AUSTRALIAN SERVICE MEDALS POST WORLD WAR TWO

Sources:  Department of Defence, Directorate of Honours and Awards brochure  6 September 2000.
                A Matter of Honour: The Report of the Review of Australian Honours and Awards December 1995

AUSTRALIAN ACTIVE SERVICE MEDAL 1945-1975

The Australian Active Service Medal with clasps denoting areas of service is awarded to members of the Australian Defence Force and certain Australian civilians for service in specified areas overseas.  The following is a summary of all four approved clasps with the respective qualifying areas and periods.
Letters Patent: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S18 dated 19 January 1998

KOREA - awarded to members of the Australian Defence Force and certain Australian civilians who qualified for the Korea Medal for service in Korea between 1 July 1950 and 27 July 1953.  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S54 dated 10 February 1998.

MALAYA - Awarded to members of the Australian Defence Force and Australian civilians who qualified for the General Service Medal with clasp Malaya for service on the posted strength of a unit or formation stationed in the Federation of Malaya between 16 June 1948 and 31 July 1960, or in Singapore between 16 June 1948 and 31 January 1959; or, the Naval General Service Medal with clasp Malaya for service in the Federation of Malaya and the Colony of Singapore.  Commonwealth of Australian Gazette S54 dated 10 February 1998.

MALAYSIA - Awarded to members of the Australian Defence Force and Australian civilians who qualified for the General Service Medal with clasp Borneo for 30 days service on land in Sabah, Sarawak or Brunei; or, one operational sortie by aircrew in direct support of operations, between 24 December 1962 and 11 August 1966.  Also awarded to those who qualified for the General Service Medal 1962 with clasp Malay Peninsular for 30 days service on land in the Malay Peninsula or Singapore between 17 August 1964 and 12 June 1965; or 30 days service afloat on sea patrol duties between 13 June 1965 and 11 August 1966.  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S54 dated 10 February 1998.

VIETNAM - Awarded to members of the Australian Defence Force, civilian members of the Department of Defence, civilian contractors of the Department of Defence, members of the Australian Merchant Navy; members of an Australian Surgical and Medical Team; Australian War Correspondents; members of the Salvations Army, Australian Red Cross, Australian Young Men's Christian Association and Australian Campaigners for Christ, who qualified for either the General Service Medal 1962 with clasp Vietnam, the Vietnam Medal or the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal for service in South Vietnam between 24 December 1962 and 27 January 1973.  Commonwealth of Australian Gazette S54 dated 10 February 1998 and Ministerial Determination dated 10 March 1998.

The Australian Active Service Medal 1945-1975 with clasp Vietnam WILL NOT BE AWARDED to Embassy Staff and Diplomatic Couriers, QANTAS Aircrew or Entertainers who have been awarded the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal, as they were not employed for operational reasons.  Determination by the Minister for Defence Industry, Science and Personnel dated 10 March 1998.

DESIGN - Description of Ribbon
A narrow central red stripe flanked by two narrow yellow stripes, which are in turn flanked by two light blue bands.  On the outer edges are stripes of purple with dark green stripes on their inner edges.

ORDER OF PRECEDENCE - The Australian Active Service Medal 1945-1975, with clasps in order of date of qualifying service, is worn immediately after any Second World War Awards, and before any other Campaign Awards.

AUSTRALIAN ACTIVE SERVICE MEDAL 1975-

The Australian Active Service Medal was established to recognise service rendered by members of the Australian Defence Force in Prescribed warlike operations since 14 February 1975.  The medal includes a clasp to denote the prescribed warlike operation.  The following is a summary of all six approved clasps with the respective qualifying areas and periods.  Letters Patent: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S335 dated 2 November 1988.  Determination: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S296 dated 1 November 1991.

KUWAIT - Awarded for 24 hours participation in the multinational military deployment in the Persian Gulf between 17 January 1991 and 28 February 1991.  Also awarded for 30 days service, either continuous or in aggregate for official visits, inspections or other occurrences of a temporary nature.  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S195 dated 27 May 1997.

VIETNAM 1975 - Seven days service by members of the Royal Australian Air Force with the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in Vietnam between 29 March 1975 and 28 April 1975.  This award replaces the Australian Service Medal with clasp Vietnam 1975 which has been revoked  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S408 dated 18 August 1998.

