Wound stripe
Encyclopedia
A wound stripe is a distinction of dress bestowed on soldiers wounded in combat
. It was typically worn on military uniform jackets.
, was awarded beginning in 1916.
Soldiers of the Canadian Expeditionary Force
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.
s. These looked exactly the same as Overseas Service Chevrons, but were always gold and worn on the right arm. (At that time the brown Overseas Chevron was worn on the left sleeve. Today its redesigned successor, the Overseas Service Bar
, is worn on the right sleeve. Service Stripe
s are now worn on the left sleeve.) In 1932 the Wound Chevron was replaced by the Purple Heart
, and World War I veterans could apply for the new medal.
Combat
Combat, or fighting, is a purposeful violent conflict meant to establish dominance over the opposition, or to terminate the opposition forever, or drive the opposition away from a location where it is not wanted or needed....
. It was typically worn on military uniform jackets.
France
In the French Army, the wound bar or Insigne des blessés militairesInsigne des blessés militaires
The Insigne des blessés militaires is a French military decoration for wounds received in the line of duty.-History:It was instituted by a law of 11 December 1916, after an idea by the nationalist writer Maurice Barrès...
, was awarded beginning in 1916.
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 Canadian Expeditionary Force
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
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
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
. The Sacrifice Medal
Sacrifice Medal
The Sacrifice Medal is a decoration that was created in 2008 as a replacement for the Wound Stripe, being gifted by the Canadian monarch, generally through his or her viceroy-in-Council, to members of the Canadian Forces or allied forces who were wounded or killed in action.-Design:The Sacrifice...
replaced the wound stripe for all members of the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
in 2008. The award has also been opened to soldiers of an allied force or civilians working for Canadian Forces personnel.
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Soviet soldiers in the Great Patriotic War wore a yellow cloth stripe over the right breast to indicate wounds received in battle requiring medical attention; a red stripe indicated less serious wounds.United States
In World War I US soldiers received stripes called Wound ChevronWound Chevron
A Wound Chevron was a badge of the United States Army which was authorized for wear on an Army uniform between the years of 1918 and 1932. The Wound Chevron was displayed on the lower right cuff of a military uniform, and denoted wounds which were received in combat against an enemy force...
s. These looked exactly the same as Overseas Service Chevrons, but were always gold and worn on the right arm. (At that time the brown Overseas Chevron was worn on the left sleeve. Today its redesigned successor, the Overseas Service Bar
Overseas Service Bar
An Overseas Service Bar is an accoutrement of the United States Army dress uniform which is displayed as an embroidered gold bar worn horizontally on the right sleeve of the Class A uniform and the Army Service Uniform...
, is worn on the right sleeve. Service Stripe
Service stripe
A service stripe, commonly called a hash mark, is a decoration of the United States military which is presented to enlisted members of the U.S. military to denote length of service. The United States Army awards each stripe for three years service, while the United States Navy, United States...
s are now worn on the left sleeve.) In 1932 the Wound Chevron was replaced by the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
, and World War I veterans could apply for the new medal.
See also
- Verwundetenabzeichen or Wound badgeWound BadgeWound Badge was a German military award for wounded or frost-bitten soldiers of Imperial German Army in World War I, the Reichswehr between the wars, and the Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service organizations during the Second World War. After March 1943, due to the increasing number of Allied...
- Sacrifice MedalSacrifice MedalThe Sacrifice Medal is a decoration that was created in 2008 as a replacement for the Wound Stripe, being gifted by the Canadian monarch, generally through his or her viceroy-in-Council, to members of the Canadian Forces or allied forces who were wounded or killed in action.-Design:The Sacrifice...
- replaced the wound stripe for Canadians. - Purple HeartPurple HeartThe Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
- wound medal awarded to U.S. service personnel Insigne des blessés militaires