Italy Star

The Italy Star was awarded for operational service in Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia, Pantelleria, the Aegean area and the Dodecanese Islands, between the 11th June 1943 and the 8th May 1945.

Clasps: None

Note: Royal Navy and Merchant Navy personnel were awarded this medal for service in the Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea, and for operations in and around the Dodecanese Islands, Corsica, Greece, Sardinia and Yugoslavia after the 11th June 1943.

The six months service needed for the 1939-45 Star had to be earned, before service could count for the Italy Star.

France and Germany Star

The France and Germany Star was awarded for service in France, Belgium, Luxemburg, The Netherlands and Germany from the 6th June 1944 (D Day), to the 8th May 1945. The qualifying sea area is the North Sea, south of a line from the Firth of Forth to Kristiansand in the English Channel, and in the bay of Biscay east of Longitude 6 degrees West, provided that service was in direct support of land operations in France, Belgium, The Netherlands or Germany.

Clasps: ATLANTIC – awarded to those who became eligible for the Atlantic Star.

Note: When the ribbon is worn alone, a silver rosette denotes the clasp.

Atlantic Star

The Atlantic Star was awarded for six months service afloat, in the Atlantic or Home Waters, between the 3rd September 1939 and the 8th May 1945.

The qualifying service for the 1939-45 Star must have been earned before service for the Atlantic Star could be considered. Merchant Seamen qualified for this medal as long as they had served in the Atlantic, Home Waters or North Russia Convoys or South Atlantic Waters.

Clasps: FRANCE and GERMANY, was awarded to those who subsequently became entitled to the France and Germany Star.

Note: It should be noted that the Atlantic Star was not issued to recipients of the France and Germany Star.

Africa Star

The Africa Star was awarded for a minimum of one day’s service in an operational area of North Africa, between the 10th June 1940 and the 12th May 1943 both dates inclusive.

The operational area was the whole of the area between the Suez Canal and the Straits of Gibraltar, together with Malta, Abyssinia, Kenya, Sudan, The Somali Islands and Eritrea. Those areas not bordering the Mediterranean only qualified for the Africa Star between the 10th June 1940 to the 27th November 1941.

Bar: NORTH AFRICA 1942-43 Awarded for service with the Royal Navy or Merchant Navy from the 23rd October 1942 to the 12th May 1943. A silver rosette on the ribbon denotes this bar

The crews of a total of 503 vessels in support of the operations in North Africa during the above dates qualified for the bar including the following RFA’s –

RFA Abbeydale                                                    RFA Brown Ranger                             RFA Cherryleaf

RFA Derwentdale                                               RFA Dewdale                                       RFA Dingledale

RFA Ennerdale                                                    RFA Maine (3)                                      RFA Nasprite

RFA Petrella

RFA Viscol – while the ship received a Battle Honour for this service, the crew, for some strange reason did not qualify for the bar.

Pacific Star

The Pacific Star was awarded for operational service in the Pacific theatre between the 8th December 1941 and the 2nd September 1945, and also for certain specified service in China, Hong Kong, Malaya and Sumatra.

Hong Kong between the 8th December 1941 to the 25th December 1941.

China and Malaya between the 8th December 1941 and the 15th February 1942.

Sumatra between the 8th December 1941 and the 23rd March 1942.

The qualifying sea area for award of the Pacific Star, are the Pacific Ocean (including the South China Sea), the Indian Ocean east of a line running due South from Singapore, round the South East coast of Sumatra, through Christmas Island and Southwards along the line of 110 degrees East.

The medal was awarded immediately to anyone killed or wounded in action.

Clasps: BURMA awarded to those who also qualified for the Burma Star.

Note: When the ribbon was worn alone, a silver rosette is worn to denote the award of the clasp.

Burma Star

The Burma Star was awarded for service in the Burma campaign between the 11th December 1941 and he 2nd September 1945. This medal was also awarded for certain specified service in China, Hong Kong, Malaya and Sumatra.

Hong Kong between the 26th December 1941 and the 2nd December 1945

China and Malaya between the 26th February 1942 and the 2nd September 1945

Sumatra between the 24th March 1942 and the 2nd September 1945.

Service in China, Hong Kong, Malaya and Sumatra after the 8th December 1941, but before the above start dates was recognised by the award of the Pacific Star.

Clasps: The Pacific Star was not awarded to recipients of the Burma Star, and subsequent entitlement to the Pacific Star was denoted by a PACIFIC clasp.

Note: Royal Navy and Merchant Navy personnel qualified for this medal for service restricted in an area restricted to the Bay of Bengal, and enclosed by a line running from the Southern most point of Sumatra, and continuing east to the western side of the Sundra Strait, including the Strait of Malacca. The six months qualifying period for the 1939-45 Star had to be earned, before service for this medal could be counted.

1939-45 star

The 1939-45 star was awarded for service in World War 2. The medal was awarded for operational service between the 3rd September 1939 and the 2nd September 1945.

Naval personnel qualified if they completed six months service, and at least one voyage was made through an operational area.

Clasps: None to Naval personnel.

Note: The 1939-45 star was immediately awarded in the event of death on active service, disability or wounding. Anyone who was awarded a “Mention in Despatches”, also received an immediate award.

The Australia Service Medal

The Australia Service Medal was awarded for service by all members of the Australian Forces and the Australian Mercantile Marine in World War 2.The medal was awarded for overseas service between the 3rd September 1939 and the 2nd September 1945.

Australian Mercantile Marine personnel qualified if they completed eighteen months at sea

Clasps: None.

Note: Service which terminated in the event of death; wounding or any disability due to service would qualify.

New Zealand War Service Medal

The New Zealand War Service Medal was awarded for service by all members of the New Zealand Forces and the New Zealand Merchant Navy in World War 2.The medal was awarded for overseas service between the 3rd September 1939 and the 2nd September 1945.

Members of the N Z Merchant Navy who rendered service beyond New Zealand will qualify for the award under certain conditions

Bars: None

Note:

1. Service which terminated by capture by the enemy, the recipient must have been free from blame.
2. Service brought to an end by death on duty, or due to wounds or injuries sustained on duty or honourable discharge as a direct result of injuries sustained whist on duty will qualify for the medal even though the service may not have amounted to the required period.