Australian and Imperial Military Service Medals: an overview

Some medals were dated on the reverse, others not.

• The New Zealand War Medal. The New Zealand War Medal for veterans of the Maori Wars of 1845-7, 1860 and 1865-72 was not sanctioned until 1869. It was awarded to survivors only, in the Imperial forces and the colonial troops received theirs on the added condition that they had been under fire. The number of varieties of this medal, including those that were undated, covers twenty nine dates. Each medal bears the recipient's name and regiment.

•  Egypt Medal 

• Approx 750 of each awarded to Australians

• The Khedives Bronze Star 1884/86 

• Medal for service in the Boxer Rebellion of 1900 also called The Third China War. Approx 550 awarded to Australians.

• Medal for service in the Natal rebellion of 1906. Issued to individual Australians serving in British units.

For reverse see KSA below

• Queen's South Africa Medal. (QSA). The following clasps were issued to Australian State or Commonwealth units or to individuals who served from 11 October 1899 to 31 May 1902:
  • Cape Colony 11 October 1899 to 31 May 1902 
  • Natal 11 October 1899 to 17 May 1900 
  • Rhodesia 11 October 1899 to 17 May 1900 
  • Relief of Mafeking 17 May 1900 
  • Belmont 23 November 1899 
  • Modder River 28 November 1899
  • Relief of Kimberley 15 February 1900 
  • Paardeberg 17 to 26 February 1900 
  • Orange Free State 28 Feb 1900 to 31 May 1902 
  • Driefontein 10 March 1900 
  • Wepener 9 to 25 April 1900 
  • Transvaal 24 May 1900 to 31 May 1902 
  • Johannesburg 31 May 1900 
  • Diamond Hill 11 to 12 June 1900 
  • Wittegergen 1 to 29 July 1900 
  • Belfast 26 to 27 August 1900
    • South Africa 1901 
      • 1 Jan 1901 to 31 Dec 1901
    • South Africa 1902 
      • 1 Jan 1902 to 31 May 1902 
    • Either the clasp South Africa 1901 or South Africa 1902 were issued if the recipient was not eligible for the award of the King's South Africa Medal

• King's South Africa Medal. (KSA). Awarded to those serving in South Africa on or after 1 January 1902 and who would complete 18 months service before 1 June 1902. Clasps awarded are:
  • South Africa 1901
  • South Africa 1902 
    

The QSA & the KSA share a common reverse

• The 1914 Star (miscalled the Mons Star). Authorised in April 1917, to be awarded to those who served in France or Belgium on the strength of a unit between 5 August 1914 and midnight on 22 November 1914. 
  • A clasp inscribed with the dates is awarded to those who were 'under fire' in the retreat from Mons. 

• Stars traditionally have a plain reverse with the name of the recipient impressed or engraved.

• Stars traditionally have a plain reverse with the name of the recipient impressed or engraved.

• The 1914-1915 Star. Authorised in 1918, to be awarded to those who saw service in a Theatre of War between 5 August 1914 and 31 December 1915. Those eligible for the 1914 Star are not eligible for the 1914-1915 Star. No clasps were issued, but Theatres of War included:
  • West European - France and Belgium from midnight 22 November 1914.
  • East European - Operations in:
    • a.. Greece, Macedonia, Serbia and Bulgaria from 5 October 1915; 
    • b.. Gallipoli and Aegean Islands from 25 April 1915; 
    • c.. Seddul Bahr and Kum Kale on 4 March 1915. 
  • Egyptian - Operations against the Turks from 5 November 1914 and Senussite forces in Western Egypt from 3 November 1915. 
  • African - Operations in:
    • a.. British East Africa, German East Africa, Rhodesia, Nyasaland, Uganda and on African lakes from 20 August 1914; 
    • b.. German South West Africa and adjoining Union of South Africa from 20 August 1914 to 9 July 1915; 
    • c.. Cameroon and Nigerian frontiers from 24 August 1914; 
    • d.. Togoland from 7 August 1914 to 26 August 1914. 
  • Asiatic - Operations in Mesopotamia, Arabia, Aden, Muscat and China.
  • Pacific - Operations in New Britain, New Ireland, Kaiser Wilhelmlan, Admiralty Islands, Nauru and German Samoa in 1914.

• The War Medal 1914-18. Instituted in 1919 to mark the service of men and women who had served in World War I.
  

• Mercantile Marine Medal. Awarded to members of the Mercantile Marine who served on one or more voyage through a danger zone.

• The Victory Medal. Authorised in 1919 to commemorate the victory of the Allies over the Central Powers.
  • The oak leaf clasp shown on this image indicates that the wearer had been Mentioned in Despatches.

World War II: (The Second World War, WW2, The Second Show, Hitler's War.)

• 1939-1945 Star. Awarded for a period of six months (180 days) operational service for RAN and Army personnel and RAAF non-air crew personnel and two months operational service for air crew personnel. 

