Africa Star

The Africa Star is a military campaign medal, instituted by the United Kingdom on 8 July 1943 for award to British and Commonwealth forces who served in North Africa between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943 during the Second World War.

Eligibility

The Africa Star was awarded for a minimum of one day's service in an operational area of North Africa between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943. The operational area includes the whole of the area west of the Suez Canal. It was awarded for a minimum of 1 day's operational service.

Army personnel had to enter North Africa on the establishment of an operational unit. Naval and Merchant Navy personnel qualified through service in the Mediterranean between these two dates. Air Force personnel had to land in or have flown over any of the operational areas. Members of the Australian Imperial Force qualified for the award of the Africa Star for service in Syria between 8 June and 11 July 1941.

Three clasps were awarded, with only one to be worn - North Africa 1942-43 clasp, 1st Army clasp, or the 8th Army clasp.

Description

The six–pointed star is yellow copper zinc alloy. The obverse has a central design of the Royal and Imperial cypher, surmounted by a crown. The cypher is surrounded by a circlet containing the words ‘The Africa Star’.

The ribbon colours represent the desert and the service of the Armies, Naval Forces, Merchant Navy and the Air Forces.

Notes

Content has come from a combination of Wikipedia and the Australian Defence websites.