View source for Atlantic Star

{{Short description|United Kingdom military campaign medal for service in the Second World War}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox military award
| name             = The Atlantic Star
| image            = [[File:WW2 Atlantic Star.jpg|300px]]
| caption          =
| presenter       = [[George VI|the Monarch of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India]]
| country          = [[File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg|x14px]] [[United Kingdom]]
| type             = Military campaign medal
| eligibility      = All Ranks
| awarded_for              = 180 days operational service afloat<br/>or 60 days of operational flying 
| campaign         = [[Battle of the Atlantic]]
| status           =
| description      =
| motto            = 
| clasps           = AIR CREW EUROPE<br/>FRANCE AND GERMANY
| post-nominals    =
| established      = May 1945
| firstawarded      =
| lastawarded       =
| total_awarded            =
| total_awarded_posthumously       =
| total_recipients       =
| precedence_label = Order of wear
| individual       =
| higher           = [[1939–1945 Star]]
| same             =
| lower            = [[Arctic Star]]
| related          = [[Arctic Star]]<br/>[[Air Crew Europe Star]]<br/>[[France and Germany Star]]
| image2           = [[File:Ribbon - Atlantic Star.png|x32px]] [[File:Ribbon - Atlantic Star & Clasp.png|x32px]]
| caption2         = Ribbon bar without and with rosette
}}

The '''Atlantic Star''' is a military campaign medal, instituted by the [[United Kingdom]] in May 1945 for award to [[Commonwealth of Nations|British Commonwealth]] forces who took part in the [[Battle of the Atlantic]], the longest continuous campaign of the [[Second World War]].<ref name="Blair1">{{Citation |last=Blair |first=Clay Jr. |title=Hitler's U-Boat War: The Hunters 1939–1942 |publisher=Cassell & Co. |year=1996 |isbn=0-304-35260-8}}</ref><ref name="Blair2">{{Citation |last=Blair |first=Clay Jr. |title=Hitler's U-Boat War: The Hunted 1942–1945 |publisher=Cassell & Co. |year=1996 |isbn=0-304-35261-6}}</ref>

Two clasps were instituted and could be worn on the medal ribbon, '''Air Crew Europe''' and '''France and Germany'''.<ref name="Stratford"/>

==The Second World War Stars==
On 8 July 1943, the {{nowrap|1939–43}} Star (later named the {{nowrap|1939–1945}} Star) and the Africa Star became the first two campaign stars instituted by the United Kingdom, and by May 1945 a total of eight stars and nine clasps had been established to reward campaign service during the Second World War.<ref name="Regulations"/> One more campaign star, the Arctic Star, and one more clasp, the Bomber Command Clasp, were belatedly added on 26 February 2013, more than sixty-seven years after the end of the war.<ref name="Stratford">[https://web.archive.org/web/20160427175101/http://www.stephen-stratford.co.uk/wwii_medals.htm Stephen Stratford Medals site: British Military & Criminal History, 1900 to 1999. 1939–45 Star] (Access date 1 April 2015)</ref><ref name="Hansard2">[https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1943/aug/03/war-service-decorations War Service (Decorations) – Statement in the House of Commons by Winston Churchill on 3 August 1943 (HC Deb 03 August 1943 vol 391 cc2091-3)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327083331/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1943/aug/03/war-service-decorations |date=27 March 2016 }} (Access date 9 April 2015)</ref><ref name="BomberCommand">[https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140805133045/http://www.veterans-uk.info/arctic_star_index.htm The National Archives – Ministry of Defence – Arctic Star and Bomber Command Clasp] (Access date 1 April 2015)</ref>

Including the Arctic Star and the Bomber Command clasp, no-one could be awarded more than six campaign stars, with five of the ten clasps denoting service that would have qualified for a second star. Only one clasp could be worn on any one campaign star. The maximum of six possible stars are the following:<ref name="Stratford"/><ref name="BomberCommand"/><ref name="Regulations">{{cite web|last=Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals in Time of War|title=Campaign Stars and the Defence Medal (Regulations)|url=https://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/britishguide/hmso/campaign_stars_defence.htm|publisher=HM Stationery Office|access-date=2010-08-01|location=London|date=May 1945}}</ref>