• A number of prescribed short campaigns require a lesser period of operational service. In addition, Australian Defence Force personnel who served in operations during the last six months of the war, but due to the end of the war did not qualify with six months service are eligible for the award. 

• Awarded for service from 3 September 1939 to 2 September 1945.

• Stars traditionally have a plain reverse with the name of the recipient impressed or engraved.

• The Atlantic Star. Awarded for six months service afloat, in the Navy, the Merchant Navy and by Army and Air Force personnel serving on HM Ships, in the Atlantic and Home Waters. 

• Awarded to aircrew who have taken part in operations against the enemy at sea within the areas qualifying Naval personnel, subject to two months service in an operation unit after earning the 1939-1945 Star. Qualifying dates are 3 September 1939 to 8 May 1945.

• Stars traditionally have a plain reverse with the name of the recipient impressed or engraved.

• The Air Crew Europe Star. Awarded for two months operational flying from UK bases over UK and Europe, after earning the 1939-1945 Star, between 3 September 1939 and 5 June 1944. Operational service at sea is not qualifying service.

• Stars traditionally have a plain reverse with the name of the recipient impressed or engraved.

• The France and Germany Star. This medal is awarded for operational service in France, Belgium, Holland or Germany between 6 June 1944 and 8 May 1945.

• Stars traditionally have a plain reverse with the name of the recipient impressed or engraved.

• Clasp to France and Germany Star/Atlantic Star/ Air Crew Europe Star. The France and Germany Star is not awarded in addition to the Atlantic Star or the Air Crew Europe Star. 
• The first star earned is worn with a clasp (silver Rose on ribbons alone) denoting service the other theatre.

• Africa Star. This medal is awarded for a minimum of one days operational service in North Africa, west of the Suez Canal between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943 and in Syria between 8 June 1941 and 11 July 1941.
  • This medal bears the clasp "North Africa 1942-43"
  • The other clasps were 1st Army, 8th Army.

• Stars traditionally have a plain reverse with the name of the recipient impressed or engraved.

• Pacific Star. This medal is awarded for a minimum of one days operational service in the South West Pacific Theatre of Operations between 8 December 1941 and 2 September 1945.

• Stars traditionally have a plain reverse with the name of the recipient impressed or engraved.

• The Burma Star. This medal is awarded for operational service in the Burma Campaign from 11 December 1941 to 2 September 1945. In addition for:
  • Navy, six months qualifying service for 1939-1945 Star first, then operational service in the Bay of Bengal and in the Malacca Strait;
  • Army, service on land in Bengal and Assam from 1 May 1942 to 31 December 1943, areas of Bengal and Assam east of the Brahmaputra from 1 January 1944 to 2 September 1945 and operational service in China and Malaya from 16 February 1942 to 2 September 1945; and
  • Air Force, one operational sortie for aircrew and qualifying service as for Army for other Air Force personnel.

• Stars traditionally have a plain reverse with the name of the recipient impressed or engraved.

• Clasp to Pacific Star or Burma Star. If qualifying for both stars, only the first star earned is worn with a clasp (silver Rose on ribbons alone) denoting service in the other theatre.

• The Italy Star. This medal is awarded for operational service in the
  • Italy Campaign from 11 June 1943 to 8 May 1945.
  • Operational service in the Aegean, Dodecanese, Greece and Yugoslavia after 11 June 1943, 
  • in Sicily up to 17 August 1943, 
  • in Sardinia up to 19 September 1943 and 
  • in Corsica up to 4 October 1943.

• Stars traditionally have a plain reverse with the name of the recipient impressed or engraved.

• Defence Medal. This medal is awarded for six months service in a prescribed non-operational area subject to enemy air attack or closely threatened, in Australia and overseas, or for 12 months service in non-prescribed non-operational areas. 
  • Within Australia the area is the Northern Territory, north of 14 degrees 30 minutes south, and the Torres Strait Islands between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. 
  • Overseas service includes the Middle East, east of the Suez Canal (less the period of the Syrian Campaign) or 
  • Malaya prior to the Japanese invasion on 8 December 1941.

• War Medal 1939-1945. This medal is awarded for 28 days full time service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945.

• Australia Service Medal 1939-1945. This medal is awarded for 30 days full-time or 90 days part-time service in the Australian Defence Force between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945.

