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FAQs

We answer our most frequently asked questions here.
If your question isn't answered below, please contact us - we're happy to help!

General Questions

Why choose Foxhole Medals for your replicas & medal mounting?

All of our medals and mounting workmanship come with a lifetime guarantee. 

At Foxhole Medals, we show our respect and gratitude for your family's sacrifice by constantly striving to provide the best quality replica medals on the market; as such, the majority of our medals are die-struck or injection-moulded rather than cast. 

Wherever available, we use the original English supplier of medal ribbon, Toye Kenning & Spencer, which holds the Royal Warrant from His Majesty The King, and the highest quality ribbon otherwise for all other medals. 

Our backing boards for court-mounted medals are made of acrylic providing outstanding strength, stiffness and adhesive qualities rather than core flute / compressed foam / rubber / picture framing mat board.

And the sewing skill of our production team is on show with every set they mount, not covered with felt or velvet overlays.

We genuinely feel that our prices reflect excellent value for the quality service and products we provide.

It would be an honour to show our respect for your family's sacrifice by providing heirloom-quality medals and mounting of which you can be truly proud.

Foxhole Medals is based in Tasmania - can I trust you guys actually know what you're doing?

We get it. How can a little Tassie business be considered a major player in the replica military medal and mounting industry, right?

Our director, Jimmy Grice, is a veteran himself starting out as a 13 year old in Army Cadets. He did Army Reserves for 3 years before changing over to the Navy. He discharged in 2006 after 12 years' RAN service, and has been mounting medals since 2004.

Foxhole Medals has been operating for nearly 20 years, and currently has 6 employees who are all people pleasers. And who would love to help you if we can.

Medal Related Questions

Is it legal to buy replica medals?

Yes, it is 100% legal to buy replica medals and is a practice endorsed and encouraged by the Dept of Defence.

Generally, only one set of original medals is ever issued by the Governor General or Dept of Defence Honours & Awards. Because of this, it is common practice for recipients to put the original away safely and wear replicas so that they can be replaced if they are lost.

The onus of responsibility is on the wearer of the medals however not to wear any medals as their own (ie on the left hand side) that have not been awarded to them. Wearing fraudulent medals is an offence under The Defence Act 1903 and is reportable to the Australian Federal Police.

Replica medals also provide comfort and a tangible link for those who may not have received their family member's original medals - which quite often have been either bequested to another family member / lost / sold / burned / stolen / donated to various RSLs or the Australian War Memorial.

Replica medals allow every member of the family to honour and remember their family's sacrifice.

I have existing replicas but I've just received a new award. Do I need to buy a new set of replicas?

You absolutely do not need to buy a brand new set of replicas - in fact you'll save yourself some money if you send your existing full size and miniature medals into us together with any pieces of ribbon bars with rosettes we can recycle for you.

We'll give your existing medals an ultrasonic clean and then remount them on fresh ribbons and brooch bar/stud pins for $40 per existing full size medal, and $30 for each existing miniature. We will then just add your new award/s (generally $55-65 each new full size and $40-50 each new miniature) in the correct order of wear so you end up with a set that looks brand new.

You also have the opportunity to have your full size medals engraved with your service number/PMKeyS, initials and surname with each remount.

Should I choose swing-mount or court-mount for my medals?

There are generally four things to take into account when deciding the best mounting style for your medals:

1. We can only swing-mount up to a maximum of 5 full-size medals so a full-size set of 6 more medals will need to be court-mounted. Miniature medals sets of any number can be mounted in either style.

2. Swing-mounted medals will make the ‘tinky tink’ noise as they move against each other which can cause sensory issues for some people, and can also make the medals more prone to damage.

3. If you choose to have your replica medals engraved with the recipient's service number, initials, and surname, the engraving will be easier to see on swing-mounted medals as you can clearly see the front and back of the medals with this style.

4. Any medals likely to be worn by current-serving Defence members will need to be court-mounted in accordance with official dress standards (sewn down to a firm backing so they don't move).

Both styles still have a brooch bar on the back to enable them to be worn on clothing. If none of the above criteria are relevant to your order, you are free to go with personal preference.

Court-Mounted Medals - have a backing board behind the medals to which each medal is sewn to minimise noise and movement. This does obscure 2/3 of the reverse of the medals.

Swing Mounted Medals - allow an unobstructed view of both the front and back of the medals, but do also leave them prone to impact damage. Serving Defence members are not permitted to wear their groups swing mounted.

What size medals should I order?

There are two sizes of medals to choose from:

• Small (known as Miniatures)

and

• Large (know as Full Size).