* The [[1939–1945 Star]] with, when awarded, either the [[Battle of Britain]] or the Bomber Command clasp.<ref name="NewZealand1939-45">[http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/warrants/h9-reg.html New Zealand Defence Force – The 1939–45 Star Eligibility Rules] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170018/http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/warrants/h9-reg.html |date=3 March 2016 }} (Access date 12 April 2015)</ref>
* Only one of the '''Atlantic Star''', [[Air Crew Europe Star]] or [[France and Germany Star]]. Those earning more than one received the first qualified for, with the second denoted by the appropriate ribbon clasp.<ref name="NewZealandAtlantic">[http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/warrants/h10-reg.html New Zealand Defence Force – The Atlantic Star Eligibility Rules] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115104616/http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/warrants/h10-reg.html |date=15 January 2015 }} (Access date 4 April 2015)</ref><ref name="NewZealandACE">[http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/warrants/h11-reg.html New Zealand Defence Force – The Air Crew Europe Star Eligibility Rules] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115104626/http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/warrants/h11-reg.html |date=15 January 2015 }} (Access date 12 April 2015)</ref><ref name="NewZealandF&G">[http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/warrants/h16-reg.html New Zealand Defence Force – The France and Germany Star Eligibility Rules] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115104722/http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/warrants/h16-reg.html |date=15 January 2015 }} (Access date 12 April 2015)</ref>
* The [[Arctic Star]].<ref name="BomberCommand"/><ref name="NewZealandArctic">[http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/news/index.html#arctic New Zealand Defence Force – The Arctic Star] (Access date 12 April 2015)</ref>
* The [[Africa Star]] with, if awarded, the first earned of clasps for North Africa 1942–43, 8th Army or 1st Army.<ref name="NewZealandAfrica">[http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/warrants/h12-reg.html New Zealand Defence Force – The Africa Star Eligibility Rules] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115104638/http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/warrants/h12-reg.html |date=15 January 2015 }} (Access date 12 April 2015)</ref>
* Either the [[Pacific Star]] or [[Burma Star]]. Those earning both received the first qualified for, with the appropriate clasp to represent the second.<ref name="NewZealandPacific">[http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/warrants/h13-reg.html New Zealand Defence Force – The Pacific Star Eligibility Rules] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115104648/http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/warrants/h13-reg.html |date=15 January 2015 }} (Access date 9 April 2015)</ref><ref name="NewZealandBurma">[http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/warrants/h14-reg.html New Zealand Defence Force – The Burma Star Eligibility Rules] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115104659/http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/warrants/h14-reg.html |date=15 January 2015 }} (Access date 12 April 2015)</ref>
* The [[Italy Star]].<ref name="NewZealandItaly">[http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/warrants/h15-reg.html New Zealand Defence Force – The Italy Star Eligibility Rules] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427194005/http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/warrants/h15-reg.html |date=27 April 2015 }} (Access date 12 April 2015)</ref>

All recipients of campaign stars also received the [[War Medal 1939–1945|War Medal]].<ref name=Dorling>{{Cite book|author=Captain H. Taprell Dorling.|title=Ribbons and Medals.|pages=97–98. Published A.H.Baldwin & Sons, London. 1956}}</ref>

Since only the first of the Atlantic Star, Air Crew Europe Star and France and Germany Star to be earned could be awarded to any one individual, the possible Star and Clasp combinations for these three campaign stars are:<ref name="Stratford"/>
* The Atlantic Star with either the Air Crew Europe Clasp or the France and Germany Clasp.
* The Air Crew Europe Star with either the France and Germany Clasp or the Atlantic Clasp.
* The France and Germany Star with the Atlantic Clasp. As a result of the different date ranges involved, the earlier period Air Crew Europe Clasp could not be added to the later period France and Germany Star.<ref name="Stratford"/>

==Institution==
The Battle of the Atlantic took place between 3 September 1939 and 8 May 1945, as German U-boats attacked convoys transporting vital supplies from America and the Colonies to Britain. Warships of the Royal Navy and aircraft of the Royal Air Force escorted these convoys, hunted the U-boats and, despite some notable successes by the U-boats, eventually won a comprehensive victory in the Atlantic.<ref name="GovUK"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/medals/atlantic-star-medal/ |title=The World War Two Atlantic Star Campaign Medal |access-date=2015-04-04 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316022013/https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/medals/atlantic-star-medal/ |archive-date=16 March 2016}}</ref>

