Australian Service Medal 1945-1975
Encyclopedia
The Australian Service Medal 1945–1975 recognises service in peacekeeping or non-warlike operations in the 30-year period following World War II, and prior to February 1975. The medal was established on 22 February 1995. The Australian Service Medal
recognises non-warlike service after February 1975.
(FESR), from 2 July 1955 to 31 October 1971.
(BCOF) in Japan from 3 September 1945 to 28 April 1952
, from 13 August 1948 to 13 February 1975.
in nation building, training and administration of defence forces, and humanitarian relief from 3 September 1945 to 16 September 1975
, for activities and dates as specified by the Chief of the Defence Force
, at some time in the period 3 September 1945 and 13 February 1975.
from 3 October 1962 to 30 April 1963.
Australian Service Medal
The Australian Service Medal is an Australian military decoration. It was authorized 13 September 1988 to recognise prescribed service in peacekeeping and non-warlike operations. It is awarded with a clasp to denote the prescribed operation and subsequent awards of the medal are made in the form of...
recognises non-warlike service after February 1975.
Description
- The Australian Service Medal 1945–1975 is a nickel-silver medal ensigned with the Crown of St EdwardSt. Edward's CrownSt Edward's Crown was one of the English Crown Jewels and remains one of the senior British Crown Jewels, being the official coronation crown used in the coronation of first English, then British, and finally Commonwealth realms monarchs...
. The obverse features the Commonwealth Coat of ArmsCoat of arms of AustraliaThe coat of arms of Australia is the official symbol of Australia. The initial coat of arms was granted by King Edward VII on 7 May 1908, and the current version was granted by King George V on 19 September 1912, although the 1908 version continued to be used in some contexts, notably appearing on...
above a spray of golden wattle surrounded by the words 'THE AUSTRALIAN SERVICE MEDAL 1945–1975'. - The reverse of the medal shows the Federation StarCommonwealth StarThe Commonwealth Star is a seven-pointed star symbolising the Federation of Australia which came into force on 1 January 1901....
and golden wattle with space for recipient's details. - The medal ribbon has a central gold stripe flanked by two green stripes which in turn are flanked by navy blue, khaki and light blue stripes from the Australia Service Medal 1939–45
- A nickel-silver clasp with the name of the theatre or action for which the award is made is presented with the medal.
BERLIN
30 days service Service with the 'Berlin Airlift', from 26 June 1948 to 30 September 1949.FESR
30 days service with the Far East Strategic ReserveFar East Strategic Reserve
The British Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve was a joint military force of the British, Australian, and New Zealand armed forces...
(FESR), from 2 July 1955 to 31 October 1971.
INDONESIA
30 days service with:- the UN Good Offices Commission from 1 August 1947 to 1 January 1949
- the UN Commission for IndonesiaUnited Nations Security Council Resolution 67United Nations Security Council Resolution 67, adopted on January 28, 1949, satisfied that both parties in the Indonesian Conflict continued to adhere to the principles of the Renville Agreement, the Council called upon the Netherlands to immediately discontinue all military operations and upon the...
from 1 January 1949 to 30 April 1951
JAPAN
30 days service with British Commonwealth Occupation ForceBritish Commonwealth Occupation Force
The British Commonwealth Occupation Force , was the name of the joint Australian, Canadian, British, Indian and New Zealand military forces in occupied Japan, from 21 February 1946 until the end of occupation in 1952...
(BCOF) in Japan from 3 September 1945 to 28 April 1952
KASHMIR
30 days service with UN mission in India/PakistanUnited Nations in Kashmir
The United Nations has played an important role in maintaining peace and order in Jammu and Kashmir since the transfer of Power to India and independence to Pakistan in 1947. Immediately after the freedom a dispute erupted between India and the successor nation-state of Pakistan on the question of...
, from 13 August 1948 to 13 February 1975.
KOREA
30 days service in total with any of:- the UN Commission in Korea from 9 June 1950 to 23 June 1950.
- the British Commonwealth Forces KoreaBritish Commonwealth Forces KoreaBritish Commonwealth Forces Korea was the formal name, from 1952, of the Commonwealth army, naval and air units serving with the United Nations in the Korean War. Australian, British, Canadian, Indian and New Zealand units were part of BCFK...
(BCFK) in Japan & Okinawa from 29 April 1952 to 26 August 1957. - service afloat and in the air off Korea to 100 miles from 28 July 1953 to 26 August 1957.
- Ceasefire monitoring activities in Korea, from 28 July 1953 to 26 August 1957.
- the UN CommandUnited Nations Command (Korea)The United Nations Command is the unified command structure for the multinational military forces supporting the Republic of Korea during and after the Korean War...
(MAC) from 27 August 1957 to 13 February 1975
PNG
30 days service in Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
in nation building, training and administration of defence forces, and humanitarian relief from 3 September 1945 to 16 September 1975
SW PACIFIC
30 days service associated with:- RAAF service on Bathurst, Champagny and Sir Graham Moore Island with Long Range Navigation Stations from 3 September 1945 to 24 November 1946.
- islands in South-West Pacific area, Dutch East IndiesDutch East IndiesThe Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
, Burma & Malaya/Singapore, from 03 September 1945 to 24 November 1946. - RAAF service on Morotai IslandMorotaiMorotai Island Regency is a regency of North Maluku province, Indonesia, located on Morotai Island. The population was 54,876 in 2007.-History:...
from 25 November 1946 to 10 July 1948. - RAAF service on Cocos IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsThe Territory of the Cocos Islands, also called Cocos Islands and Keeling Islands, is a territory of Australia, located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Christmas Island and approximately midway between Australia and Sri Lanka....
with No. 2 Airfield Construction Squadron from 18 November 1951 to 22 January 1954. - minesweeping service afloat with the RAN in:
- waters off coast of China & the South-West Pacific from 3 September 1945 to 30 December 1946.
- all Australian waters from 3 September 1945 to 16 August 1948.
- the Netherlands (Dutch East) Indies from 25 November 1946 to 30 December 1946.
- waters off Solomon Islands from 25 November 1946 to 16 August 1948.
- undertaking bomb & mine clearance:
- along the coast of Queensland from 3 September 1945 to 31 May 1950.
- in the Solomon Islands 25 November 1946 to 10 November 1956.
- War GravesCommonwealth War Graves CommissionThe Commonwealth War Graves Commission is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves, and places of commemoration, of Commonwealth of Nations military service members who died in the two World Wars...
on LabuanLabuanLabuan is a federal territory in East Malaysia. It is an island off the coast of the state of Sabah. Labuan's capital is Victoria and is best known as an offshore financial centre offering international financial and business services via Labuan IBFC since 1990 as well as being an offshore support...
, AmbonBattle of AmbonThe Battle of Ambon occurred on the island of Ambon in the Dutch East Indies , on 30 January – 3 February 1942, during World War II. A Japanese invasion was resisted by Dutch and Australian forces...
and BorneoBorneoBorneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
Islands from 25 November 1946 to 20 September 1947.
MIDDLE EAST
30 days service with any of:- the UN Truce Supervision OrganizationUnited Nations Truce Supervision OrganizationThe United Nations Truce Supervision Organization is an organization founded on 29 May 1948 for peacekeeping in the Middle East. Its primary task was providing the military command structure to the peace keeping forces in the Middle East to enable the peace keepers to observe and maintain the...
from 11 June 1948 to 13 February 1975. - No 78 (F) WingNo. 78 Wing RAAFNo. 78 Wing is the Royal Australian Air Force's operational training wing. It is headquartered at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, and operates the BAE Hawk 127 lead-in fighter. The wing was formed in 1943 and operated P-40 Kittyhawk fighters in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II...
Malta from 9 July 1952 to 1 December 1954 - the UN Observation Group In Lebanon from 11 July 1958 to 9 December 1958.
- the UN Yemen Observer MissionUnited Nations Yemen Observation MissionThe UN Yemen Observation Mission was established in 1963.Yemen entered into a state of civil war in 1962. Yemen had joined Egypt in 1958, and then in 1962, separated again, sparking the conflict....
from 4 July 1963 to 4 September 1964. - the Second UN Emergency Force from 25 October 1973 to 13 February 1975.
- the UN Disengagement Observer ForceUnited Nations Disengagement Observer Force ZoneThe United Nations Disengagement Observer Force Zone was established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 350 on 31 May 1974, to implement Resolution 338 which called for an immediate ceasefire and implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 242.The resolution was passed...
from 3 June 1974 to 13 February 1975.
SE ASIA
30 days service:- on land in Malaysia (excluding Thai-Malay border when warlike), from 1 August 1960 to 16 August 1964, and from 12 August 1966 to 14 March 1975.
- on land in Singapore from 1 August 1960 to 16 August 1964, and from 12 August 1966 to 14 March 1975
- on land in Thailand (excluding Ubon & Ban Kok Talat) from 2 July 1955 to 24 June 1965, and from 1 September 1968 to 30 October 1971.
- on land in Vietnam from 2 July 1955 to 30 July 1962.
- on land in Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia from 2 July 1955 to 14 March 1975.
- on RAN ships with the ANZUKANZUKANZUK was a tripartite force formed by Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to defend the Asian Pacific region after the United Kingdom withdrew forces from the east of Suez in the early seventies. The ANZUK force was formed in 1971 and disbanded in 1974....
force from 31 October 1971 to 14 March 1975.
SPECIAL OPS
For service on Special OperationsSpecial forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
, for activities and dates as specified by the Chief of the Defence Force
Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)
Chief of the Defence Force is the most senior appointment in the Australian Defence Force . The CDF commands the ADF under the direction of the Minister of Defence, in a coequal arrangement with the Secretary of Defence, the most senior public servant in the Department of Defence.The position is a...
, at some time in the period 3 September 1945 and 13 February 1975.
THAILAND
30 days service:- at RTAF Base UbonUbon Royal Thai Air Force BaseUbon Royal Thai Air Force Base is a Royal Thai Air Force facility and is the home of Wing 21 of the RTAF 2nd Air Division. It is located in East-Central Thailand, near the city of Ubon Ratchathani, in the Ubon Ratchathani Province. It is approximately 305 miles North-East of Bangkok...
from 1 May 1962 - 24 June 1965. - on Operation CROWN, with 2 Field Troop, RAERoyal Australian EngineersThe Royal Australian Engineers is a corps of the Australian Army . The RAE is ranked fourth in seniority of the corps of the Australian Army, behind the Staff Cadets, Armoured and Artillery Corps...
, at Ban Kok Talat from 01 May 1962 - 24 June 1965.
W NEW GUINEA
30 days service with UNTEAUnited Nations Temporary Executive Authority
The United Nations Temporary Executive Authority / United Nations Security Force in West New Guinea was established during October 1962 in accord with Article two of the New York Agreement to administer the colony of West New Guinea until the 1st May 1963.-History:Western New Guinea became the...
from 3 October 1962 to 30 April 1963.