The Australia Service Medal 1939–1945 recognises service in Australia's armed forces, Mercantile Marine and Volunteer Defence Corps during World War II.
Gazetted in November 1949,[2] initially, the qualifying period was at least 18 months full-time service at home or overseas, or at least three years part-time service, between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. There was no minimum qualifying period for those killed, wounded or disabled due to service. On 16 August 1996, the qualifying period was reduced to 30 days for full-time service and 90 days for part-time service.[1]
Australian Forces also qualified for the campaign stars and medals authorised for British and Commonwealth Forces,[3] with the Australia Service Medal worn immediately after the War Medal 1939–1945.[4]
Descriptionedit
The Australia Service Medal 1939–1945 is a circular silver medal, 36 millimetres (1.4 in) in diameter.[1]
The obverse bears the crowned effigy of King George VI, surrounded by the inscription 'GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX ET INDIAE IMP'.[5]
The 32-millimetre (1.3 in) wide medal ribbon has a wide khaki central stripe, flanked by two narrow red stripes, with edge stripes of dark blue on the left and light blue on the right. The khaki represents the Army, and the red, dark blue and light blue represent the Mercantile Marine, Navy and Air Force respectively.[5][6]
Medals were awarded with the recipient's name impressed on the rim.[1]
^ abcdJohn W. Mussell, ed. (2015). Medal Yearbook 2015. Token Publishing Limited, Honiton, Devon. p. 193.
^"Royal Warrant: The Australia Service Medal 1939–45" (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 30 November 1949. Retrieved 27 March 2022 – via Department of Defence.
^H. Taprell Dorling (1956). Ribbons and Medals. A. H. Baldwin & Son, London. p. 102.
^ abcJoslin, Litherland and Simpkin (1988). British Battles and Medals. Spink, London. p. 256.
^"Defence Honours & Awards". Australian Department of Defence. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
External linksedit
ADF Honours and Awards site
It's an Honour – Australian Government site
November 25, 2023
australia, service, medal, 1939, 1945, other, uses, australia, service, medal, disambiguation, recognises, service, australia, armed, forces, mercantile, marine, volunteer, defence, corps, during, world, obverse, reverse, medaltypecampaign, medalawarded, forse. For other uses see Australia Service Medal disambiguation The Australia Service Medal 1939 1945 recognises service in Australia s armed forces Mercantile Marine and Volunteer Defence Corps during World War II Australia Service Medal 1939 1945Obverse and reverse of the medalTypeCampaign medalAwarded forService in World War IIPresented byAustraliaClaspsNoneEstablishedNovember 1949TotalCirca 600 000 including awards made post 1996 1 Ribbon barRelatedAustralian Service Medal 1945 1975 Australian Active Service Medal 1945 1975 Contents 1 Award criteria 2 Description 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksAward criteria editGazetted in November 1949 2 initially the qualifying period was at least 18 months full time service at home or overseas or at least three years part time service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945 There was no minimum qualifying period for those killed wounded or disabled due to service On 16 August 1996 the qualifying period was reduced to 30 days for full time service and 90 days for part time service 1 Australian Forces also qualified for the campaign stars and medals authorised for British and Commonwealth Forces 3 with the Australia Service Medal worn immediately after the War Medal 1939 1945 4 Description editThe Australia Service Medal 1939 1945 is a circular silver medal 36 millimetres 1 4 in in diameter 1 The obverse bears the crowned effigy of King George VI surrounded by the inscription GEORGIVS VI D G BR OMN REX ET INDIAE IMP 5 The reverse shows the coat of arms of the Commonwealth of Australia surrounded by the words THE AUSTRALIA SERVICE MEDAL 1939 1945 5 The 32 millimetre 1 3 in wide medal ribbon has a wide khaki central stripe flanked by two narrow red stripes with edge stripes of dark blue on the left and light blue on the right The khaki represents the Army and the red dark blue and light blue represent the Mercantile Marine Navy and Air Force respectively 5 6 Medals were awarded with the recipient s name impressed on the rim 1 See also editAustralian Honours Order of Precedence Australian campaign medalsReferences edit a b c d John W Mussell ed 2015 Medal Yearbook 2015 Token Publishing Limited Honiton Devon p 193 Royal Warrant The Australia Service Medal 1939 45 PDF Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 30 November 1949 Retrieved 27 March 2022 via Department of Defence H Taprell Dorling 1956 Ribbons and Medals A H Baldwin amp Son London p 102 No 40204 The London Gazette Supplement 11 June 1954 p 3538 a b c Joslin Litherland and Simpkin 1988 British Battles and Medals Spink London p 256 Defence Honours amp Awards Australian Department of Defence Retrieved 29 December 2017 External links editADF Honours and Awards site It s an Honour Australian Government site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Australia Service Medal 1939 1945 amp oldid 1116743044, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