The Atlantic Star was instituted in May 1945 to honour those who took part in the Battle of the Atlantic and was intended primarily for award to those who served in shipping convoys and their escorts and anti-submarine forces, as well as to those who served on fast merchant ships which sailed alone.<ref name="Regulations"/><ref name="NewZealandAtlantic"/><ref name="Canada"/><ref name="NewZealanders">[http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/category/h/h10.html NZDF Medals site New Zealand Defence Force - British Commonwealth War And Campaign Medals Awarded To New Zealanders - The Atlantic Star] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808065224/http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/category/h/h10.html |date=8 August 2007 }} (Access date 4 April 2015)</ref>

Two clasps were instituted to be worn on the Atlantic Star's ribbon, 'Air Crew Europe' and 'France and Germany'. British uniform regulations stipulated that no one person could be awarded more than one clasp to any one campaign star, and as neither the Air Crew Europe Star nor the France and Germany Star could be awarded to a recipient of the Atlantic Star, any subsequent entitlement to either of these two stars was denoted by the appropriate clasp to the Atlantic Star, with only the first clasp earned being worn.<ref name="Stratford"/>

==Award criteria==
===Broad criteria===
The qualifying areas for the award of the Atlantic Star were the Atlantic and Home Waters excluding the Mediterranean, the south Atlantic between the longitude of Cape Horn and longitude 20° East (South Africa), and the convoy routes to ports in North Russia.<ref name="NewZealandAtlantic"/><ref name="NationalArchives"/>

The Atlantic Star was awarded for six months service afloat in the Atlantic or in Home Waters within the period from 3 September 1939 to 8 May 1945. It was also awarded to air crew who had taken part in operations against the enemy at sea within the qualifying areas, subject to having served for two months in an operational unit. The 1939–1945 Star must have already been earned by six months service, or two months for air crew, before commencing qualifying service for the Atlantic Star.<ref name="Stratford"/><ref name="NewZealandAtlantic"/><ref name="GovUK">[https://www.gov.uk/medals-campaigns-descriptions-and-eligibility#atlantic-star GOV.UK - Defence and armed forces – guidance - Medals: campaigns, descriptions and eligibility - Atlantic Star] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150806040415/https://www.gov.uk/medals-campaigns-descriptions-and-eligibility#atlantic-star |date=6 August 2015 }} (Access date 3 April 2015)</ref><ref name="Canada">[http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/medals-decorations/campaign-stars-medals-1939-1954/atstar Veterans Affairs Canada - Atlantic Star] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927113407/http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/medals-decorations/campaign-stars-medals-1939-1954/atstar |date=27 September 2016 }} (Access date 4 April 2015)</ref><ref name="NewZealanders"/><ref name="NationalArchives"/><ref name="WarRecords"/>

Merchant seaman also qualified for the award of the medal, also on condition that the 1939–1945 Star must have already been earned. They were required to have served in the Atlantic, Home Waters, North Russia Convoys or the south Atlantic.<ref name="Stratford"/><ref name="NewZealandAtlantic"/><ref name="NationalArchives">[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/merchant-seamen-medals-ww2.htm The National Archives - Merchant seamen's campaign medal records 1939-1945] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316130053/http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/merchant-seamen-medals-ww2.htm |date=16 March 2015 }} (Access date 2 April 2015)</ref>

===Special criteria===
The award of a gallantry medal or [[Mentioned in dispatches|Mention in Dispatches]] for action while serving in the qualifying areas, qualified the recipient for the award of the Atlantic Star, regardless of service duration. Personnel whose required service period was terminated prematurely by death, disability or wounds due to service were also awarded the Star regardless of service duration.<ref name="Stratford"/><ref name="GovUK"/><ref name="NationalArchives"/><ref name="Battles&Medals">Joslin, Litherland, and Simpkin (eds), ''British Battles and Medals'', (1988), Spink.</ref><ref name="Birkenhead"/>