Small or Miniature Medals are traditionally worn only after 6pm when mess kit, formal / evening dress / dinner jacket attire is worn by senior Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen/women or Officer ranks. There is also an increasing trend for replicas to be created in miniature sets for children to wear at ceremonies/marches.

Large or Full Size Medals are the size traditionally worn at ANZAC Day ceremonies. It is the size historical imperial medals (eg WW1, WW2, Korea, Vietnam, etc) were originally issued prior to the Australian Honours & Awards system being instituted in 1975. Since then, an original set has comprised a full size medal, miniature medal, and ribbon bar in a protective case.

Full Size Medals are also able to be engraved with the service person's service number, initials and surname as the originals would have been.

How do I find out what medals my ancestor had?

With expert knowledge and resources regarding medal eligibility and retrospectively awarded medals, we try our hardest to make sure the replica medals you're ordering for your family's service are correct.

If you can send us a message with:

• Your ancestor's full name

• Date and place of birth, and

• Service number (bonus points!)

We can start looking for you and see what we can find. And if we can't help, we'll definitely be able to point you in the right direction.

If you're keen to do it yourself, we recommend looking at the National Archives of Australia website to locate your Australian WW1 ancestor's service records - the page with medal stamps is usually located at the very end of the service records and is immensely helpful.

For WW2 Australian service people, we recommend locating them on the WW2 Nominal Roll and sending that certificate through to us to follow up. Their service records may or may not be available on the National Archives of Australia website but we can help with that.

Can I have the full size replica medals engraved with my family member's details?

We have a state-of-the-art computer engraving machine that is perfect for engraving your full size replica medals. The addition of engraving creates a beautiful heirloom set with moving sentimentality (many of our engraving customers confess shedding tears) as well as a starting point for future generations for family research, or simply a medal set that can be easily be returned to you post-ANZAC Day shenanigans.

We tend to the follow the naming standard of the era of the medals.

For example, WW1 medals were traditionally engraved with the service number, rank, initials, surname, and unit of each service person:

61324 GNR. C. L. CARTER 14 BN. A.I.F.

19218 T/CPL. G. BYERS 30 BN. 2.N.Z.E.F.

WWII medals were, and continued to be engraved until 2002, with the service person's service number, initials, and surname:

61324 C. L. CARTER

19218 G. BYERS

Commencing in 2002, current original medals are now engraved with the service person's PMKeyS, initials and surname.

Is a ribbon bar included with my purchase of full size medals?

No, you will need to order your ribbon bar separately to your full size medals.

Keep in mind that your ribbon bar will need to be a maximum of 4 medals per row - if you have 6 medals, you would need a 2 medal ribbon bar on top and a 4 medal ribbon bar on the bottom row. Females and Navy personnel require a maximum of 3 medals per row.

We can arrange for each piece of your ribbon bar to be joined together at your request (or have plastic coating added if you work in Emergency Services).

You may find the most economical way to order your medals is to purchase one of our Collections which includes full size and miniature medals, ribbon bar, and protective case. Feel free to message us with your set and we can organise an order for a Collection for you.

Once you're set up with your initial set, you can then send your existing medals/ribbon bar with rosettes into us to be recycled on fresh ribbons/brooch bar with your new awards added in the correct order of wear.

I asked for my court-mounted replicas to be engraved but can't see it?

We promise there's a 99.9% likelihood that we did indeed do the engraving for you - it's knowing where to look that is the tricky bit 😊

We engrave our replicas in the traditional naming location of the original medals, therefore the majority of the round silver medals (British War Medal, Victory Medal, War Medal 39-45, Australia Service Medal 39-45 etc) tend to be engraved on the rim of the medal.

For those not familiar with court-mounting, you won't be able to see the engraving on the back of some medals (the Stars in particular) because each medal is sewn down to the medal ribbon in accordance with that mounting style, obscuring the view of the reverse of the medals.

It's not a problem for people who know what to expect with court-mounted medals but it can come as a shock to those who aren't and feel disappointed they can't see the engraving properly. 

All medals intended to be worn by current serving ADF members need to be court-mounted in accordance with the official dress standards.

Wearing your medals

How many sets of ancestor medals can I wear at a time?

When it comes to wearing relatives' medal sets, there is no right or wrong answer but honouring one ancestor at a time is widely considered to be the most respectful choice.

For example one of our customers, Greg, has chosen to honour his father's Vietnam service by wearing his medal set on the right hand side at this year's ANZAC Day ceremony, his maternal grandmother's WW2 medals at this year's Remembrance Day ceremony, and his great grandfather's WW1 medals at ANZAC Day the following year; he will continue alternating each ancestor's medal sets in this pattern.

There are a lot of people that choose to wear all of their ancestors' medals at the one time - there is nothing illegal about it; it is just that that practice is generally considered to be 'bragging' rather than honouring.

