Awards of
World War IIThe British Empire Award, the African Star, was created as a commemorative award for service on the African continent between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943.
Materials
copper, zinc.
Awarded to
Persons who served during World War II in Africa.
Reasons for the award
Service for at least one day on the African continent in a combat zone.
The award was awarded in the event of service of at least one day in the war zone in North Africa between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943. This area included the entire zone between the Suez Canal and the Gulf of Mexico. Channel and the Strait of Gibraltar, as well as the entire territory of Malta, Abyssinia, Kenya, Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia. In the area not bordering the Mediterranean, the qualification period is from 10 June 1940 to 27 November 1941.
Australian Army personnel are eligible for the Africa Star if they served in Syria between 8 June 1941 and 11 June 1941.
The six-pointed African Star is made of copper-zinc alloy. The height of the award is 44 mm. The width is 38 mm.
The obverse of the award features the monogram of King George VI in the center, surmounted by the British Crown. The monogram is surrounded by a circle bearing the inscription "African Star." The reverse of the award for Australian, Indian, and South African service members is engraved with the recipient's name; for service members of other countries, the reverse is plain.
Legend has it that the award ribbon was personally designed by King George VI. The ribbon itself is pale yellow, symbolizing the sands of Africa. In the center is a wide red stripe, symbolizing the ground forces, flanked by light blue and dark blue narrow stripes, symbolizing the Air Force and Navy, respectively.
The African Star award ribbon may also be accompanied by a clasp, denoting the following:
1st Army Clasp.
8th Army badge.
North Africa badge 1942-43.
1st and 8th Army badge