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The Defence Medal is a campaign medal that was instituted by the United Kingdom in May 1945 to be awarded to subjects of the British Commonwealth for both non-operational military and certain types of civilian service such as the Armed Forces, the Home Guard, the Civil Defence Service during the Second World War. The obverse shows the bareheaded effigy of King George VI, facing left. Around the perimeter is the legend "GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX F:D:IND:IMP." (George 6th, by the grace of God, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith,Emperor of India).The reverse shows the Royal Crown resting on an oak sapling, flanked by a lion and a lioness above stylised waves. At the top left is the year "1939" and at the top right the year "1945". The exergue has the words "THE DEFENCE MEDAL" in two lines.