What order should my medals be in?

Regardless of which side your medals are worn on (Left if you earned them, right if you're honouring someone) they are mounted in order of a very specific list. This list is known as The Order of Precedence and details each medal in the order it should be worn from left to right if you are looking at the front of the medals.

We have painstakingly compiled a list which includes both Imperial and Australian awards (UPPERCASE BOLD) and list them in order:

VICTORIA CROSS (including the Victoria Cross for
Australia)


George Cross

CROSS OF VALOUR

KNIGHT/LADY OF THE GARTER

KNIGHT/LADY OF THE THISTLE

Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

ORDER OF MERIT

KNIGHT/DAME OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George

KNIGHT/DAME GRAND CROSS OF THE ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER

Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire

COMPANION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

Companion of Honour

Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath

Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George

KNIGHT COMMANDER ORDER OF INDIA

KNIGHT/DAME COMMANDER OF THE ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER

Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Knight Bachelor

OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

Companion of the Order of the Bath

Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George

COMPANION ORDER OF INDIA

COMMANDER OF THE ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER

Commander of the Order of the British Empire

STAR OF GALLANTRY

STAR OF COURAGE

Companion of the Distinguished Service Order

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS

MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

LIEUTENANT OF THE ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER

Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Companion of the Imperial Service Order

MEMBER OF THE ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER

Member of the Order of the British Empire

CONSPICUOUS SERVICE CROSS

NURSING SERVICE CROSS

Royal Red Cross (1st Class)

Distinguished Service Cross

Military Cross

Distinguished Flying Cross

Air Force Cross

Royal Red Cross (2nd Class)

MEDAL FOR GALLANTRY

BRAVERY MEDAL

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL

PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL

AUSTRALIAN CORRECTIONS MEDAL

AUSTRALIAN INTELLIGENCE MEDAL(New award, actual precedence unconfirmed)

MEDAL OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

KAISER-I-HIND

ORDER OF ST JOHN

ALBERT MEDAL

Distinguished Conduct Medal

Conspicuous Gallantry Medal

Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying)

George Medal

CONSPICUOUS SERVICE MEDAL

AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MEDAL (previously the Antarctic Medal)

EDWARD MEDAL FOR MINES

EDWARD MEDAL FOR INDUSTRY

KING’S POLICE MEDAL

Queen’s Police Medal for Gallantry

Queen’s Fire Service Medal for Gallantry

Distinguished Service Medal

Military Medal

Distinguished Flying Medal

Air Force Medal

MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL FOR GALLANTRY or IMMEDIATE AWARD

Sea Gallantry Medal

Queen’s Gallantry Medal

ROYAL VICTORIAN MEDAL

MEDAL OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

EMPIRE GALLANTRY MEDAL


British Empire Medal

Queen’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service

Queen’s Fire Service Medal for Distinguished Service

COMMENDATION FOR GALLANTRY

COMMENDATION FOR BRAVE CONDUCT

Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct

COMMENDATION FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE

War medals, campaign medals, active service medals and service medals

WATERLOO MEDAL

NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL

MILITARY GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL

INDIA GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL 1854–1895

CRIMEA MEDAL

INDIA MUTINY MEDAL

NEW ZEALAND MEDAL – SECOND MAORI WAR

ASHANTEE MEDAL


SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL 1877–1879

AFGHANISTAN MEDAL

EGYPT MEDAL

INDIA MEDAL

Queen’s South Africa Medal

King’s South Africa Medal

CHINA WAR MEDAL 1900

TRANSPORT MEDAL

ASHANTI MEDAL

MEDAL FOR DEFENCE OF OOKEIP

NATAL REBELLION MEDAL

INDIA GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL 1908–1935

KHEDIVES SUDAN MEDAL 1910

1914 Star

1914-15 Star

British War Medal

Mercantile Marine War Medal

Victory Medal

Naval General Service Medal 1915-62 (Here only if first clasp relates to
service before September 2, 1945)

General Service Medal 1918-62 (Here only if first clasp relates to service
before September 2, 1945)

1939-45 Star

Atlantic Star

Air Crew Europe Star

ARCTIC STAR

Africa Star

Pacific Star

Burma Star

Italy Star

France and Germany Star

Defence Medal

War Medal, 1939-45

AUSTRALIA SERVICE MEDAL 1939-45

AUSTRALIAN ACTIVE SERVICE MEDAL 1945-1975

Korea Medal

United Nations Service Medal for Korea

Naval General Service Medal 1915-62 (Here only if first clasp relates to
service after September 2, 1945)

General Service Medal 1918-62 (Here only if first clasp relates to service
after September 2, 1945)

