Description
Physical description
star, six pointed, in copper-zinc alloy approx 44.5mm in height and 51mm in width. The obverse design bears the 'GRI VI' cypher, ornate, in a circular centrepiece surrounded by an edged band bearing text 'THE AFRICA STAR'. The star is suspended (via a linked ring on the tip of uppermost ray) by a ribbon 31mm in width of pale buff with a central vertical stripe of red and narrower vertical stripes of dark blue to the left and light blue to the right. The design of the ribbon is attributed to HM King George VI. The buff colour represents the desert; the red the Armies; the dark blue the Naval Forces and Merchant Navy and the light blue the Air Forces.
Label
This Star was issued to an unknown recipient.
History note
The Africa Star was awarded to the Armed Forces and Merchant Navy, and to members of the ATS, WRNS and WAAF, and the nursing services, for entry into an operational area in North Africa between 10 June 1940 ( the date of Italy's entry into the war) and 12 May 1943 ( the end of operations in North Africa); also for service in Abyssinia, Somaliland, Eritrea and Malta. A silver Arabic ' 8' or '1' worn on the ribbon in undress indicates service with the Eighth Army between 23 October 1942 and 12 May 1943, or the First Army between 8 November 1942 and 12 May 1943. Royal and Merchant Navy service anywhere at sea in the Mediterranean between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943 qualified. A silver rose emblem is worn on the ribbon by personnel of the Royal Navy Inshore Squadrons and Merchant Navy ships which worked inshore between 23 October 1942 and 12 May 1943, and by personnel of the RAF serving between the same dates. The Eighteenth Army Group HG also wear this emblem for service between 15 February 1943 and 12 May 1943.