CAMBODIA - 30 days service in Cambodia and the areas in Laos and Thailand not more than 50 kilometres from the border of Cambodia between 20 October 1991 and 7 October 1993.  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S111 dated 17 March 1999.

BALKANS - 30 days service with the United Nations or North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in the Balkans region between 14 January 1992 and 24 January 1997.  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S408 dated 18 August 1998.

SOMALIA - 30 days service in Somalia with the following operations:  the Battalion Group in Operation SOLACE between 10 January 1993 and 21 May 1993; the land component of the Second United Nations Operation in Somalia with effect from 1 May 1993; and the air component of the Second United Nations Operation in Somalia with effect from 1 May 1993.  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S27 dated 23 January 1997.

EAST TIMOR - Prescribed service in the area comprising east Timor and the sea adjacent to East Timor out to a distance of 12 nautical miles from the low water mark with the following prescribed operations: Operation FABER that commenced on 16 September 1999; Operation WARDEN that commenced on 16 September 1999; and Operation TANAGER that commenced on 20 February 2000.  Awarded for service as a member posted to the prescribed operation for a prescribed period of not less than 24 hours; awarded for official visits, inspections or other occurrences of a temporary nature in connection with the prescribed operations for a prescribed period of not less than an aggregate of 30 days; awarded for one operational sortie from a unit assigned to the prescribed operation; awarded for 30non-operational sorties from any unit, not necessarily assigned to the prescribed operation where those sorties were conducted over a period of not less than an aggregate of 30 days at a rate of one sortie per day.  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S110 dated 9 March 2000.

DESIGN - Description of Ribbon
The colours of the ribbon are intended to depict the tones of the Australian bush and are in hues of brown, gold and green, with the addition of a thin red strip symbolising danger.

ORDER OF PRECEDENCE - The Australian Active Service Medal 1975-, with clasps in order of date of qualifying service, is worn  with Campaign Awards in order of date of qualifying service.

AUSTRALIAN SERVICE MEDAL 1945-1975

The Australian Service Medal 1945-1975 with clasps denoting areas of service, is awarded to members of the Australian Defence Force for non-warlike service in certain specified areas.  The following is a summary of all thirteen approved clasps with the respective qualifying areas and periods.  Letters Patent: Commonwealth of Australian Gazette dated 3 April 1995.  Determination:  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S220 dated 14 June 1995.

JAPAN - 30 days service with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan between 3 September 1945 and 28 April 1952.  Commonwealth of Australian Gazette S274 dated 18 July 1996

PNG - 30 days service in Papua New Guinea, the Territory of Papua or the Territory of New Guinea (including New Britain and Bougainville) between 3 September 1945 and 16 September 1975.  Commonwealth of Australian Gazette S350 dated 9 July 1998.

INDONESIA - 30 days service with the United Nations Good Offices Commission from 1 August 1947 to 1 January 1949, or with the United Nations Commission for Indonesia from 1 January 1949 to 30 April 1951.  Commonwealth of Australian Gazette S274 dated 18 July 1996.

MIDDLE EAST - 30 days service in the Middle East with the following United Nations forces covering the period 11 June 1948 to 13 February 1975:  United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (1948-1975), United Nations Observer Group in Lebanon (July 1958 to December 1958), United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (1974-1975), United Nations Yemen Observations Mission (1963-1964), Second United Nations Emergency Force (1973-1975).  Personnel eligible for the Australian Service Medal with clasp Middle East for service subsequent to 14 February 1975 are not eligible for the award of the Australian Service Medal 1945-1975 with clasp Middle East.  Commonwealth of Australian Gazette S274 dated 18 July 1996.

BERLIN - 30 days service in support of the operation known as the Berlin Airlift between 26 June 1948 and 30 September 1949.  Commonwealth of Australian Gazette S414 dated 5 October 1995.

KASHMIR - 30 days service in India/Pakistan with the United Nations Military Observers Group in India/Pakistan (UNMOGIP) or the United Nations India/Pakistan Observer Mission (UNIPOM) between 13 August 1948 and 13 February 1975.  Personnel who have qualified for the Australian Service Medal with clasp Kashmir for service subsequent to 14 February 1975 are not eligible for the award of the Australian Service Medal 1945-1975 with clasp Kashmir.  Commonwealth of Australian Gazette S274 dated 18 July 1996.

