Bars to the General Service Medal 1918 - 1962, Award Criteria.

S. Persia

All officers and men who served:

  a) Under the command of Major-General J. A. Douglas, C.M.G., C.I.E., or of Brigadier-General A. M. S. Elsmie, C.M.G., at or in the neighbourhood of Bushire between 12th November, 1918 and 22nd June, 1919, both dates inclusive, or

  b) Under the command of Major-General Sir P. Sykes, K.C.I.E., C.M.G., or of Lieutenant-Colonel E. F. Orton, at or in the neighbourhood of Bandar Abbas between 12th November, 1918 and 3rd June, 1919, both dates inclusive.

Kurdistan

All officers, men and nurses who served:

  a) At Kirkuk, or north of a line drawn east and west through Kirkuk, between 23rd May, 1919 and 31st July, 1919, both dates inclusive, or

  b) At Dohok, or north of a line drawn east and west through Dohok, between 14th July, 1919 and 7th October, 1919, both dates inclusive, or

  c) At or north of the advance base near Akra and Amadia respectively, between 7th November, 1919 and 6th December, 1919, both dates inclusive, or

  d) With the military forces employed in the operations in Kurdistan in 1923, under command of Air Marshal Sir J. M. Salmond, K.C.B., C.M.G., C.V.O., D.S.O. with:

         (i) The force under the command of Colonel Commandant B. Vincent, C.B., C.M.G., between 19th March, 1923, and 18th June, 1923, both dates inclusive.

         (ii) The force under the command of Colonel Commandant H. T. Dobbin, D.S.O., between 27th March, 1923 and 28th April, 1923, both dates inclusive.

IRAQ

All officers, men and nurses who:-

  a) Served at Ramadi, or north of a line drawn east and west through Ramadi between 10th December, 1919 and 13th June, 1920, both dates inclusive, or
  b) Were present on the establishment of a unit or formation within the boundaries of Iraq between 1st July, 1920, and 17th November, 1920, both dates inclusive.

N.W. Persia

    All officers and men of "Norperforce", and also to the troops on Lines of Communication from Quraitiu, who served west of a line drawn north and south through Teheran between 10th August, 1920 and 31st December, 1920, both dates inclusive.

Southern Desert: Iraq

The British and Indian Military Forces employed in the operations against the Akhwan in the Southern Desert, Iraq, under the command of Air Commodore T. C. R. Higgins, C.B., C.M.G., Royal Air Force, between 8th and 22nd January, 1928, both dates inclusive, or Wing Commander E. R. C. Nanson, C.B.E., D.S.C., A.F.C., Royal Air Force, between 22nd January, 1928 and 31st June, 1928, both dates inclusive.

Northern Kurdistan

Personnel of the Royal Air Force and other Imperial Forces and to British Military Personnel serving with the Iraqi Forces who participated in the operations against Sheikh Ahmed of Barzan, in Northern Kurdistan between 15th March and 21st June, 1932, both dates inclusive within the following area of operations :

Service within the area Diana–Erbil–Aqra–Suri, due north to Turkish frontier along Turkish frontier to a point due north of Diana-Diana, all places inclusive.

Palestine

Personnel detailed below who were employed within the geographical limits of Palestine and/or Trans-Jordan, between 19th April, 1936 and 3rd September, 1939, both dates inclusive.

  a) Personnel of the Army who served on the establishment of a unit or formation within the prescribed area.

  b) Personnel of the Trans-Jordan Frontier Force and of the British Section of the Palestine Police Force.

  c) Other members of the Palestine Police Force recommended by the High Commissioner and the General Officer Commanding British Forces in Palestine and Trans- Jordan in consultation.

  d) British officers of the Civil Service recommended by the High Commissioner and the General Officer Commanding British Forces in Palestine and Trans-Jordan, in consultation.

S. E Asia 1945-46

Officers (including women officers) and other ranks and auxiliaries of the British, Dominion and Colonial and Indian Forces; VAD officers and members; specially approved categories of uniformed civilians; allied nationals commissioned or enlisted into the British Forces who were on the posted strength of a unit and served in:

  a) Java or Sumatra, between 3rd September, 1945 and 30th November, 1946, both dates inclusive.

  b) French Indo-China between 3rd September, 1945 and 28th January, 1946, both dates inclusive.

