Africa Star facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Africa Star
Awarded to a South African, 314134 J.A. Jooste
Country	United Kingdom
Type	Military campaign medal
Eligibility	All Ranks
Awarded for	Entry into operational area
Campaign(s)	North Africa 1940–1943
Clasps	NORTH AFRICA 1942–43 8th ARMY 1st ARMY
Statistics
Established	8 July 1943
Order of wear
Next (higher)	Air Crew Europe Star
Next (lower)	Pacific Star
Ribbon bar North Africa 1942–43, 8th Army and 1st Army insignia

The Africa Star is a special military medal. It was created in the United Kingdom on 8 July 1943. This medal was given to soldiers from Britain and other Commonwealth countries. They earned it by serving in North Africa during the Second World War. This service took place between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943.

The medal also came with three special bars called "clasps." These clasps could be worn on the medal's ribbon. They were named North Africa 1942–43, 8th Army, and 1st Army.

Understanding World War II Medals

On 8 July 1943, two important campaign medals were created. These were the 1939–43 Star (later called the 1939–1945 Star) and the Africa Star. By May 1945, a total of eight "stars" and nine clasps were made. These were given to people who served in different campaigns during the Second World War.

Later, on 26 February 2013, two more awards were added. These were the Arctic Star and the Bomber Command Clasp. Even with these additions, no one could receive more than six campaign stars. Only one clasp could be worn on any single campaign star.

Here are the six main campaign stars that could be awarded:

• The 1939–1945 Star: This was for service throughout the war. It could have a clasp for the Battle of Britain or the Bomber Command.
• Only one of these three: the Atlantic Star, Air Crew Europe Star, or France and Germany Star. If someone earned more than one, they received the first one. The others were shown with a special ribbon clasp.
• The Arctic Star: This was for service in the Arctic convoys.
• The Africa Star: This medal could have a clasp for North Africa 1942–43, 8th Army, or 1st Army. Only the first one earned was worn.
• Either the Pacific Star or Burma Star: If both were earned, the first one was given. The other was shown with a clasp.
• The Italy Star: This was for service in the Italian Campaign.

Everyone who received a campaign star also received the War Medal 1939–1945.

Why the Africa Star Was Created

Between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943, British forces fought in North Africa. They were fighting against German and Italian forces. These enemy forces controlled large parts of Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia. This control threatened the important Suez Canal and sea routes.

During the desert war, power shifted between the two sides. Finally, the remaining German forces gave up in Tunis on 12 May 1943. Some historians believe this victory in North Africa was a turning point in the war. It helped lead to Germany's eventual defeat.

The creation of the Africa Star was announced on 8 July 1943. In August, it was announced that the first ribbon bars would be given out later that year. The actual medals were planned to be given after the war ended. By March 1944, 1,500,000 people had received their Africa Star ribbon bars. More awards were given out until the end of the war.

Three clasps were created for the medal: 'North Africa 1942–43', '8th Army', and '1st Army'. Only the first clasp a person earned could be worn on the Africa Star ribbon.

Who Earned the Africa Star?

Medal Rules

To get the Africa Star, a person needed to serve for at least one day. This service had to be in an active area of North Africa. The time frame was between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943. The "operational area" included the entire region from the Suez Canal to the Strait of Gibraltar. It also included Malta, Ethiopian Empire, Kenya, the Sudan, both Somalilands, and Eritrea. Areas not directly on the Mediterranean Sea only counted between 10 June 1940 and 27 November 1941.

• Navy and Merchant Navy members earned the medal for serving in the Mediterranean Sea. This was between the two dates mentioned, or for serving in campaigns in Abyssinia, Somaliland, and Eritrea. Merchant Navy members also qualified for service off the Moroccan coast.
• Army personnel had to enter North Africa as part of an active unit. Service in Abyssinia, Sudan, Somaliland, and Eritrea also counted.
• Air Force personnel qualified if they landed in or flew over any of the active areas. The medal was also given to crews of transport planes that flew over specific routes.
• Members of the Australian Imperial Force earned the Africa Star for service in Syria. This was between 8 June and 11 July 1941.

Service in West Africa did not count for the Africa Star.

