How to Apply for Replacement Medals for an Australian Veteran

Somewhere in a lot of Australian families, there's a bag of medals in a drawer - tarnished, loose, maybe missing a ribbon. Or the medals aren't there at all. They were lost in a house move decades ago, damaged in a flood, or simply disappeared when the person who earned them passed away and the estate was sorted out in a hurry.

If your family has lost or damaged medals from an Australian veteran's service, they can be replaced. The process is straightforward, it's free, and it's run by the Department of Defence's Directorate of Honours and Awards. Here's how to do it.

Who can apply

Current and former serving members of the Australian Defence Force can apply for one replacement set of their own medals. Family members who hold a deceased veteran's medals - or who are entitled to receive unissued medals - can also apply, provided replacements haven't already been issued for that set.

The family entitlement follows a priority order: spouse or de facto partner at the time of death, then children, then grandchildren, then other next of kin. If your mother applied for her father's replacement medals, that's the standard path - a child applying on behalf of a deceased parent.

Even if you don't know exactly which medals the veteran was entitled to, Defence can determine this from their records. You just need the person's full name and date of birth.

How to apply

The application is submitted online through the Defence Honours and Awards website. Select "Replacement Medals" as the application type and complete the online form.

You'll need to provide the veteran's full name, date of birth, service number (if known), and the branch of service (Army, Navy, or RAAF). For replacement applications, you'll also need to complete a Statutory Declaration explaining the circumstances of the loss or damage. If the medals were lost in a natural disaster such as bushfire or flood, include any reports made to authorities.

The application is free. There's no charge for replacement medals.

What to expect

Processing takes time. Defence processes a large volume of medal applications, and replacement requests are handled alongside new issues and unissued medal claims. Allow several months from submission to receipt - if you want the medals for a specific date like Anzac Day or Remembrance Day, start the process well ahead.

Applications from living veterans aged 85 or over can be prioritised upon request - email honours.awards@defence.gov.au after submitting the application and note the age criteria. This priority does not extend to family members applying on behalf of a deceased veteran.

Replacement medals that cannot be returned to Defence (because the originals are lost rather than damaged) will be engraved with a "D" for Duplicate on the rim. Medals where the originals are returned (for example, a broken clasp or damaged ribbon) are replaced as originals.

What Defence can and can't replace

Defence can replace service and campaign medals from the Imperial and Australian Honours Systems, from WWII onwards to current operations. This covers the most commonly held medals: the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal 1939-45, Australia Service Medal, Korean War Medal, Vietnam Medal, and the various operational and campaign medals issued for later deployments.

Some awards can't be replaced through Defence. Honours and decorations such as the Distinguished Service Cross, Conspicuous Service Medal, and similar are administered by the Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat at Government House, not Defence. The National Emergency Medal, National Medal, and Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal are also administered by other bodies.

WWI medals present a different situation. Imperial honours bestowed during WWI can only be replaced if stock is available, which is increasingly limited. If WWI medals can't be replaced through Defence, families sometimes commission replica medals from specialist businesses - these are clearly marked as replicas and are legal to own and display, though wearing them as if they were your own is an offence under the Defence Act 1903.

Medal mounting

Once you have the medals - whether originals, replacements, or replicas - having them professionally mounted makes them wearable and displayable. There are two main styles.

Swing mounting is the traditional style used for most WWI and WWII medals. The medals hang freely from a ribbon attached to a brooch pin. It's the style you'll see in most historical photographs. The downside is that the medals contact each other when they swing, which can cause edge knocks and scratching over time.

Court mounting is the modern standard required by the ADF. The medals are fixed to a rigid backing board so they don't move. The ribbon is visible behind each medal. Court mounting prevents damage and gives a neater appearance, and it's the style most families choose for medals that will be worn at Anzac Day marches or displayed in a frame.

Medal mounting services are available through RSL sub-branches, specialist businesses like Medal Shop in Sydney, Military Shop in Canberra, and several online services. Costs vary depending on the number of medals and the mounting style, but expect to pay roughly $15 to $30 per medal for court mounting.

Wearing a relative's medals

At Anzac Day marches and Remembrance Day services, it's a long-standing tradition for family members to wear a deceased relative's medals. The convention is to wear them on the right breast, which indicates that the medals belong to another person. Your own medals (if you have them) are worn on the left.

There's something powerful about wearing your great-grandmother's AANS medals at an Anzac Day march, or pinning your grandfather's Pacific Star to your jacket on Remembrance Day. It's a physical connection to the person and their service that photographs and documents can't quite replicate.

If you're researching the service that earned those medals, the service record from the NAA is the document that tells the full story. A Decode My Digger decode turns that record into something the whole family can understand - the perfect companion to a set of mounted medals and a meaningful family gift.

Caring for medals

Whether original or replacement, medals should be stored in a clean, dry environment. Acid-free cardboard boxes or hoop pine plywood display cases are recommended. Avoid plastic bags, which can trap moisture and cause tarnishing. If medals need cleaning, use a soft cloth - avoid abrasive polishes on original medals, as they can remove the patina that gives antique medals their character and, in some cases, their value.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a cost for replacement medals?

No. Replacement medals from the Department of Defence are free. There may be costs associated with medal mounting or display framing, but the medals themselves are provided at no charge.

How long does the replacement process take?

Processing times vary but allow several months. If you need medals for a specific commemorative date, start well ahead. Living veterans aged 85 or over can request prioritised processing.

Can I get replacements for WWI medals?

Imperial honours from WWI can only be replaced if stock is available, which is increasingly limited. If originals can't be replaced, replica medals from specialist businesses are an alternative for display and family purposes.

Which side do you wear a relative's medals on?

A deceased relative's medals are worn on the right breast, indicating they belong to another person. Your own medals are worn on the left. This convention is observed at Anzac Day marches and Remembrance Day services.

Is it legal to wear replica medals?

Owning and displaying replica medals is legal. Wearing them in a way that implies they are your own is an offence under the Defence Act 1903. Wearing a deceased relative's medals (originals or replicas) on the right breast at commemorative events is an accepted and long-standing tradition.