Can You Wear Father’s War Medals? 

If you have your father, son, or husband in the Indian Army or any Armed services, you know the feeling and pride for them. Someone who has given his everything to the nation before their family and themselves. And that’s the reason why the Indian Army has allowed that the father’s medals earned in the services can be worn by NoK, i.e. (father/spouse//children and forefathers). But, there are a few things that you must keep in mind before you wear one. Let’s find out. 

Can You Wear Father’s War Medals?

According to the Indian Army, now you can wear your father’s medal on the right chest in order to give respect to the officer and his NoK (spouse, father, children). Though the next of kin of the armed force’s officer can now wear the medals awarded to their father, they are only allowed to wear them when attending specific occasions, for example:

Homage Ceremonies at War Memorials

Funerals

If you are wearing a civil dress at an armed force event – For any event except for the above-mentioned ones, the children of the armed officer personnel must avoid wearing any medal. One such example in which the son is seen wearing his father’s medals is Padmanabh Singh, the grandson of Brigadier Sawai Bhawani Singh, MVC.  

Padmanabh Singh the grandson of Brigadier Sawai Bhawani Singh
Padmanabh Singh, the grandson of Brigadier Sawai Bhawani Singh, MVC

If the person is himself an army officer, he can wear his medals on the left side of his chest while his family member’s medals are on the right side. The medals should be straight, suspended from a single bar.  

Colonel Nitin Negi wearing his grandfather's Victoria Cross
Colonel Nitin Negi wearing his grandfather’s Victoria Cross, one of the few known VCs awarded to Indians still in possession of their families at a ceremony to commemorate the Battle of Festubert.

It is also stated that the army medals must be on the left side of the chest. And the honor of wearing the medals remains with the individual and not any other related member like the widow, father, or individual after his death.