Clasp Rules

Rules made in 1945 stated that only one clasp could be worn with the Africa Star. This had to be the first clasp a person earned. However, some important leaders, like Dwight Eisenhower and Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis, wore both the 8th Army and 1st Army clasps.

• The North Africa 1942–43 Clasp was for service with the 18th Army Group Headquarters. It was also for Navy and Merchant Navy personnel serving on shore. Air Force members qualified for service in specific areas. When wearing only the ribbon, a silver flower-like symbol (rosette) showed this clasp.
• The 8th Army Clasp was for service with the Eighth Army. This was between 23 October 1942 and 12 May 1943. A silver number "8" was worn on the ribbon bar to show this clasp.
• The 1st Army Clasp was for service with the First Army. This was between 8 November 1942 and 12 May 1943. A silver number "1" was worn on the ribbon bar to show this clasp.

What the Africa Star Looks Like

The nine campaign stars were designed by artists at the Royal Mint. All the stars have a ring at the top for hanging. They are six-pointed stars, made from a yellow copper-zinc metal. Each star is about 44 millimeters wide and 50 millimeters tall.

Front (Obverse)

The front of the medal has the letters "GRI VI" in the center. These are the initials of King George VI, topped with a crown. A circle surrounds the letters, and it says "THE AFRICA STAR."

Back (Reverse)

The back of the medal is plain and smooth.

Naming the Medals

The British committee that decided on awards chose not to put names on these medals for British forces. However, three Commonwealth countries did name them. India, South Africa, and Australia (after veterans asked for it) put the recipient's name on the back. For Indians, it included their service number, rank, initials, last name, and service branch. For South Africans, it was their service number, initials, and last name.

Clasps

North Africa 1942-43 Clasp

8th Army Clasp

1st Army Clasp

All three clasps were made from the same yellow copper-zinc metal. They have a special frame that looks like the edge of a postage stamp. They are engraved with "NORTH AFRICA 1942–43," "8th ARMY," and "1st ARMY." These clasps were designed to be sewn onto the medal's ribbon. Remember, only one clasp, the first one earned, could be worn with the Star. When only the ribbon is worn, a small silver "8," "1," or rosette is placed on the ribbon bar to show which clasp was earned.

Ribbon

The ribbon is 32 millimeters wide and has several colored stripes. It has pale buff (sandy color) bands, a dark blue band, a red band, and a light blue band. The pale buff color represents the sand of the Sahara Desert. The dark blue stands for the Royal Navy and Merchant Navy. The red represents the Army, and the light blue represents the Air Force.

King George VI himself designed the ribbons for this medal and other Second World War campaign stars, except for the Arctic Star.

How Medals Are Worn (Order of Wear)

The order in which Second World War campaign stars are worn depends on when each campaign started and how long it lasted. This is the order they are always worn in, even if a person earned them in a different order. The Defence Medal and War Medal are worn after the stars. Other Commonwealth war medals are worn after the War Medal.

• The 1939–1945 Star: This covers the entire Second World War, from 3 September 1939 to 2 September 1945.
• The Atlantic Star: For the Battle of the Atlantic and the war in Europe, from 3 September 1939 to 8 May 1945.
• The Arctic Star: For the Arctic Convoys and the war in Europe, from 3 September 1939 to 8 May 1945.
• The Air Crew Europe Star: For air crew service in Europe, from 3 September 1939 to 5 June 1944 (the day before D-Day).
• The Africa Star: For the North African Campaign, from 10 June 1940 to 12 May 1943.
• The Pacific Star: For the Pacific War, from 8 December 1941 to 2 September 1945.
• The Burma Star: For the Burma Campaign, from 11 December 1941 to 2 September 1945.
• The Italy Star: For the Italian Campaign, from 11 June 1943 to 8 May 1945.
• The France and Germany Star: For the North-West Europe Campaign, from 6 June 1944 to 8 May 1945.
• The Defence Medal: For service during the war, from 3 September 1939 to 8 May 1945 (or 2 September 1945 for those in the Far East and Pacific).
• The War Medal: For the full duration of the Second World War, from 3 September 1939 to 2 September 1945.

Here is an example of how three awards would be worn:

Order of wear by campaign start date

Air Crew Europe Star	Africa Star	Pacific Star