How to Display Service Medals with Pride

A set of service medals carries far more than metal and ribbon. It records postings, operational tours, long service, Jubilee years and, in many cases, a family's connection to a regiment, corps, ship, station or squadron. Knowing how to display service medals properly means preserving that record with the same care given to the service itself.

The right approach depends on whether the medals are still worn, are being kept as a family record, or are intended as a retirement, leaving or remembrance display. A smart presentation should look considered without altering, damaging or misrepresenting the awards.

Start with the purpose of the display

First decide whether you are presenting original medals, court-mounted medals, replicas or a combination of these. Original medals are irreplaceable historical items, even where replacements may be obtainable. They deserve protection from handling, light and damp. Replicas are often the more practical choice for a display that will travel, be handled regularly or sit in a public area such as a clubhouse or mess.

For medals that are still worn on ceremonial occasions, a framed display is usually not the best permanent home. Keep them mounted and stored safely so they can be removed for Remembrance Sunday, regimental events, parades and appropriate formal occasions. A dedicated medal box or lined presentation case is often better than a frame for this purpose.

A retirement or family display can be more personal. Alongside the medals, it may include a cap badge, stable belt buckle, photograph, scroll, nameplate or a discreet engraving of rank, service number, unit and years served. The principle is simple: every item should help tell the same service story rather than compete for attention.

Establish the correct order before mounting

The order of British decorations, medals and awards is governed by official precedence. Do not arrange medals by the date they were received, by perceived importance or simply by colour. If medals are mounted or framed in the wrong sequence, the error is immediately apparent to many serving personnel and veterans.

For awards that are worn, use the current official Order of Wear and seek advice from a reputable medal mounter where there is any uncertainty. This is particularly worthwhile when a group includes campaign medals, gallantry awards, foreign awards or older family medals. Foreign decorations can have specific rules about acceptance and wear in the United Kingdom.

Keep the group together as issued wherever possible. A single medal should not be added to a group merely because it relates to the same period of service, and an unverified replacement should be clearly distinguished from an original. Accuracy is part of respect.

Court mounting and swing mounting

British medals are commonly mounted in one of two ways. Swing-mounted medals hang separately from their ribbons and move freely. Court-mounted medals are fixed to a backing, with the ribbons and medal suspensions arranged in a neat, compact line. Court mounting is often preferred for formal wear because it sits tidily on uniform and gives protection to the ribbons.

Neither style is automatically more suitable for a home display. Court-mounted groups tend to work well in shallow frames or cases, while swing-mounted groups can be displayed effectively where there is sufficient depth. Avoid forcing either type flat against a backing board. Pressure on the ribbon, suspension or clasp can cause lasting damage.

How to display service medals in a frame

A framed medal display suits a settled collection: a completed career group, inherited medals or awards being kept as a permanent record. Choose a frame deep enough to allow the medals to sit naturally, without touching the glazing. Shadow-box style frames are particularly useful because they provide that clearance.

The backing should be archival-quality and colourfast. Deep navy, regimental green, black and muted grey are popular choices because they allow ribbons and metalwork to remain the focus. If including a cap badge, ship crest or RAF insignia, position it with restraint. One well-chosen service emblem can give the arrangement a clear identity; too many items can turn a medal display into a collage.

Use UV-filtering glass or acrylic where the display will be in a bright room. Daylight fades ribbons over time, especially reds, blues and yellows. Acrylic is lighter and less likely to shatter, which can make it suitable for homes with children or for posted displays, although glass often gives a more traditional finish.

A useful arrangement places medals at the centre, with a small engraved plate below. A photograph may sit to one side, while a cap badge or ship crest is placed above. Where several items are included, leave visible space around each one. The empty space is not wasted: it gives the medals the dignity they require.

Choose a setting that protects the medals

Where a medal display is placed matters as much as the case itself. Avoid direct sunlight, external walls prone to condensation, kitchens, bathrooms and spaces close to radiators or open fires. Fluctuating heat and humidity can tarnish metal, soften adhesive, stain ribbons and encourage mould within fabric-lined cases.

A hallway can be a proud place for a framed group, but only if it is dry and does not receive strong afternoon sun. A study, sitting room or dining room wall is often a better choice. Keep frames secure and level, particularly where a heavy glass front is used.

For medals held in a box, choose a cool, dry cupboard rather than a loft, garage or shed. Do not store them in ordinary plastic bags for long periods, as trapped moisture can be harmful. Acid-free tissue between layers can help prevent rubbing, but avoid wrapping medals so tightly that air cannot circulate.

Handle, clean and preserve with care

Handle medals by their edges or ribbons with clean, dry hands. Cotton gloves can be useful, though clean hands give better control when lifting a small group. Never polish medals aggressively to make them look new. Their finish, patina and small signs of age are part of their character, and abrasive metal polish can remove detail or damage protective surfaces.

If dust has settled, use a soft brush with a very light touch. For anything more involved, particularly corrosion, loose ribbon stitching or damaged clasps, consult a professional conservator or experienced medal specialist. Household cleaning products, adhesive tape and glue are poor solutions for objects intended to last generations.

Take clear photographs of both sides of each medal and record any inscriptions, clasps and ribbon details. If known, note the recipient's full name, rank, number, regiment or corps, ship or establishment, and dates of service. A short written record stored behind the frame or inside the presentation box can become as valuable to descendants as the medals themselves.

Build a display around service identity

Medals are personal, but service identity gives them context. A British Army group may be displayed with the appropriate regimental or corps cap badge. Royal Navy medals can sit alongside a ship crest or branch insignia, while an RAF display may include a squadron or station crest. This is especially meaningful for retirement gifts, unit reunions and family presentations.

Choose insignia carefully. A soldier may have served under an antecedent regiment before a later amalgamation; a sailor may identify most strongly with a particular ship; an aviator may have spent defining years with one squadron. The badge or crest should reflect the recipient's own connection, not simply the current title of a formation.

An engraved oak medal box is a practical alternative to a wall display for medals that need to be kept accessible. Engraving a cap badge, ship crest or RAF insignia, together with a name and service details, creates a presentation piece that remains personal without exposing the medals to constant light. The Regimental Store offers this sort of licenced, service-specific presentation for those wishing to mark a career or preserve a family collection.

A note on inherited and remembrance medals

Inherited medals should be displayed in the name of the person who earned them. It is understandable to wish to wear a relative's awards at a commemorative event, but British convention is that they are worn on the right breast to show they are not the wearer's own decorations. They should never be worn on the left breast as personal entitlement.

If the recipient's history is incomplete, resist the temptation to fill gaps with assumptions. A simple label stating the confirmed name, unit and known service is more meaningful than an elaborate but uncertain account. Research can be added later as records become available.

The best medal display does not need to be grand. A correctly mounted group, a carefully chosen service emblem and a few accurate words can hold a lifetime of duty, comradeship and remembrance. Give the medals a secure place, record the story behind them, and they will continue to speak clearly to those who come after.