How to wear yours, or your ancestors' medalsUpdated 7 months ago

How to wear yours, or your ancestors' medals

Wearing medals to honour your or your ancestor’s service is a significant way to participate in ceremonies like ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day. Here’s a guide to wearing medals correctly:

1. Your Own Medals: If you earned the medals yourself, wear them on the left side of your chest. This applies to all national awards authorised by the Governor-General's Office, including those for bravery and meritorious service. However, state and territory awards are generally worn on the right side of the chest, as they are not part of the nationally recognised order of wear. There are exceptions, such as NSW Correctional Services, WA Emergency Services, and NT Emergency Services, where state medals may be worn on the left side after national awards.
   
   
2. Ancestor’s Medals: When wearing medals to honour an ancestor, they should be worn on the right side of your chest. This includes both replica and original medals, allowing you to respectfully represent your family’s legacy.
   
   
3. Wearing Multiple Sets: If you have multiple sets of ancestor medals, wear them one above the other on the right side. However, it’s best to avoid wearing all sets at once. You can rotate them each year or share different sets among family members for various ceremonies.
   
   
4. Unofficial or Commemorative Medals: Unofficial or commemorative medals, such as those for specific events or organisations, should also be worn on the right side, but below any official awards.
   
   
5. Service and Qualification Badges: Badges like the Return from Active Service Badge or operational service badges should only be worn by those who have earned them. Wearing such badges without earning them disrespects their significance.
   
   
6. Higher Awards (Knighthoods, Orders, Neck Decorations, Breast Stars): Higher awards, such as knighthoods, neck decorations, and breast stars, can be passed down through generations but are not to be worn by descendants, even during remembrance ceremonies. These prestigious honours are reserved for the individual to whom they were originally awarded.
   
   
7. Medal Mounting and Placement: According to the Australian Army Dress Manual, full-size medals should be mounted so they overlap neatly, with the largest or most senior award closest to the centre of the chest. Ribbon bars should not exceed four per row and must be mounted securely and in the correct order of wear. Proper mounting ensures that the medals sit flat against the chest and follow the correct order of precedence.
   
   
8. Miniature Medals: While miniature medals are traditionally worn during formal evening events, it is becoming more common to see descendants, particularly children, wearing miniature medal groups at ceremonies like ANZAC Day. This is often done due to the size and weight of full-size medals, making the smaller versions a more practical option for younger family members or those with larger medal groups.
   
   
9. Respecting Medals: Never wear a medal as your own unless you have officially been awarded it. Wearing unearned medals is not only against the law, but it also disrespects those who have genuinely earned them through their service.

By following these guidelines, you can participate in ceremonies like ANZAC Day in a way that honours the service and sacrifices of those who served.

Lest we forget.