The Atlantic Star was awarded to commemorate the Battle of the Atlantic between 3 September 1939 and 8 May 1945. It was designed primarily for convoys and their escorts and anti-submarine forces, as well as for crews of fast merchant ships that sailed alone.
Eligibility
The star was awarded for 6 months service afloat in the Atlantic and Home Waters:
- in the Navy
- in the Merchant Navy
- by Army and Air Force personnel serving on HM Ships.
It was also awarded to aircrew who took part in operations against the enemy at sea within the qualifying areas for Naval personnel, subject to 2 months service in an operational unit after earning the 1939-1945 Star.
Qualifying dates are 3 September 1939 to 8 May 1945.
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 Atlantic Star.
Stars issued to Australian personnel have recipient names engraved on the plain reverse.
The ribbon has three vertical stripes of blue, white and sea green, shaded and watered. The colours represent the colours of the Atlantic Ocean.
2 clasps were issued for the Atlantic Star:
- Air Crew Europe
- France and Germany.
Regulations only allow one clasp to be worn with the Star. When the ribbon is worn alone a silver rosette ribbon emblem is worn to denote the award of a clasp. The silver rosette emblem is not supplied by the Directorate of Honours and Awards.
Source documents
Summary of Award Conditions of Campaign Stars, the Defence Medal and the War Medal (PDF, 172.19 KB)