- Time Period: Post-WW2
- Year of Institution: 2002
- Country: Great Britain
The Operational Service Medal for Sierra Leone is a campaign medal awarded for participation in the British military intervention during and after the Sierra Leone Civil War, from May 2000 to July 2002. The medal was established in 2000 by the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom.
The Operational Service Medal (also known as OSM) was established in 1999 to replace the General Service Medal (1962) for all new operations. A separate medal of the same design is awarded for each campaign, differentiated by a distinct ribbon.
The General Service Medal for Sierra Leone Qualifying Criteria
The length of service to qualify for the medal is determined by the mission participated in:
- 1 day of service on Operations Barras or Maidenley
- 14 days continuous or accumulated service on Operation Palliser
- 30 days continuous or accumulated service on Operations Basillica or Silkman.
No clasp was issued for this medal. A large South Atlantic Medal type silver rosette is worn on the medal for operational service within Sierra Leone during Operations Maidenly and Barras. A smaller rosette is worn on the ribbon bar.
The General Service Medal for Sierra Leone Design
The Operational Service Medal for Sierra Leone is struck in silver and circular in shape.
The obverse shows the crowned effigy of Queen Elizabeth II with the inscription ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FID. DEF.
The reverse bears the Union Flag, surrounded by the inscription FOR OPERATIONAL SERVICE and the four major points of the compass with, between the points, four Coronets: Royal (top left), Naval (top right), Mural (Army, bottom left), and Astral (RAF, bottom right).
The ribbon consists of a broad central red stripe, flanked each side by a stripe of navy blue and one of light blue, to represent the three services, with an outer stripe of green to reflect the jungle landscape of Sierra Leone.
The General Service Medal Variants
The OSM has been awarded for four separate campaigns, each with a distinctive ribbon. The other three are:
