Medal etiquette

[Jaguar steve]

Attended a memorial service yesterday for operation Varsity in 1944. Anybody who actually took part would of course be in their 90s now. Noticed a few people my age who may have been sons, and younger who may well have have been grandsons of the people on the op wearing WW2 medals. I'd always been told this was very bad form and not acceptable but I can understand the sentiment. What does the PH collective opinion think?

ETA 1945

Edited by Jaguar steve on Wednesday 25th March 21:18

[rkem]

You can wear your father's medals (maybe grandfather's at a push if your father didn't have any?) on your right hand side as well as your own on the left.

[Ginetta G15 Girl]

It is perfectly acceptable for the oldest living son/daughter to wear their Father's Wartime medals.

However they are to be worn on the Right breast (medal holders wear their medals on the left breast).

I take it you were at Marks Hall near Earles Colne?

[Jaguar steve]

Ginetta G15 Girl said:

It is perfectly acceptable for the oldest living son/daughter to wear their Father's Wartime medals.

However they are to be worn on the Right breast (medal holders wear their medals on the left breast).

I take it you were at Marks Hall near Earles Colne?

Yes I was. Dad was a sergeant pilot on SOE duties at RAF Fairford and then got "voluntered" into the Army GPR and flew a Horsa MK 2 out of Sheperds Grove to the Rhine crossing on the 24 March 1945. He was seriously injured in a exchange of fire after landing behind enemy lines and taken POW. He never spoke a word about what happened whilst alive and it's only since his death my sisters and me have seen his flying log and newspaper cuttings my Mum kept and we've gradually put the pieces of his service record together - hence our attendance at Marks Hall every year.

I got a heavy bking as a child for asking about wearing medals. Thanks for clarification and right breast it will be then next year.

[mph1977]

Ginetta G15 Girl said:

It is perfectly acceptable for the oldest living son/daughter to wear their Father's Wartime medals.

However they are to be worn on the Right breast (medal holders wear their medals on the left breast).

this