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The 1939-1945 Defence Medal was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II. It was instituted to recognise both military and some types of civilian service.

The ribbon is flame coloured in the centre flanked by stripes of green to symbolise enemy attacks on Britain's green and pleasant land, with narrow black stripes to represent the black-out.

Part of a collection of items belonging to Cecil (Joe) Rees. Cecil (Joe) Rees was a member of the RAF and took part in several bombing raids during the Second World War. His plane was shot down in May 1943 on the way back from a raid on Wuppertal, Germany. While sheltering with a Flemish family, Cecil was captured by the Germans and sent to the prisoner of war camp, Stalag Luft 3. However he managed to escape but was recaptured by the Germans and sent back to the camp.