Certain special conditions applied governing the award to those Naval personnel who entered operational service less than six months before the end of the War, with them receiving for the Atlantic Star provided this was their last operational theatre of the war.<ref name="GovUK"/><ref name="NewZealanders"/>

==Description==
The set of nine campaign stars was designed by the [[Royal Mint]] engravers. The stars all have a ring suspender which passes through an eyelet formed above the uppermost point of the star. They are six–pointed stars, struck in yellow copper zinc alloy to fit into a 44 millimetres diameter circle, with a maximum width of 38 millimetres and 50 millimetres high from the bottom point of the star to the top of the eyelet.<ref name="NewZealanders"/><ref name="WarRecords"/><ref name="Birkenhead">[http://medals.birkenheadrsa.com/medals-details.php?MedalNumber=245 Returned Services Association - Military Medals - The Atlantic Star] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213224036/http://medals.birkenheadrsa.com/medals-details.php?MedalNumber=245 |date=13 February 2022 }} (Access date 11 October 2018)</ref>

;Obverse
The obverse has a central design of the [[Royal Cypher]] "GRI VI", surmounted by a crown. A circlet, the top of which is covered by the crown, surrounds the cypher and is inscribed "THE ATLANTIC STAR".<ref name="NewZealanders"/>

;Reverse
The reverse is plain.

;Naming 
The British [[Honours Committee]] decided that Second World War campaign medals awarded to British forces would be issued unnamed,<ref>{{Cite book|author=Joslin, Litherland and Simpkin.|title=British Battles and Medals.|page=246. Published by Spink, London. 1988}}</ref> a policy applied by all but three British Commonwealth countries. The recipient's details were impressed on the reverse of the stars awarded to Indians, South Africans and, after a campaign led by veteran organisations, to Australians.<ref>A distinction almost denied: the naming of Australia's Second World War medals. Trevor Turner. Orders & Medals Research Society Journal, September 2018, pp 148-157</ref> In the case of South Africans and Australians, the recipient's force number, initials and surname in block capitals.<ref name="WarRecords">[https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/medals/atlantic-star-medal/ Forces War Records - Medals - Atlantic Star Medal] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316022013/https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/medals/atlantic-star-medal/ |date=16 March 2016 }} (Access date 4 April 2015)</ref><ref name="Bonarjee">[http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1940s/VSCBonarjee.html Memoirs - My Days With The I.A.F (1940-48) -  V S C Bonarjee, IAS] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825024710/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1940s/VSCBonarjee.html |date=25 August 2013 }} (Access date 14 April 2015)</ref><ref name="BonarjeeGongs">[http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1940s/Images/Bonarjee-Medals-Rear.jpg Rear Side of the Medals] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100214215009/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1940s/Images/Bonarjee-Medals-Rear.jpg |date=14 February 2010 }} (Access date 14 April 2015)</ref>

;Clasps
[[File:Clasp - Atlantic & Air Crew Europe.png|x46px|Air Crew Europe]]
[[File:Clasp - Atlantic & France and Germany.png|x46px|France and Germany]]

Both clasps were struck in bronze and have a frame with an inside edge which resembles the perforated edge of a postage stamp. They are inscribed "AIR CREW EUROPE" and "FRANCE AND GERMANY" respectively and were designed to be sewn onto the medal's ribbon. Regulations only allow one clasp, the first earned, to be worn with the Star. When the ribbon is worn alone, a silver [[Rosette (design)|rosette]] is worn on the ribbon bar to denote the award of a clasp.<ref name="Stratford"/><ref name="NewZealandAtlantic"/><ref name="NewZealanders"/>

;Ribbon
The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide, with shaded and watered bands of blue, white and sea-green, with the colours representing the colours of the Atlantic Ocean. The ribbons for this medal and the [[Defence Medal (United Kingdom)|Defence Medal]] as well as those of the other Second World War campaign stars, with the exception of the [[Arctic Star]], were devised by [[George VI|King George VI]].<ref name="Regulations"/><ref name="GovUK"/><ref name="Canada"/><ref name="NewZealanders"/><ref name="WarRecords"/><ref name="Birkenhead"/>