A time limit of one week was required for official visits and inspections etc., to qualify for the award.

Bomb and Mine Clearance 1945-49

Any personnel who during the period from 9th May, 1945 to 31st December, 1949, both dates inclusive, were actively engaged for an aggregate period of not less than 180 days anywhere in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland on the actual excavation down to the removal of, or final disposal of, unexploded bombs or on clearance operations inside the perimeter fencing of live minefields, on the disarming of live mines, or acting as waterjet operator. Other duties in a unit engaged on bomb disposal or mine clearance did not count as qualifying service. The qualifying period of 180 days was ignored in the case of death on such duties or if a British Honour, Decoration or Medal of the status of the British Empire Medal or above or a Mentioned in Despatches or King's Commendation for bomb and mine clearance, within the prescribed period was awarded.

The award was also granted to Australian Army personnel employed on similar duties in the following territories :-

  a) Solomon Islands (Australian Mandate and British Protectorate).

  b) New Guinea (Trust Territory).

  c) Papua.

 

Bomb and Mine Clearance 1945-56

Australian Army personnel under similar conditions to the clasp "Bomb and Mine Clearance 1945-49" for service between 3rd September, 1945 and 10th November, 1956 in the following territories.

  a) Solomon Islands (Australian Mandate and British Protectorate).

  b) New Guinea (Trust Territory).

  c) Papua.

If an individual was already in possession of the clasp "Bomb and Mine Clearance 1945-9" and later rendered service after 1949 the clasp "Bomb and Mine Clearance 1945-56" was issued in substitution for the clasp that had already been awarded.

Palestine 1945-48

Entitled personnel for service in Palestine between 27th September, 1945 and 30th June, 1948, both dates inclusive.

  a) All officers (including women officers) and other ranks and auxiliaries of the British, Commonwealth and Colonial Military Forces, who entered into operations in Palestine (i.e. service of one day or more) while on the posted strength of a unit. The qualification for official visits, inspections etc., in the army qualifying area was 30 days.

  b) Military crews of ships in the Royal Army Service Corps Fleet and military personnel posted for duty in:

    (i) ships of the Royal Navy employed on the Palestine Patrol against illegal immigrants, or

    (ii) in Merchant Navy ships employed in carrying illegal immigrants from Haifa to Cyprus.

Qualifying service afloat was 28 days.

  c) British members of the Palestine Police and Palestine Civil Service who served one day or more in Palestine.

  d) Members of the specially approved civilian organisations who served one day or more with the Forces in Palestine, provided they entered the operational zone and wore the approved uniform of their organisation. The specially approved civilian organisations were:

  e) Interpreters who had service of one day or more, provided they were employed full time in purely military organisations in Palestine, were paid for from Army Funds and wore military uniforms.

  f) Officers and other ranks of the Arab Legion who had service of one day or more in Palestine during the period 27th September, 1945 to midnight 14th/15th May, 1948.

Malaya

Entitled personnel for service in the Federation of Malaya between 16th June, 1948 and 31st July, 1960 (inclusive), and in the Colony of Singapore between 16th June, 1948 and 31st January, 1959 (inclusive).

  a) All officers and other ranks and auxiliaries of the British Commonwealth Forces, and Colonial Military Forces who had service of one day or more on the posted strength of a unit or formation. The qualifications for official visits, inspections etc., on duty was 30 days.

Army personnel included personnel of:

  b) Members of the specially approved civilian organisations who served one or more days with the Forces on land providing they wore the approved uniform of the organisation. The specially approved civilian organisations were:

  c) Members of the civil Police Forces who had 90 days full time service provided they were properly enlisted in the :—

  d) Enrolled members of approved civilian forces raised in Malaya, Singapore or Sarawak, who had 28 days full time service and were properly enlisted or enrolled in:

  e) Part time Forces raised locally with 720 hours aggregated operational service, the equivalent of 30 days at 24 hours each, provided individuals were formerly enrolled and their training had been prior to colour service completed and they had passed out before the beginning of qualifying service, and after passing out they must have served or been resident in the operational area for a period of at least three months. Service in the following part-time Forces counted:

CANAL ZONE

The following categories of personnel will be eligible for the award of the General Service Medal with bar Canal Zone:

  a) Army or Royal Air Force personnel and equivalent Reserve Forces based in the Suez Canal Zone.

  b) civilians who served full time with the Army or Royal Air Force during the qualifying period provided they wore the approved uniform of their organisation.

  c) military personnel of Commonwealth or Colonial Forces subject to the approval of their respective governments.

  d) persons of foreign nationality properly enlisted or enrolled in any of the qualifying categories described above.

