Sydney War Memorial, Hyde Park. 

 
Contrary to all official protocols, the Sydney War Memorial in Hyde Park displays “Tin” medals as part of their “Australian Service Medals – 1939 -1945” display.
 

 
The three offending medals are:
 
The British Commonwealth Overseas Forces (BCOF) Association Medal.  The “Tobruk Medal”, and the so called “Infantry Frontline Service Medal”.
 
Unofficial medals should not be included in an official display case in a War Memorial together with official medals, and particularly not under the heading “Australian Service Medals – 1939 – 1945”
 
The official web site for Australian Honours and Awards is “Its and Honour” and found here:     http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/awards/wearing.cfm#Wearing  
 
The protocol for wearing unofficial medals is described on the "Its an Honour" web site as follows. 

Unofficial medals “Ex-service organisations sometimes commission their own unofficial medals to mark participation in particular military campaigns, periods of service or types of service that have not been recognised through the Australian honours system. Awards made by foreign governments which have not been approved by the Governor-General for acceptance and wear are also "unofficial". There is no impediment to wearing such medals in appropriate private settings, such as a meeting of the relevant ex-service association, or a reception hosted by the relevant foreign government. Ideally, unofficial medals should not be worn at public ceremonial and commemorative events, but if they are worn as the occasion demands, the convention is that they are worn on the right breast.”  

On every major remembrance and ceremonial occasion in Australia you will see ex Servicemen enhancing their appearance and egos by wearing unofficial “Tin Medals” included with their issued medals.   Ex Navy members, ex National Servicemen have a particular penchant for this bad habit. Ex Navy veterans are often seen wearing the unofficial “Sydney Medal” and ex National Servicemen are seen wearing their unofficial National Service association medal.  There is no need for either of these medals to be worn, as the service of both these groups has now been officially recognized with the Vietnam Logistic Support Medal and the National Service Commemorative Medal.  We have also seen examples of ex regular Army Officers wearing the “Infantry Frontline Medal” attached to their rack. There are many examples of RSL Presidents wearing "Tin" Medals.

 

The photos below show are:  

1.          An ex Regular Army Major and ex RSL President who includes the “Tin” Infantry Frontline
             Medal with his official rack.  

2.          An ex Regular Navy and RSL President wearing "Tin" Medals.  

3.          An ex National Serviceman wearing both Official and "Tin" National service Medals.

 

 

The Sydney War Memorial are downright wrong in displaying non official “Tin” medals amongst Australian Service Medals.  We are reliably advised that the display was mounted by a civilian prior to the arrival of the current management team.  We are also reliably advised that the current management team may take action to remove these “Tin” medals from our ANZAC heritage display at the Sydney War Memorial. When the offending medals are removed we will update this entry.