FESR - 30 days service whilst posted to those ships of the Royal Australian Navy formally allocated or assigned to, and participating in, the Far East Strategic Reserve between 2 July 1955 and 30 October 1971.  Commonwealth of Australian Gazette S274 dated 18 July 1996.

THAI-MALAY - 30 days service on anti-terrorist operations on the Thailand-Malaysia border between 1 August 1960 and 16 August 1964, and on operational sorties as aircrew on the Thailand-Malaysia border between 17 August 1964 and 30 March 1966.

THAILAND - 30 days service at the Royal Thai Air Force Base at Ubon, and to those who served with 2 Field Troop Royal Australian Engineers at Ban Kok Talat in Operation "Crown" between 1 May 1962 and 31 August 1968.  Commonwealth of Australian Gazette S337 dated 5 September 1995.

W NEW GUINEA - 30 days service with the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA) force in West New Guinea between 3 October 1962 and 30 April 1963.  Commonwealth of Australian Gazette S337 dated 5 September 1995.

SW PACIFIC - 30 days service in the Netherlands Indies, Portuguese Timor, Sarawak, Brunei, British Borneo, Philippine Islands, Solomon Islands, Nauru and Ocean Islands, Burma, Malaya and Singapore, and including all islands and waters forming part of those territories between 3 September 1945 and 24 November 1946; or participation in Royal Australian Air Force military activities on Morotai Island between 3 September 1945 and 10 July 1948.  Also for 30 days minesweeping service afloat by ships of the Royal Australian Navy commissioned for mine-countermeasure duties in waters off the China coast and waters of the south west Pacific between 3 September 1945 an and 30 December 1946, or in all Australian waters between 3 September 1945 and 16 August 1950, or in waters off the Netherlands Indies between 25 November 1946 and 30 December 1946, or in waters off the Solomon Islands between 25 November 1946 and 16 August 1948.  Also for 30 days service in bomb and mine clearance activities involving the actual excavation, removal, or final disposal of unexploded bombs, the disarming of live mines inside the perimeter fencing of live minefields, or acting a water jet operator on the Queensland coast of Australia between 3 September 1945 and 31 May 1950, or on the Solomon Islands between 25 November 1946 and 10 November 1956.  A person is not eligible for the aware of the Australian Service Medal 1945-1975 with clasp SW Pacific if, as a result of rendering minesweeping or bomb and mine clearance service as part of the above activities was awarded the Naval General Service Medal or the General Service Medal with any of the following clasps: MINESWEEPING 1945-51, BOMB-MINE CLEARANCE 1945-53, BOMB-MINE CLEARANCE 1945-49, or BOMB-MINE CLEARANCE 1945-56.  Commonwealth of Australian Gazette S179 dated 24 April 1998.

GERMANY - 30 days service with the British Forces of Occupation in Germany between 9 May 1945 and 19 October 1951.  Any person who rendered service in this operation will not be eligible for the Australian Service Medal 1945-75 with clasp Germany during the period 26 June 1948 to 30 September 1949 if qualifying service for the Australian Service Medal 1945-75 with clasp Berlin was rendered.  Commonwealth of Australian Gazette S408 dated 18 August 1998.

KOREA - Participation in United Nations Commission activities in Korea between 9 June 1950 and 23 June 1950.  30 days service with British Commonwealth Forces Korea in Korea, Japan or Okinawa between 28 July 1953 and 26 August 1957.  30 days service with the United Nations Command (Military Armistice Commission) within the Demilitarised Zone in Korea between 27 August 1957 and 13 February 1975.  Commonwealth of Australian Gazette S111 dated 17 March 1999.

DESIGN - Description of Ribbon
A narrow central gold stripe flanked by two narrow green stripes, which are in turn flanked by two silver-grey stripes.  On the left is a band of dark blue and on the right a band of light blue.

ORDER OF PRECEDENCE - The Australian Service Medal 1945-1975, with clasps in order of date of qualifying service, is worn after Campaign Awards, and before Long Service and Foreign Awards.

AUSTRALIAN SERVICE MEDAL 1975-

The Australian Service Medal was established to recognise service rendered by members of the Australian Defence Force in prescribed peacekeeping or non-warlike operations since 14 February 1975.  The medal includes a clasp to denote the prescribed operation.  Following is a summary of all twenty approved claps with the respective qualifying areas and periods.  Letters Patent:  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S336 dated 2 November 1988.  Determination:  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S296 dated 1 November 1991.

