Africa Star: Criteria, History, and Significance

Nov 06, 2025 0

The Africa Star is a military campaign medal awarded to British and Commonwealth forces for service in North Africa during World War II. Instituted by the United Kingdom on 8 July 1943, it recognizes the efforts of personnel who served in a critical theater of the war. Here's a detailed look at the criteria, historical context, and significance of the Africa Star.

Historical Context

Between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943, British forces fought in North Africa against the Germans and Italians. The Axis powers controlled large areas of Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia, posing a significant threat to the Suez Canal and vital sea lanes. The desert conflict saw alternating periods of power between the two sides, culminating in the surrender of the remaining German forces at Tunis on 12 May 1943.

The institution of the Africa Star was announced on 8 July 1943, with the first uniform ribbon bars issued to qualifying personnel later that year. However, the medals themselves were not intended to be available until after the cessation of hostilities.

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Award Criteria

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

The entire area between the Suez Canal and the Strait of Gibraltar
Malta
Ethiopian Empire
Kenya
The Sudan
Both Somalilands
Eritrea

Specific qualifications for different branches of service included:

Royal Navy and Merchant Navy: Service in the Mediterranean between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943, or service in the campaigns in Abyssinia, Somaliland, and Eritrea between 10 June 1940 and 27 September 1941.
Merchant Navy: Service in operations off the Moroccan coast between 8 November 1942 and 12 May 1943.
Army: Entry into North Africa on the establishment of an operational unit, or service in Abyssinia, Sudan, Somaliland, and Eritrea.
Air Force: Landing in or flying over any of the operational areas.

Clasps

Three different bars were also available for this medal indicating service in the 1st Army, 8th Army and a North Africa 1942-43 clasp. Regulations issued in 1945 only allow one clasp, the first one qualified for, to be worn with the Africa Star.

The 1st Army Clasp was awarded for service with the First Army between 8 November 1942 and 12 May 1943 inclusive.
The 8th Army Clasp was awarded for service with the Eighth Army between 23 October 1942 and 12 May 1943 inclusive.
The North Africa 1942-43 Clasp was awarded for service with the 18th Army Group Headquarters between 15 February 1942 and 12 February 1943 inclusive, for Navy and Merchant Navy personnel in shore service, or for Air Force service in specified areas from 23 October 1942 to 12 May 1943 inclusive.

Medal Design and Wear

The set of nine campaign stars was designed by the Royal Mint engravers. The stars all have a ring suspender that passes through an eyelet formed above the uppermost point of the star. The obverse has a central design of the Royal Cypher "GRI VI", surmounted by a crown. The British Honours Committee decided that Second World War campaign medals awarded to British forces would be issued unnamed, a policy applied by all but three British Commonwealth countries.

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide, with a distinctive pattern of colored bands:

5 mm pale buff band
1½ mm Navy blue band
5 mm pale buff band
9 mm Army red band
5 mm pale buff band
1½ mm Air Force blue band
5 mm pale buff band

The order of wear of the Second World War campaign stars was determined by their respective campaign start dates and by the campaign's duration. This order is maintained even if a recipient qualified for them in a different sequence.

All three clasps were struck in yellow copper zinc alloy and have a frame with an inside edge that resembles the perforated edge of a postage stamp. They are inscribed "NORTH AFRICA 1942-43", "8th ARMY" and "1st ARMY" respectively and were designed to be sewn onto the medal's ribbon.

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Clasp	Service	Dates
NORTH AFRICA 1942-43	18th Army Group Headquarters, Navy, Merchant Navy, Air Force	15 February 1942 - 12 February 1943
8th ARMY	Eighth Army	23 October 1942 - 12 May 1943
1st ARMY	First Army	8 November 1942 - 12 May 1943

Other Medals and Awards

The Ministry of Defence Medal Office issues medals to recognise personal accomplishments and service achievements for individuals serving in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army, Royal Air Force, Armed Forces veterans, and civilian personnel.

The awards are listed in the official order of precedence, with the letters in brackets put after a person's surname to show their award.

Operational Gallantry Awards

Victoria Cross (VC): The premier Operational Gallantry award given for most conspicuous bravery.
Distinguished Service Order (DSO): An operational gallantry award given for highly successful command and leadership during active operations.
Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC): An operational gallantry award given to all ranks of the services in recognition of an act, or acts, of conspicuous gallantry during active operations against the enemy.
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC): An operational gallantry award given to all ranks of the services in recognition of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy at sea.
Military Cross (MC): An operational gallantry award given to all ranks of the services in recognition of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy on land.
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC): An operational gallantry award given to all ranks of the services in recognition of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy in the air.
Mention in Despatches: An operational gallantry award given to all ranks for an act, or acts, of bravery during active operations.

Non-Operational Awards

George Cross (GC): The premier award given for non-operational gallantry, or gallantry not in the presence of an enemy.
Air Force Cross (AFC): A non-operational award given to all ranks of the services in recognition of exemplary gallantry while flying not in the presence of the enemy.
George Medal (GM): Awarded for conspicuous gallantry, not in the presence of the enemy.
Queen's Gallantry Medal (QGM): Awarded to civilians for acts of exemplary bravery at a level below that of the George Medal.
Queen's Commendation for Bravery: Awarded for an act, or acts, of bravery not in the presence of the enemy.
Queen's Commendation for Bravery in the Air: Awarded for an act, or acts, of bravery while flying not in the presence of the enemy.

The Africa Star remains a symbol of courage and dedication for those who served in the North African campaign during World War II. Its criteria and design reflect the challenging conditions and vital importance of the operations in this theater of the war.

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