Context

The African Star is a Second World War medal.

Eligibility and Criteria

The star was awarded for a minimum one day service in an operational area of North Africa between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943.

Description

The six–pointed star is yellow copper zinc alloy.

The obverse has a central design of the Royal and Imperial cypher, surmounted by a crown. The cypher is surrounded by a circlet containing the words ‘The Africa Star’.

The sand coloured buff ribbon has a central red stripe and two narrow stripes, dark blue at left and light blue at right. The colours represent the desert, Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Bars

First Army: Awarded for service with that army between 08 November 1942 and 12 May 1943. A '1' is worn on the ribbon in undress to denote this bar.

Eighth Army: Awarded for service with that army between 23 October 1942 and 12 May 1943. An '8' is worn on the ribbon in undress to denote this bar.

North Africa 1942-1943: Awarded for service with the Navy, Merchant Navy, Air Force or headquarters of the 18th Army Group between 23 October 1942 and 12 May 1943. In undress, a rosette on the ribbon denotes this bar.

Only one bar is worn and when the ribbon is worn alone a ribbon emblem, ‘8’, ‘1’ or silver rosette as appropriate is worn to denote the award of a bar.