General Service Medal 1962

VIETNAM MEDAL

VIETNAM LOGISTIC AND SUPPORT MEDAL

AUSTRALIAN ACTIVE SERVICE MEDAL

INTERNATIONAL FORCE EAST TIMOR MEDAL

AFGHANISTAN MEDAL


IRAQ MEDAL

AUSTRALIAN SERVICE MEDAL 1945-1975

AUSTRALIAN GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL

AUSTRALIAN SERVICE MEDAL

AUSTRALIAN OPERATIONAL SERVICE MEDAL – Australian Defence Forces: Border
Protection, Greater Middle East Operations, Counter Terrorism / Special Recovery, Special Operations
- worn in order of qualifying service

AUSTRALIAN OPERATIONAL SERVICE MEDAL – Civilian

RHODESIA MEDAL

South Atlantic Medal

POLICE OVERSEAS SERVICE MEDAL

HUMANITARIAN OVERSEAS SERVICE MEDAL

NATIONAL EMERGENCY MEDAL

CIVILIAN SERVICE MEDAL 1939–1945

NATIONAL POLICE SERVICE MEDAL

Polar Medal

Imperial Service Medal

Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee 1897

KING EDWARD VII’s CORONATION MEDAL – 1902

KING GEORGE V’s CORONATION MEDAL – 1911

KING GEORGE V’s SILVER JUBILEE MEDAL – 1935

KING GEORGE VI’s CORONATION MEDAL – 1937

QUEEN ELIZABETH II’s CORONATION MEDAL – 1952

QUEEN ELIZABETH II’s SILVER JUBILEE MEDAL – 1977

Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal – 2002

Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal

80th ANNIVERSARY ARMISTICE REMEMBRANCE MEDAL

AUSTRALIAN SPORTS MEDAL

CENTENARY MEDAL

DEFENCE FORCE SERVICE MEDAL

RESERVE FORCE DECORATION

RESERVE FORCE MEDAL

DEFENCE LONG SERVICE MEDAL

NATIONAL MEDAL

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE MEDAL

AUSTRALIAN CADET FORCES SERVICE MEDAL

CHAMPION SHOTS MEDAL

Imperial Long Service and Meritorious Service Medals in
order of precedence

ANNIVERSARY OF NATIONAL SERVICE 1951-1972 MEDAL

Independence and Anniversary Medals (in order of date of
receipt)

Foreign Awards (in order of date of authorisation of their acceptance and
wearing)

Shipping Questions

Where do I send my existing medals?

If you're sending existing replica or original medals into us, our address is:

Foxhole Medals

Warehouse 15

15 Stanton Place

CAMBRIDGE TAS 7170

Please include a completed Postal Order Form - Download here.

We recommend our customers use Express Post for replica medals so that they are tracked and reach us as quickly as possible.

For original medals, we recommend using Platinum Post (which is both express and registered) if available at your local post office, or Registered Post at a minimum.

We use the commercial equivalent of Platinum Post (known as eParcel Express) to send replica and original medals back to you.

How risky is sending original medals in the post?

In 17 years of business, we have not lost one set of original medals that have been sent into us or sent out from us.

We repeat: Not one set lost. Ever. [Touch wood.]

For original medals, we recommend using Platinum Post (which is both express and registered) if available at your local post office, but otherwise Registered Post at a minimum. The absolute worst case scenario, if your parcel is registered, is the amount of time it may take for it to be delivered to us in Tasmania but generally all registered post parcels reach us within 10 business days.

And we use the commercial equivalent of Platinum Post - known as eParcel Express - to send your original medals back to you. AusPost will send you an email when they collect your parcel from us and you'll be able to watch your medals make their way back to you usually within 1-2 business days, or 4 business days for our NT customers.

Order Related Questions

Can I order over the phone?

Absolutely! We'd be delighted to speak with you directly, or you can schedule a call back.

Our phones are manned from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday. Wo do receive a high volume of calls, so you may be asked to leave a message*.

*Please note that if you leave a message with your contact details and preferred method of reply, we will always get back to you - always - but we will need some time to respond.

You can contact our team on either of the numbers:

• 0432 077 497 including SMS

• 1300 314 730

TIP:  Want to save time?  Email (info@foxholemedals.com.au) the list of medals you require and we'll prepare and email your order to you so that all you have to do is add in your address and select the payment method that suits you.  As soon as we receive automatic notification of your payment, your order will be passed straight onto our production team. 

What payments options do you provide?

We want working with us to be as easy as possible, and suit everyones needs and budget. Accordingly, we accept a huge number of payment methods:

  • Apple Pay
  • Google Pay
  • PayPal
  • VISA
  • MasterCard
  • AMEX
  • Bank Transfer
  • Afterpay and
  • ZipPay.

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