There’s a shoebox in many Australian homes that holds something far more significant than its container suggests — service medals, campaign ribbons, photographs, letters, and insignia that represent years, sometimes decades, of military service. Items that were worn, carried, and earned through sacrifice.
For most families, these pieces have been sitting in storage not because they don’t matter, but because the question of how to display them properly has never quite been answered. How do you do justice to a grandfather’s service medals? How do you present multiple items together in a way that’s respectful, historically accurate, and visually compelling?
War medal framing is a specialist discipline that combines conservation knowledge, an understanding of military history, and genuine craft skill. Done well, it transforms a collection of stored items into a permanent, museum-quality tribute that can be passed down through generations.
Why war medal framing deserves specialist attention
Military medals and memorabilia are not standard framing jobs. They carry specific protocols around display, and the materials used to frame and mount them directly affect their longevity.
Unlike a photograph or a print, medals are three-dimensional objects with metal, enamel, ribbon, and sometimes leather components — each of which responds differently to heat, moisture, and time. Ribbons fade. Metal corrodes. Enamel chips. The challenge of framing medals is preserving those elements while presenting them in a way that honours their history.
For Perth families looking to have war medals and military memorabilia professionally framed, working with a framer who understands these requirements — both practical and historical — is essential.
Understanding medal ordering conventions
Australian military medals follow a specific order of precedence that determines how they should be arranged when displayed together. Getting this wrong produces a presentation that will be immediately obvious to anyone with military knowledge or connection.
The general order of precedence
Australian medals are displayed in the following broad categories, left to right from the viewer’s perspective:
- Imperial gallantry medals (Victoria Cross, George Cross)
- Australian gallantry medals (Star of Gallantry, Medal for Gallantry, Commendation for Gallantry)
- Campaign service medals (ordered by theatre and date of service)
- General service medals
- Defence and long service medals
- Allied and foreign medals (displayed after Australian medals)
Within each category, the specific order is governed by the date of institution of the award, with earlier-instituted medals taking precedence.
Court mount vs swing mount
This is one of the first decisions families face when framing medals, and it’s worth understanding the difference.
A court mount (also called a hard mount or parade mount) involves the medals being sewn or glued firmly to a backing, with the ribbons folded and mounted flat. The result is a compact, formal presentation — identical to how medals are worn on parade dress.
A swing mount displays the medals hanging freely from their ribbons in their natural hanging position. This is a more relaxed presentation that shows the full ribbon length and allows the medals to sit as they would when worn.
Both are appropriate for framing. The choice often comes down to personal preference and the aesthetic of the overall display.
What else to include in a military memorabilia frame
Medals rarely tell the whole story of a person’s service on their own. One of the most powerful aspects of military memorabilia framing is the opportunity to combine medals with other items into a unified tribute.
Service photographs — Images of the serviceperson in uniform, on deployment, or with their unit add a personal dimension that medals alone cannot.
Rank insignia and badges — Unit patches, rank chevrons, and regimental badges help contextualise the service and add visual variety to the composition.
Service records and documents — Discharge certificates, commendations, and service cards can be included as background elements or featured documents.
Maps and historical imagery — Period maps, battle plans, or historical photographs of specific campaigns add historical depth.
Personal letters and correspondence — Letters from the front are among the most humanising items that can be incorporated into a memorial frame. They require careful conservation handling.
Conservation: protecting the medals for the next generation
Military medals that have survived decades of storage often arrive at a framing studio in surprisingly good condition — but that doesn’t mean they don’t need careful handling.
Metals and corrosion: Most Australian service medals are susceptible to atmospheric corrosion, particularly in coastal environments like Perth where salt air is a factor. Medals should never be cleaned with abrasive compounds before framing.
Ribbons and fabric: Medal ribbons from earlier periods — particularly WWI and WWII — are often fragile, faded, or dirty. Replacement ribbons are available and are often used in court mounts. Original ribbons should be preserved where possible.
Archival backing and mounting: Everything inside a conservation frame should be archival grade — acid-free backing boards, conservation-quality adhesives, and UV-filtering glazing as standard.
UV protection: Perth’s intense sunlight means UV protection is especially important. Ribbons in particular will fade significantly under UV exposure.
Layout and design considerations
A well-designed military memorabilia frame is more than a collection of items behind glass. It’s a composition — one that guides the viewer’s eye, honours each element, and communicates the significance of what’s being displayed.
Focal point and hierarchy: The medals should be positioned prominently, typically centred or in the upper portion of the composition. Supporting items are arranged to complement rather than compete.
Negative space: Resist the temptation to fill every inch of the frame. Space gives each element room to be seen clearly.
Backing fabrics: Navy blue, burgundy, green, and black are traditional choices. Navy and green feel military; burgundy and black feel formal and memorial.
Frame profile: Deep box frames are typically used because of the three-dimensional nature of the medals. The profile should feel appropriate to the gravity of what’s inside.
Anzac Day and commemoration: a time for reflection and action
Many Perth families find that the approach of Anzac Day prompts them to finally address the shoebox in the cupboard. There’s something about the public moment of remembrance that makes private tribute feel more urgent — and rightly so.
If you’re considering having military medals or memorabilia framed as a permanent tribute to a family member’s service, starting the process well before Anzac Day is worthwhile. Quality framing takes time, and the result is worth waiting for.
The act of having a service member’s medals properly framed and displayed is itself a form of commemoration — one that transforms an inherited obligation into an active celebration of a life and service that deserves to be seen.
Conclusion
War medals and military memorabilia represent some of the most significant items families hold. They deserve more than a shoebox. They deserve a presentation that reflects the sacrifice they represent, the history they embody, and the family pride they inspire.
Professional military memorabilia framing — done with the right materials, the right knowledge, and genuine care — produces a tribute that will last for generations. For Perth families who want to honour their veterans properly, it’s one of the most meaningful investments you can make.
The medals were earned with courage. The least we can do is display them with dignity.
