I spent 11 years in the British Royal Navy, including service out in Aden during a time of conflict,but,like many of my colleagues, I was awarded absolutely NO medals at all !! I don't mind really,but we used to find it galling ,when seeing US sailors from, say, USS McCloy, or USS Sanctuary,in respectively,Hong Kong and Singapore,with chestfulls ( chestsfull ?) of medal-ribbons ; we used to joke that the US Navy gave you a medal for opening a Cornflakes packet ( but with good humour,of course !).
    It can be embarrassing,of course,when attending a Remembrance parade; People look at my Fleet Air Arm badge and say " Oh ! You were not in for very long then---no medals ! " . When I reply "Eleven years", they often say things like "Where were you hiding,then ?" which,frankly,can be hurtful !!