The rules governing the wearing of foreign medals are contained in Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) regulations. They have been in force for many years and apply to all British subjects. MOD is required to seek, and follow, FCO guidance if foreign medals are offered to Service or civilian personnel. FCO advise all foreign embassies of the British rules on a regular basis.Her Majesty The Queen approves the receiving and wearing of all foreign medals, orders and decorations. In all cases requests to receive or wear should be made through the Chain of Command to the relevant single Service department which will then forward them, as necessary, to D.S. Sec. It will then be usual for D.S. Sec to staff the matter formally to both the Honours Department, FCO and the Ceremonial Branch of the Cabinet Office, whose agreement will be necessary before Her Majesty's permission is sought. It must be anticipated that there will be some delay because this agreement is neither automatic nor swiftly given. It should be noted too that permission to wear is not frequently granted.
The regulations governing the wear of any foreign medal on issue for campaign or humanitarian service with the UN, NATO, WEU or any other State or Organization, once authorised, appear in DCIs and are to be incorporated in the relevant single Service publication: BR81, AGAI Volume 2 Chapter 68, AP3392 Volume 4.
The award of the UN Special Service medal (for service in theatres not covered by a unique medal) must be approved for each individual theatre of service.
The provisions above notwithstanding, the accepting and wearing of all foreign medals are subject to the qualifications and rules of the donor Organization or State. The United Kingdom reserves no right to make amendments.
Individual foreign awards for gallantry or meritorious service follow the same staffing route. Both may be subject to scrutiny within FCO which must take account of the employment of Service personnel as State Servants, although it is usual that life saving actions may be recognised by the appropriate Head of State.
No campaign medal for wearing, UK or foreign, may be claimed through concurrent service which gains another campaign medal.
The responsibility for the correct wearing of medals by Service personnel lies with the Chain of Command but it is inevitable that occasions arise that foreign medals are presented to Service personnel abroad without prior warning. In that case, Service personnel must exercise judgement as to whether refusal might give offence. Good manners are the key and usually a gracious acceptance is the proper action. Thereafter the Chain of Command is to be informed together with any request to wear and a justification. Usually the recipient will be allowed to keep the medal as a keepsake.
(Reference: Defence Council Instruction (DCI) 199 of 1997)
