General Service Medal Ww2

[Paula Shuffleburg]

Followingthe accession of His Majesty King Charles III, from 1 October 2023 current medals now feature new effigies. The Medal Office will however continue to issue medals bearing the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for those who qualified before the date. The images below may not reflect the medal that the recipient receives.

The majority of eligible MOD personnel will automatically be identified and notified in due course. An application process will be announced for those who have left the Armed Forces since 6 May 2023. The medal will likely be distributed to eligible recipients from late Autumn 2023, as and when stock is available.

If you are employed or sponsored by another frontline emergency service that may be eligible for the Coronation Medal, please contact your respective Honours or HR departments for further information, as the MOD Medal Office only administers medals relating to the Armed Forces.

We are working with the National Archives to speed up this process Regrettably, some applicants have suffered long delays. This is outside of our expected service standards, for which we apologise, and are grateful for your continued patience whilst this matter is resolved.

As a result, QPJM applications and appeals relating to Reserve Forces personnel are currently being frozen to avoid unnecessary work and will be reassessed against the revised criteria as soon as these are finalised. This work is likely to take a several months to complete and the outcome will be published via a DIN as soon as possible. It must be stressed that this review will not change the underlying requirement for five years (1826 days) qualifying service as at 6 Feb 2022, as this is a Pan-Government requirement.

A formal review of the Accumulated Campaign Service Medal policy and qualification criteria has been conducted to resolve ambiguity over how time on operations is counted towards the ACSM. More detailed information about the review, guidance on eligibility and how to apply can be found on The Accumulated Campaign Service Medal (ACSM) 1994 and 2011 Policy Review 2020.

It may be awarded to all ranks of the services and civilians and can be awarded posthumously. Individuals who perform a further act of such gallantry which would have merited a second award of the VC would be issued with a bar.

The George Cross is the premier award given for non-operational gallantry or gallantry not in the presence of an enemy. This is awarded for acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger.

The Distinguished Service Order is an operational gallantry award given for highly successful command and leadership during active operations. Personnel who perform a further act of such leadership which would have merited a second award of the DSO would be issued with a gold bar.

The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross is an operational gallantry award given to all ranks of the services in recognition of an act (or acts) of conspicuous gallantry during active operations against the enemy. Personnel who perform a further act of such gallantry which would have merited a second award of the CGC would be issued with a silver bar.

The Distinguished Service Cross is an operational gallantry award given to all ranks of the services in recognition of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy at sea. Personnel who perform a further act of such gallantry which would have merited a second award of the DSC are issued with a silver bar, with rounded ends, ornamented by a crown.

The Military Cross is an operational gallantry award given to all ranks of the services in recognition of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy on land. Personnel who perform a further act of such gallantry which would have merited a second MC will be issued with a silver bar ornamented by the crown.

The Distinguished Flying Cross is an operational gallantry award given to all ranks of the services in recognition of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy in the air. Personnel who perform a further act of such gallantry which would have merited a second award of the DFC would be issued with a silver bar ornamented by an eagle.

The Air Force Cross is a non-operational award given to all ranks of the services in recognition of exemplary gallantry while flying not in the presence of the enemy. Personnel who perform a further act of such gallantry which would have merited the award of a second AFC are issued with a silver bar.

The George Medal is awarded for conspicuous gallantry not in the presence of the enemy. A silver bar may be issued to George Medal holders who perform a further act of such bravery which would have merited award of a second GM.

The British War Medal was awarded to personnel in recognition of the successful conclusion of World War 1. It was later extended until 1920 to cover mine-clearing services and operations in North and South Russia, the eastern Baltic, Siberia, the Black Sea and Caspian.

No more than five stars may be awarded to one person. The retrospective introduction of the Arctic Star in 2013, following the Sir John Holmes Independent Medal Review, meant that a sixth start could be worn. In all cases it is only the Arctic Star that is the sixth star that can be worn.