• The Australian Active Service Medal 1945-75. This medal is awarded for operational service during the Korean War, the Malayan Emergency, Confrontation with Indonesia and the Vietnam War. The medal is not issued without a clasp. The following clasps have been issued for the medal:
  • Korea 
  • Malaya 
  • Malaysia
  • Thailand 
  • Thai/Malay 
  • Vietnam 

• The Naval General Service Medal. This medal was instituted in 1915 for service in minor Naval warlike operations for which no separate medal was issued. The medal is not issued without a clasp. The following clasps have been issued to Australian Defence Force personnel:
  • Palestine 1945-48 
  • South East Asia 
  • Minesweeping 1945-1951 
  • Bomb and Mine Clearance 1945-1953 
  • Bomb and Mine Clearance 
  • Mediterranean 
  • Yangste 1949 
  • Malaya 
  • Near East 

• The General Service Medal. This medal was instituted in 1923 as a contemporary to the Naval General Service Medal for service on land or in the air in minor warlike operations for which no separate medal was issued. The medal is not issued without a clasp. 
• The following clasps have been issued to Australian Defence Force personnel:

• The Korea Medal. This medal is awarded for operational service in the Korean War between 2 July 1950 and 27 July 1953.

• United Nations Service Medal (Korea). This medal is awarded for operational service in the Korean War between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954.

• The General Service Medal 1962. This medal supersedes both the Naval General Service Medal and the General Service Medal and may be awarded to personnel of all three Services.
• The following clasps have been issued to Australian Defence Force personnel:
  • Borneo 
  • Malay Peninsula 
  • South Vietnam 
  • Radfan 

• The Vietnam Medal. This medal is awarded to personnel who served during the Vietnam War for a minimum of one days service on land or 28 days service at sea.

• The Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal. The Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal was introduced in 1993 to recognise the contribution and service of individuals who did not qualify for the award of the Vietnam Medal. The qualification period for the Logistic and Support Medal is one day in the prescribed area of operations, on land, sea or air, in support of Australian forces. 

• Recipients have included diplomatic and ambassadorial staff, crews of QANTAS aircraft flying into Vietnam and entertainers. The design of the medal is identical to the Vietnam Medal, the only differences being in the ribbon and in the straight, rather than ornamental, suspender.
  • Reverse as above but with straight suspender.

• The Australian Service Medal 1945-75. This medal is awarded for at least 30 days service in prescribed non-warlike operations. The medal is not issued without a clasp. The following clasps have been issued for the medal:

• The Australian Active Service Medal 1975-. This medal is awarded for one days service in prescribed warlike operations since 14 February 1975. The medal is not issued without a clasp. The following clasps have been issued for the medal:
  • Balkans 
  • Cambodia 
  • East Timor 
  • Kuwait 
  • Somalia 
  • Vietnam 1975 

• The Australian Service Medal 1975-. This medal is awarded for service in prescribed non-warlike or peacekeeping operations since 14 February 1975. The medal is not issued without a clasp. The following clasps have been issued for the medal:

• The International Force East Timor Medal. This medal is awarded for 30 days service with the International Force in East Timor between 16 September 1999 and 10 April 2000.

• The Rhodesia Medal. This medal is awarded for 14 days service with the Commonwealth Monitoring Force in Rhodesia between 1 December 1979 to 20 March 1980.

Rosettes & other devices worn on medal ribbons

• 2. The oak leaf indicates a "Mention in Despatches". Details
• 3. Silver rosette (usually) indicates a second award of the same medal.
• 4. A gold rosette on the 1939/45 Star indicates participation in the Battle of Britain.
• 5. Numerals 1 or 8 indicate service with 1st or 8th Army in North Africa in WW2. 
  • A rosette on the ribbon of the Africa Star can be worn by eligible members of Navy, Merchant Navy & Air Force for service between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943.
  • A rosette is worn on the ribbon of any Star that has been awarded with a clasp to another Star (e.g. Burma Star with Pacific Star clasp).
• 6. Crossed gold oak leaves are worn on the ribbons of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and the British Empire Medal (BEM) to indicate the award was for gallantry.
• 7. Miniature crosses are worn on the ribbons of the VC, GC and Order of St John. They do not indicate a second award.
• 8. A bronze disk is worn on the National Medal to denote the award of a clasp.
• 9. These rosettes are worn on the ribbons of the Defence Forces Service Medal, the Reserve Forces Decoration and the Reserve Forces Medal to denote the award of a clasp.
• 10. Rosette worn on the ribbon of Atlantic Medal to indicate service on or around the Falkland Islands.

• These awards are approved for wear on service uniform on the RIGHT breast.
  • St John Life Saving medal
  • Royal Humane Society Clarke medal
  • Stanhope Gold Medal
  • Royal Humane Society silver medal (upper left)
  • Royal Humane Society bronze medal (lower left)

"Mickey Mouse" Medals aka Commemorative Medals

So long as they are recognised for what they are (totally without worth or value) they do no harm.

Unfortunately a population that is growing further removed from the day to day contact of the military is often impressed by them.

Some real soldiers wear them but mostly it is the "wannabees" and the misguided who buy them in the hope of getting some reflected glory.

This is only one of dozens. Some more are below

• Some, like this one, are claimed by the manufacturers to be "authorised" by Unit Associations or Ex-Service groups.

• Whether they are or not they are still in the same non-official, non-authorised, not to be worn on uniform category and are just as inefficient in telling of a soldiers service. 

<< Vietnam Veterans Medal

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