- Time Period: World War II
- Institution: 1946
- Country: Great Britain / New Zealand
The New Zealand War Service Medal (or NZWSM) was awarded to members of the New Zealand armed forces, the National Military Reserve and the Home Guard, as well as the New Zealand Merchant Navy and Naval Auxiliary Patrol Service.
The NZWSM was awarded for 28 days’ full-time aggregated service or six months’ part-time aggregated service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. Service brought to an end by death on duty, or due to wounds sustained on duty, or honorable discharge as a result of such wounds, automatically qualified for award of the medal.
The New Zealand War Service Medal Design
The obverse of the medal shows the uncrowned effigy of King George VI, facing left, with the legend “GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX F:D:IND:IMP.”
The reverse (designed by the historian and typographer Dr John Beaglehole and the wood engraver E Mervyn Taylor) has the inscription “FOR SERVICE TO NEW ZEALAND 1939-1945” above a fern leaf. It was the first distinctively ‘New Zealand’ campaign medal, emphasized by the use of the fern leaf motif on the reverse and suspension, and the national colors of black and white in the ribbon.
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 Africa Star
The Africa Star is a military campaign medal awarded to those who served in the Second World War specifically in North Africa.
The Burma Star
The Burma Star is a military campaign medal for award to subjects of the British Commonwealth who served in the Burma Campaign.
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 Pacific Star
The Pacific Star is a British military campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom in 1945 for those who served in the Pacific Campaign.
The Southern Rhodesia Service Medal
The Southern Rhodesia Service Medal 1939-1945 is a campaign medal awarded to members of the Southern Rhodesia Defence Forces for home service.
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 Newfoundland Volunteer War Service Medal
The Newfoundland Volunteer War Service Medal was created to honor those from Newfoundland & Labrador who served in British Forces.
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.
