa Service Medal
The Africa Service Medal is a South African campaign medal instituted by King George VI and awarded for service during the Second World War.
The War Medal 1939-1945
The War Medal 1939–1945 is a British campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom on 16 August 1945. The medal was awarded to subjects of the British Commonwealth who had served full-time.
The Arctic Star
The Arctic Star is a military campaign medal which was instituted for service on the Arctic Convoys north of the Arctic Circle in WW2.
