Dunkirk Evacuation

The Operational Service Medal Afghanistan (2001)

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Catalogue number
  • OMD 5908
Production date
2000
Materials
  • metal
Dimensions
  • general: Diameter 35 mm
Alternative Names
  • FULL NAME: The Operational Service Medal Afghanistan (2001)
  • SIMPLE NAME: medal, British
Creator
Object Type
medal
Category
decorations and awards

Label

This Operational Service Medal was issued to armed forces personnel who have served in Afghanistan, or in support of Operation VERITAS, after 11 September 2001. Other related operations that count towards qualification for this medal include: Operation ORACLE; LANDMAN; BLEED; DETERM; SCOW; DAMIEN; LARVA; FINGAL; JACANA; RAMSON and BANDOG. Ongoing operations may also qualify. There is one clasp authorised for wear with this medal which is 'AFGHANISTAN'. This is awarded to those who have served in the country or in other areas so designated. When the ribbon is worn alone, the presence of the clasp is indicated by a small silver rosette. For information on another issue of this new medal see the catalogue entry for OMD 5907.

Physical description

medal and clasp circular silver medal 35mm in diameter. The obverse design bears the crowned effigy of Queen Elizabeth II facing right in low relief, the whole surrounded by the legend 'ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FID.DEF.' The reverse design bears the Union Flag in the centre surrounded by a circlet bearing the legend 'FOR OPERATIONAL SERVICE'. From beneath the circlet carrying the inscription are the points of a compass. On four points of the compass are (clockwise from the top left) four 'crowns' Royal; Naval; Mural (for the Army) and Astral. The medal has an ornate swivel suspender and is hung from a ribbon 1.25in wide. The ribbon has a central broad vertical stripe of red. Either side of the central stripe are narrower stripes of dark blue and light blue. At each edge is a light brown stripe. The colours of red, dark blue and light blue represent the three services and the colour brown represents the Afghan landscape. The clasp is silver plain and straight-edged and bears the legend 'AFGHANISTAN'.

(a) impressed on rim (b) embossed on clasp

(a) SPECIMEN (b) AFGHANISTAN

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