KASHMIR - 90 days service with the United Nations Military Observers Group in India/Pakistan with effect from 14 February 1975.  Governor General's Determination dated 21 May 1990.

PESHAWAR - 90 days service with the United Nations Mine Clearance Training Team in Pakistan with effect from 16 July 1989.  Governor General's Determination dated 6 April 1990.

IRAQ - 30 days service in southern Turkey and northern Iraq with the International Kurdish Relief Operation that commenced on 1 May 1991; or seven days service within Iraq with the United Nations Special Commission in Iraq that commenced on 1 May 1991; or seven days service with the multinational military deployment in the Middle East that commenced on 15 February 1998.  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S146 dated 3 April 1998.

SOMALIA - 30 days service with the First and Second United Nations Operations in Somalia (including activities associated with those operations in the areas extending 20 kilometres into Ethiopia and Kenya, 10 kilometres into Djibouti and 12 nautical miles into the territorial waters of Somalia) between 17 October 1992 and 30 April 1993.

GULF - 30 days service with the Royal Australian Navy activity in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman between 17 November 1986 and 31 October 1988; and the continuing mine countermeasures operations within the Persian Gulf between 1 November 1988 and 28 February 1989.  Governor General's Determination dated 14 October 1991.

MIDDLE EAST - 90 days service in the Middle east with the following United Nations Forces with effect from 14 February 1975: United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation; United Nations Disengagement Observer Force; Second United Nations Emergency Force; United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.  Governor General's Determination dated 21 May 1990.

UGANDA - 90 days service with the Commonwealth Military Training Team in Uganda between 18 March 1982 and 24 March 1984.  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S26 dated 12 July 1989.

GUATEMALA - 30 days service with the United Nations Operation in Guatemala with effect from 15 February 1997.   Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S53 dated February 1998.

KUWAIT - 30 days service with the multinational military deployment in the Persian Gulf between 2 August 1990 and 16 January 1991; and for 30 days service with effect from 1 March 1991.  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette GN18 dated 15 May 1991.

SINAI - 30 days service with the Multinational Force and Observers activity in the Sinai between 9 February 1982 and 28 April 1986; and with effect from 6 January 1993.  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S27 dated 23 January 1997.

IRAN-IRAQ - 90 days service with the United Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observers Group on the Iran-Iraq border with effect from 12 August 1988.  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette GN26 dated 12 July 1989.

RWANDa - 30 days service with the United Nations Operation in Rwanda with effect from 29 July 1994.  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S27 dated 23 January 1997.

NAMIBIA - 90 days service with the United Nations Transition Assistance Group in Namibia with effect from 11 March 1989.  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette GN26 dated 12 July 1989.

BOUGAINVILLE - 30 days service with the Truce Monitoring Group in Bougainville with effect from 20 November 1997.  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S53 dated 10 February 1998.

WEST SAHARA - 30 days service in Western Sahara with effect from 5 September 1991.  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S298 of 4 November 1991.

CAMBODIA - 30 days service in Cambodia with effect from 8 October 1993.  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S111 dated 17 March 1999.

SPECIAL OPS - For service after 1975 in certain special non-warlike Australian Defence Force operations as determined by the Chief of the Defence Force.  Governor General's Determination.

BALKANS - 30 days service with the United Nations or North Atlantic Traty Organisation in the Balkans region with effect from 25 January 1997.  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S408 dated 18 August 1998.

MOZAMBIQUE - 30 days service in Mozambique with effect from 12 July 1994.  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S48 dated 10 February 1995.

KOREA - 30 days service with the United Nations Command (Military Armistice Commission) within the Demilitarised Zone between the Military Demarcation Line and the Republic of Korea boundary with effect from 14 February 1975.  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S111 dated 17 March 1999.

DESIGN - Description of Ribbon
The colours of the ribbon are intended to depict the tones of the Australian bush and are in hues of brown, gold and green.

ORDER OF PRECEDENCE - The Australian Service Medal 1975-, with clasps in order of date of qualifying service, is worn after Campaign Awards, and before Long Service and Foreign Awards.