If you qualify for two or three of the Atlantic, Air Crew Europe and France and Germany stars, the first star earned is awarded. You will then receive a clasp with the title of the second star earned to be worn on the ribbon of the first. A third star or clasp will not be awarded in this case.

The Arctic Star is awarded for operational service of any length north of the Arctic Circle (66, 32 N) between 3 September 1939 and 8 May 1945. The Arctic Star commemorates the Arctic Convoys that sailed to North Russia in support of the Russian allies.

If you also qualify for the Burma Star, you will only be awarded the first star you earned. You will then receive a clasp with the title of the second star earned, which is worn on the ribbon of the first.

The Burma Star is awarded for operational service in Burma between 11 December 1941 and 2 September 1945. Those serving in Bengal and Assam in India and China, Hong Kong, Malaya or Sumatra between other specified dates may also qualify.

If you also qualify for the Pacific Star, you will only be awarded the first star earned. You will then receive a clasp with the title of the second star earned which is worn on the ribbon of the first.

The Italy Star is awarded for operational service in Sicily or Italy between 11 July 1943 and 8 May 1945. Those who served in Yugoslavia, Greece, Corsica or Sardinia between certain other specified dates will also qualify.

The Defence Medal is awarded for non-operational service such as those service personnel working in headquarters, on training bases and airfields and members of the Home Guard. The medal is also awarded for non-operational service overseas for example in India or South Africa.

The Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) Medal is issued by the Malaysian Government to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces for service of 90 days or more in Malaysia and Singapore. The qualifying dates are:

Applications for the PJM Medal are processed by the Malaysian Government. All applications must be endorsed an official organisation such as the Ministry of Defence or veterans associations before the medal can be issued.

The MOD Medal Office can endorse an application for the PJM Medal. If you think you might be eligible, complete the Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) medal application form (MS Word Document, 49.7 KB) and send to the MOD Medal Office for endorsement.

The Operational Service Medal (OSM) Iraq and Syria is awarded to personnel who completed operational service in or over the landmass of Iraq and Syria, or provided a significant and direct contribution outside of Iraq and Syria, to Operation SHADER since 9 August 2014 (end date to be decided).

The Iraq and Syria clasp is to be worn on the ribbon of this medal, denoting the risk and rigour of the task.The colours of the ribbon represent the large number of airframes used in the operation, and the three services.

The Operational Service Medal (OSM) Democratic Republic of Congo (DROC) is awarded to personnel who completed operational service in Bunia in the Ituri Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo between 14 June and 10 September 2003.

It is expected that further operations and clasps will be added to the GSM 08 as time progresses. The Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ) decides which operations qualify for the GSM 08, not the MOD Medal Office.

The Elizabeth Cross and Memorial Scroll are granted to the next of kin of regular, reserve or Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel who have died on operations, or as a result of an act of terrorism since 1 January 1948:

You should only wear official decorations, medals or emblems that you are entitled to and have been approved for acceptance and wear. Unofficial medals should not be worn with official orders, decorations and medals.

Ensure that your replica and miniature medals are bought from an officially licensed replica medal manufacturer. The merchandise licensing programme generates much needed revenue for our Armed Forces welfare funds that supports Serving and Ex-Serving members of the Armed Forces and their families.

The General Service Medal (1918 GSM) was instituted to recognise service in minor Army and Royal Air Force operations for which no separate medal was intended. Local forces, including police, qualified for many of the clasps, as could units of the Indian Army prior to 1947.[1]

A total of eighteen clasps were awarded, the medal never being awarded without a clasp.[2] The clasps consist of silver bars bearing the name of the relevant campaign or theatre of operations. They were attached to the medal's suspension bar.

Where a minimum qualifying period was laid down for a clasp, it did not apply to those killed or wounded due to operations, or to those decorated for bravery or distinguished conduct, including a mention in dispatches and a Queen's Commendation.[1]

3a8082e126