Ribbon
Equal stripes of dark blue, to represent the service of the Royal and Merchant Navies, red, to represent that of the Armies and light blue to represent that of Air Forces. Worn with the dark blue stripe furthest from the left shoulder.
Criteria
The 1939–45 Star was awarded for any period of operational service overseas between 3 Sep 1939 and 8 May 1945 (2 Sep 1945 in the Far East).
The criteria are 180 days’ service between these dates, although some special criteria apply when, at certain specified times, just 1 days’ service is required.
Naval personnel qualify after 180 days afloat in areas of operations as laid out in the regulations between certain specified dates.
RAF air crew will qualify with 60 days service in an operational unit including at least one operational sortie.
Air crew of fighter aircraft engaged in the Battle of Britain between 10 July and 31 October 1940 were awarded the Clasp 'Battle of Britain' to be worn on the ribbon of the 1939-45 Star.