- Time Period: World War II
- Institution: 8 July 1943
- Country: Great Britain, Australia
The Africa Star is a military campaign medal, instituted by the United Kingdom on 8 July 1943 for award to subjects of the British Commonwealth who served in the Second World War between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943 inclusive, specifically in North Africa. No-one could be awarded more than five (now six) campaign stars and no-one could be awarded more than one clasp to any one campaign star.
Between June 1940 and May 1943 British forces fought in North Africa against the Germans and Italians, who then controlled of large areas of Egypt, Libya and Tunisia (and the Suez Canal). The British eventually secured victory on 12 May 1943 when the remaining German forces surrendered at Tunis. The operational area of the medal includes the whole of the area between the Suez Canal and the Strait of Gibraltar, together with Malta, Abyssinia, Kenya, the Sudan, both Somalilands and Eritrea.
The Africa Star Design
The set of nine campaign stars was designed by the Royal Mint engravers. They are six-pointed stars, struck in a yellow copper zinc alloy to fit into a 44 millimeters diameter circle. All of them all have a ring suspender which passes through an eyelet above the uppermost point of the star.
The obverse has a central design of the Royal Cypher “GRI VI”, surmounted by a crown and the inscription “THE AFRICA STAR”. The reverse is plain and followed a no engraving policy applied by all but three British Commonwealth countries.
The ribbon measures 32 millimeters wide and has a 5 millimeters wide pale buff band (representing the Sahara Desert), a 1½ millimeters wide Navy blue band (representing the Merchant Navy), a 5 millimeters wide pale buff band, a 9 millimeters wide Army red band, a 5 millimeters wide pale buff band, a 1½ millimeters wide Air Force blue band and a 5 millimeters wide pale buff band.
Regulations issued in 1945 only allow one clasp, the first one qualified for, to be worn with the Africa Star (inscribed “NORTH AFRICA 1942–43”, “8th ARMY” or “1st ARMY”)
Find This Campaign Medal
More WW2 British Campaign Medals
During World War II (1939–1945) British campaign medals were awarded to members of the British Armed Forces and civilians for active service in specific military campaigns or operations. These included:
The Atlantic Star
The Atlantic Star is a military campaign medal, instituted by the United Kingdom in May 1945 for the Battle of the Atlantic.
The War Medal 1939-1945
The War Medal 1939–1945 is a British campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom on 16 August 1945. The medal was awarded to subjects of the British Commonwealth who had served full-time.
The Defence Medal (United Kingdom)
The Defence Medal is a campaign medal instituted in 1945 awarded to subjects of the British Commonwealth for service during WW2.
The Arctic Star
The Arctic Star is a military campaign medal which was instituted for service on the Arctic Convoys north of the Arctic Circle in WW2.
The Australian Service Medal 1939-1945
The Australia Service Medal 1939–1945 is a military medal (Great Britain, Australia) that recognizes service in Australia’s armed forces, Mercantile Marine, and Volunteer Defence Corps during World War II.
The Italy Star
The Italy Star is a military campaign medal, instituted by the United Kingdom in May 1945 for service in the Italian Campaign 1943 to 1945.
The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal is a British medal granted to persons of any rank in the Naval, Military or Air Forces of Canada.
The 1939-1945 Star
The 1939–1945 Star is a military campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom on 8 July 1943 for operational service overseas.
