History

Awarded by the Chief of Defence, this Medal is conferred upon Norwegian Armed Forces personnel, who during wartime or situations of conflict have been killed, as well as foreign and civil personnel under Norwegian military command.

The reverse of the medal is engraved with the recipients name.

The design of the Medal is very similar to the Defence Medal for Wounded in Action (See NOR141 in Medals & Decorations for more information), with the differentiation in the colour of the enamel. The enamel on the Defence Medal for Wounded in Action is composed of purple enamel whereas the Defence Medal for Fallen in action is composed of black enamel.

At it's initial institution the Medal was known as the Defence Medal for the Killed and Wounded in Service, but it was later split into two medals; the Defence Medal for Wounded in Action (See NOR141 in Medals & Decorations for more information) and the Defence Medal for Fallen in Action.