Campaign: Africa 1940-43

Branch of Service: British and Commonwealth forces

Description: The six-pointed star has a circular centre with the GRI/VI monogram, surmounted by a crown and inscribed THE AFRICA STAR around the foot.

Clasp: 8th Army

Ribbon: Pale buff symbolising the sand of the desert, with a broad red central stripe, a dark blue stripe to the left and a light blue stripe to the right symbolising the three services

Comments: Awarded for entry into the operational area in North Africa between 10 June 1940 (the date of Italy's declaration of war) and 12 May 1943 (the end of operations in North Africa), but service in Abyssinia, Somaliland, Eritrea and Malta also qualified.