==Order of wear==
The order of wear of the Second World War campaign stars was determined by their respective campaign start dates and by the campaign's duration. This is the order worn, even when a recipient qualified for them in a different order. The Defence Medal and War Medal are worn after the stars.<ref name=LonGaz>{{London Gazette|issue=40204|supp=y|page=3538|date=11 June 1954}}</ref> The [[Canadian Volunteer Service Medal]] is worn after the Defence Medal and before the War Medal, with other Commonwealth war medals worn after the War Medal.<ref name=LonGaz/>
* The [[1939–1945 Star]], from 3 September 1939 to 2 September 1945, the full duration of the [[World War II|Second World War]].<ref name="NewZealand1939-45"/>
* The '''Atlantic Star''' from 3 September 1939 to 8 May 1945, the duration of the [[Battle of the Atlantic]] and the War in Europe.<ref name="NewZealandAtlantic"/>
* The [[Arctic Star]], from 3 September 1939 to 8 May 1945, the duration of the [[Arctic convoys of World War II|Arctic Convoys]] and the War in Europe.<ref name="NewZealandArctic"/>
* The [[Air Crew Europe Star]], from 3 September 1939 to 5 June 1944, the period until [[Normandy landings|D-Day]] minus one.<ref name="NewZealandACE"/>
* The [[Africa Star]], from 10 June 1940 to 12 May 1943, the duration of the [[North African Campaign]].<ref name="NewZealandAfrica"/>
* The [[Pacific Star]], from 8 December 1941 to 2 September 1945, the duration of the [[Pacific War]].<ref name="NewZealandPacific"/>
* The [[Burma Star]], from 11 December 1941 to 2 September 1945, the duration of the [[Burma Campaign]].<ref name="NewZealandBurma"/>
* The [[Italy Star]], from 11 June 1943 to 8 May 1945, the duration of the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]].<ref name="NewZealandItaly"/>
* The [[France and Germany Star]], from 6 June 1944 to 8 May 1945, the duration of the [[North-West Europe Campaign of 1944–1945|Northwest Europe Campaign]].<ref name="NewZealandF&G"/>
* The [[Defence Medal (United Kingdom)|Defence Medal]], from 3 September 1939 to 8 May 1945 (2 September 1945 for those serving in the Far East and the Pacific),<ref>{{Cite book|author=Captain H. Taprell Dorling.|title=Ribbons and Medals.|page=97. Published A.H.Baldwin & Sons, London. 1956}}</ref> the duration of the Second World War.<ref name="NewZealandDefence">[http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/warrants/h17-reg.html New Zealand Defence Force - The Defence Medal Eligibility Rules] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115104742/http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/warrants/h17-reg.html |date=15 January 2015 }} (Access date 21 April 2015)</ref>
* The [[War Medal 1939–1945|War Medal]], from 3 September 1939 to 2 September 1945, the full duration of the Second World War.<ref name="NewZealandWarMedal">[http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/warrants/h18-reg.html New Zealand Defence Force - The War Medal 1939-45 Eligibility Rules] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429130701/http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/warrants/h18-reg.html |date=29 April 2015 }} (Access date 22 April 2015)</ref>

The Air Crew Europe Star is therefore worn as shown:<ref name=LonGaz/>

[[File:Ribbon - 1939-45 Star.png|x37px|1939–1945 Star]] [[File:Ribbon - Atlantic Star.png|x37px|Atlantic Star]] [[File:Ribbon - Arctic Star.png|x37px|Arctic Star]]
* Preceded by the [[1939–1945 Star]].
* Succeeded by the [[Arctic Star]].

==External links==
*[https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/private-lives/yourcountry/collections/collections-second-world-war/medals-and-memorials/atlantic-star/ Atlantic Star on the UK Parliament website]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{British campaign medals}}
{{Australian Campaign Medals}}
{{New Zealand campaign medals}}
{{South African military decorations and medals}}

[[Category:British campaign medals]]
[[Category:Australian campaign medals]]
[[Category:New Zealand campaign medals]]
[[Category:Military decorations and medals of South Africa pre-1952]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1945]]
[[Category:Military awards and decorations of World War II]]
[[Category:Battle of the Atlantic]]