Qualifying service for each of these categories will be thirty days or more continuous service in the Suez Canal Zone between 16 October 1951 and 19 October 1954. Service at sea will not count towards the qualifying period. Nor will time spent in the Canal Zone on official visits, inspections etc. by personnel based elsewhere. Personnel whose service was cut short due to death, wounds or disability would qualify, as those who won an award, or decoration.

Cyprus

Entitled personnel for service in the suppression of acts of terrorism during the emergency in Cyprus between 1st April, 1955 and 18th April, 1959, inclusive.

  a) Officers and other ranks of the British Army who served for 120 days or more on the posted strength of a unit or formation in Cyprus.

  b) Members of specially approved civilian organisations who served with the Forces on land in Cyprus and wore the approved uniform of their organisation, for 120 days.

   c) Members of the civil Police Force including the Cyprus Fire Brigade, providing they were properly enlisted and that, before the beginning of their qualifying service, they were trained in Police work either before or after enlistment in Cyprus or elsewhere.

     (i) Full time service of 120 days or more in:

     (ii) Part time service of not less than 822 hours of duty in any continuous period of 34 weeks, while resident in the operational area in the Special Constabulary of the Cyprus Police Force.

Near East

Entitled personnel for service in the operations in Egypt during the period 31st October, 1956 to 22nd December, 1956, both dates inclusive.

  (a) Officers and other ranks of the United Kingdom Forces who:

     (i) Served one day or more on the posted strength of a unit or formation ashore in Egypt, or

     (ii) Served one day or more afloat at sea off the Egyptian coast in any of the following ships:—

  (3) Carried out one sortie over the operational land area in Egypt as aircrew of helicopters or flew as aircrew in eligible Royal Naval or Royal Air Force aircraft.

The time qualification for official visits, inspections, etc., on duty in the operational land area in Egypt was also one day.

  b) Civilians as defined below who served one day or more with the Forces in the operational area.

     (i) Civil Affairs Officers.

     (ii) Foreign Office Adviser.

     (iii) Shipping Adviser.

     (iv) Accredited War Correspondent.

     (v) Civilian crews of R.A.S.C. vessels.

Arabian Peninsula

To entitled personnel for service in operations in resistance to border raids and against bands of dissidents in the Arabian Peninsula between 1st January, 1957 and 30th June, 1960, inclusive.

  a) Officers and other ranks of the British Army, including British Army personnel seconded or attached to the Sultan of Muscat and Oman's Armed Forces, who served for 30 days or more, not necessarily continuous, in Aden Colony, the Aden Protectorate, the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman, or the Persian Gulf States while on the posted or attached strength of any unit in these theatres.

  b) Members of the under mentioned local Armed Forces who served for 30 days in the same conditions as Army personnel.

 

   c) Members of specially approved civilian categories, who served with the Forces on land were eligible under the same rules as for the Army, if they wore the approved uniform of :—
 

Brunei

Entitled personnel for service in operations against rebels in the State of Brunei, or in North Borneo, or Sarawak between 8th and 23rd December, 1962, inclusive.

   a) Officers and other ranks of the British and Australian Army who served for one day or more, on the posted or attached strength of any unit or formation which took part in the operations.

   b) Specially approved civilians who served with the Army in the operational area and wore the approved uniform, who served for one day or more in:

    (i) Army Fire Service.

    (ii) W.V.S.

  c) Members of the North Borneo Police Force provided they took part in the operations against the rebels in the State of Brunei or in the Sipitang or Beaufort districts of North Borneo.

  d) Members of the Sarawak Police Force, provided they took part in the operations against rebels in the State of Brunei or in Sarawak.