Qualifying details for campaign medals for merchant seamen
Supporting information for merchant navy medal applications, for eligible seafarers who served in a vessel used to support the UK armed forces in campaigns between 1939 to 1991.
Documents
Details
Apply for a UK merchant navy medal
You can apply for a UK merchant navy medal if you were a member of the merchant navy and you:
- served in a vessel used to support the UK armed forces
- meet the eligibility requirements for the medal you’re applying for
You can apply for someone else if either:
- they have died
- you have lasting power of attorney
Visit apply for a UK merchant navy medal to complete an application form.
Eligibility requirements and historical records
The attached documentation details the campaigns between 1939 to 1991 that eligible merchant seamen can apply under.
This page also includes historical records information provided to assist you with family history research.
The Registry of Shipping and Seamen now only holds very limited records including the following: the Medal Roll for World War II and original papers (not complete) of Medal Applications for the World War II period; records of the Falklands campaign and a very small selection of Allied Ship pouches from World War II.
If you require information from any of the listed record repositories, you should contact them directly for details. Information provided for these offices is accurate at the time of publication and we advise you to check with the organisation concerned before making personal applications.
Get help
UK merchant navy medals are issued by the Registry of Shipping and Seamen, part of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Email seafarers.registry@mcga.gov.uk if you need help with your application.
Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service
The Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service is a separate award created in 2015 to recognise modern seafarers. It is not linked to historical UK armed forces campaigns.
The medal is for people who are serving or have served in the Merchant Navy or fishing fleets of the United Kingdom, Isle of Man, the Channel Islands or the British Overseas Territories.
Further information regarding the medal for meritorious service can be found on the Department for Transport’s page to nominate someone for the Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service.