The 1939-45 Star was awarded for service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945 for:
- a period of 6 months (180 days) operational service for RAN and Army personnel and RAAF non-air crew personnel
- a period of 2 months operational service for air crew personnel
- a period of 6 months service at sea for Merchant Navy provided at least one voyage was made through one of the specified areas of active operations.
Civilian personnel
Australian civilian personnel who served afloat with the United States Army Small Ships Section between 8 December 1941 and 2 September 1945 may also be eligible. The following official documentation can be used to support a claim:
- Certificate of Service or Certificate of Discharge (must contain enlistment and discharge dates)
- Defence Department Form 214 – Certificate of Release or discharge from Active Duty containing dates and ship names to which the member was assigned.
- United States Army Forces in Australia, Small Ships Supply Command Civilian Personnel Record Card. This card will contain the Assignment Record that lists the ships the member was assigned to and their period of duty for the assignment
- Form TCCP 50 – United States Army Supply Service Transfer/Reclassification Occurrence Report. This occurrence report will contain the ships the member was assigned to and their period of duty for the assignment
- pay card or individual earnings record.
The following associated documentation can be used in conjunction with the official documentation:
- certified copies of letters sent by the member. Must contain a postmark from a location within the operational area.
- certified copy of a diary written by member
- medical certificates showing the member attending a medical centre within the operational area.
Relevant documentation can be requested from United States Army Human Resources Command website.
Design
The 6–pointed star is yellow copper zinc alloy. The obverse has a central design of the Royal and Imperial cypher, surmounted by a crown. The cypher is surrounded by a circlet containing the words The 1939-45 Star.
Stars issued to Australian personnel have recipient names engraved on the plain reverse.
The ribbon has three vertical stripes of dark blue, red and light blue. The dark blue stripe represents the Naval Forces and the Merchant Navy, the red stripe the Armies and the light blue stripe the Air Forces.
The Battle Of Britain clasp was awarded to eligible air crew involved in the Battle of Britain.
The Bomber Command clasp, introduced in 2012, was awarded to eligible Bomber Command aircrew. This award is administered by the Directorate of Honours and Awards (DH&A) on behalf of the UK Government. The clasp is awarded to RAAF personnel who served with UK-based Bomber Command squadrons during World War 2.
Upon receipt of an application, assessment for eligibility is completed and details of successful applicants are forwarded to the UK Ministry of Defence. The UK Government initiate delivery of clasps to DH&A in Australia, for dispatch to those recipients.
When the ribbon is worn alone the standard silver rosette ribbon emblem is worn to denote the award of a clasp. The silver rosette emblem is not supplied by DH&A.
Source documents
Summary of Award Conditions of Campaign Stars, the Defence Medal and the War Medal (PDF, 172.19 KB)
Amendment to Conditions (Gazette S374) of 17 September 2001 (PDF, 132.15 KB)