Medals

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is the issuing authority for World War 2 and Post-War Medals for people who identify as having served as part of the British Merchant Navy during World War 2 and post-war campaigns*.

As part of your service, you must:

• Have served on a vessel used to support the UK armed forces
• Meet the eligibility requirements for the medal for which you are applying 

You can apply on behalf of someone in your family if they have died or if you have lasting power of attorney.

*“Merchant Navy Service Medal”

Please kindly note that the additional and distinct “Merchant Navy Service Medal” is a commemorative award issued by private companies unrelated to the MCA.
The MCA is only responsible for the assessment and issue of official campaign awards instituted by the Monarch.

Evidence needed for medal entitlement

To make an application, you must submit a completed application form and a copy of sea service from an official source, such as The National Archives or a Discharge Book.

You will need to provide the following:

• A personal application form (Merchant Navy medals application form MSF 4408) completed by the veteran (or next of kin if the veteran is deceased)
• Evidence of sea service. This is usually photocopies of the relevant pages from the seafarer’s Discharge Book. If you are no longer in possession of this documentation, these records may be held at The National Archives, the Fifth Register of Seaman’s Service 1941 – 1972 (reference BT 382)

We may also ask you to supply the corresponding Ships Movement Cards to match the Veteran's sea service details. We would need this information to establish how long a veteran was at sea during the War and what their area of operations (Theatres of War) were to make a full assessment. This request will be made if there is insufficient information in the limited records of area movement cards held on site at RSS.

If you are no longer in possession of this documentation, records may be held at The National Archives Registry of Shipping and Seamen: War of 1939-1945; Merchant Shipping Movement Cards (reference BT 389). There are also similar records held at the Guildhall Library in the form of Ships Voyage Cards.

Please send your completed application form and other documents to:

UK Ship Register
Maritime and Coastguard Agency 
Anchor Court 
Keen Road 
Cardiff 
CF24 5JW 

Applications are assessed within 31 days, in date order of receipt. After 31 days we will inform you if your application is successful or whether more information is needed.

For further information or advice, please contact seafarers.registry@mcga.gov.uk

Historical Information 

The Registry of Shipping and Seaman (RSS) hold limited historical records, mainly:

• Medal roll for World War 2 and original papers (not complete) of medal applications for the World War 2 period
• Records of the Falklands campaign

Other historical information that was once held by RSS and that may help with research into family history has been passed to The National Archives.