Wound Stripe - British Commonwealth

British Commonwealth

The British Army began awarding a brass "Wound Stripe" in 1916, with approval by King George V. The badge was worn on the left forearm, fastened through the uniform cloth. Additional badges were granted for subsequent wounds. The badge was reintroduced in 1944 for the Second World War, and a cloth version was introduced for use with Battle Dress. British soldiers have not been awarded wound stripes for injuries sustained in Afghanistan or Iraq.

Soldiers of the Australian Imperial Force, Canadian Expeditionary Force, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and other Empire troops followed suit in the First World War, and issued wound stripes according to British practice. During the Second World War, they also followed British practice. The wound stripe was not reintroduced for the Korean War, but a version for the Canadian Forces uniform was developed and worn by soldiers injured on operational deployments beginning in the 1990s, including Afghanistan. The Sacrifice Medal replaced the wound stripe for all members of the Canadian Forces in 2008. The award has also been opened to soldiers of an allied force or civilians working for Canadian Forces personnel.