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Category: Australia

The Papua New Guinea Independence Medal

The Papua New Guinea Independence Medal was established to commemorate the transition to the full independence of Papua New Guinea.

The Papua New Guinea Independence Medal was established in 1975 to mark Papua New Guinea’s transition from self-government to full independence from Australia.

It is part of the Papua New Guinea honors system.

Notable recipients of this medal include:

The Papua New Guinea Independence Medal Design

There are three versions of the Papua New Guinea Independence Medal.

The first version was introduced in 1975 and features the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F.D.” and “PAPUA NEW GUINEA INDEPENDENCE 1975.” It was awarded from 1973 to 1975 to defense force members and citizens in recognition of outstanding service. This medal has a ring suspension and a smooth surface.

The second version was introduced in 1985 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of independence. It was awarded to civilian and military personnel who made significant contributions to the state since independence. This version bears the inscriptions “PAPUA NEW GUINEA ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F.D.” and “INDEPENDENCE 1975-1985.” It also has a ring suspension and a smooth surface.

The third version was introduced in 2005 to mark the 30th anniversary of independence. The obverse inscription reads “30TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY 1975-2005.” This version features a bar suspension and a rayed surface.

The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal

The medal, established in 1953, was given as a personal memento from the Queen to members of the Royal Family and selected officers of state.

The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal is a commemorative medal established on 2 June 1953 and instituted to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

This medal was given as a personal memento from the Queen to members of the Royal Family and selected officers of state, including members of the Royal Household, government officials, mayors, public servants, local government officials, and members of the navy, army, air force, and police in Britain, as well as her colonies and Dominions. It was also awarded to members of the Mount Everest expedition, two of whom reached the summit four days before the coronation. The medal was struck at the Royal Mint and distributed immediately after the coronation.

For Coronation and Jubilee medals, up until 1977, the practice was for the authorities in the United Kingdom to decide on the total number to be produced and then allocate a proportion to each of the Commonwealth countries, Crown dependencies, and other possessions of the Crown. The government of each territory had the discretion to decide who would receive a medal and for what reasons.

In total, 129,051 medals were awarded, including:

  • 11,561 to Australians.
  • 12,500 to Canadians.

The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal Design

The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal is a silver disk measuring 1.25 inches in diameter. The obverse features a crowned effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, facing right, adorned in a high-collared ermine cloak and wearing a Tudor Crown along with the Collar of the Garter and Badge of the Bath. It lacks a raised rim and any inscriptions.

The reverse displays the Royal Cypher “EiiR” topped by a large crown, with the inscription “QUEEN ELIZABETH II CROWNED 2nd JUNE 1953” around the edge. The medal was designed by Cecil Thomas.

The dark red ribbon is 1.25 inches (32 mm) wide, featuring 2 mm wide white edges and two narrow dark blue stripes in the center, each 2 mm wide and 1.6 mm apart.

The Anzac Commemorative Medal

The Anzac Commemorative Medallion was instituted in 1967 and awarded to surviving members of the Australian forces who served on the Gallipoli Peninsula, or in direct support of the operations from close offshore. The time frame is any time during the period from the first Anzac Day in April 1915 to the date of final evacuation in January 1916.

Next of kin, or other entitled persons, are entitled to receive the medallion on behalf of their relatives if the medallion has not been issued.

The Anzac Commemorative Medallion Design

The medal is cast in bronze and measures approximately 75 millimeters high and 50 millimeters wide.

The obverse depicts Simpson and his donkey carrying a wounded soldier to safety. It is bordered on the lower half by a laurel wreath above the word ANZAC. The reverse shows a map in relief of Australia and New Zealand superimposed by the Southern Cross. The lower half is bordered by New Zealand fern leaves.

Surviving members were also issued with a lapel badge in the form of a small replica of the medallion to recognise their Gallipoli service.

The name and initials of the recipient is engraved on the reverse. The medallion is issued in a presentation box.

The Australian Operational Service Medal

The Australian Operational Service Medal is a campaign medal established on 22 May 2012 to recognize service by Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel on designated hazardous operations.

The Australian Operational Service Medal is a campaign medal established on 22 May 2012 to recognize service by Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel on designated hazardous operations. It replaces the Australian Active Service Medal and Australian Service Medal for future ADF operations.

The medal is issued to military personnel with a different ribbon for each designated operation. When issued to civilians, a standard ribbon is issued with clasps issued for each designated operation. It may also be awarded to civilians who serve alongside the ADF on designated operations under specific conditions.

The military version of the medal has a standard medal design, but ribbons vary depending on operation. An accumulated service device will be awarded for subsequent qualifying service by ADF members where they undertake further service on an operation for which they have already been awarded the Australian Operational Service Medal. The civilian version uses the same medal design as the military version but is awarded with a unique civilian ribbon and a clasp denoting the declared operation.

To date, three ribbons for ADF service have been announced: order Protection, Greater Middle East Operation, and Special Operations.

> Learn more at the Australian Government Site

The Australian Operational Service Medal Design

The medal is circular, struck in cupro-nickel, and finished in antique silver.

The obverse bears an old-world stylized world globe signifying global operations, interlinked with a Federation Star. The globe is surrounded by the words ‘AUSTRALIAN OPERATIONAL SERVICE MEDAL’.

The reverse bears a central horizontal stylized scroll with the words ‘Defending Australia and its national interests’, overlaying a wreath of mimosa, above which sits an hourglass motif signifying the ongoing vigilance and timely response of Defence.

The Border Protection ribbon has three equal stripes of dark blue, ochre, and dark green which denote the seas and sky, the deserts, and the forests and grasslands. The Greater Middle East Operation ribbon has three equal stripes of mid-green, black, and light blue, edged by two slim stripes of light sand. Sand represents the desert sands, green represents Australia and hope, black represents anti-piracy, and blue represents the maritime and air aspects. The Special Operations ribbon is 32 mm wide in black with a central stripe of red. Additional accumulated service is denoted by an 8 mm high Arabic numeral with an antique silver finish. The Civilian ribbon is green with central stripes of gold and purple. The purple represents Defence, and green and gold are Australia’s national colors.

The Australian General Service Medal for Korea

The Australian General Service Medal for Korea (or AGSMK) recognizes former defense force personnel who completed 30 days of service in operations in South Korea during the post-Armistice period, 28 July 1953 to 19 April 1956, including any location 161 km (100 mi) seaward from the coast of South Korea.

The medal was established by letters patent by Queen Elizabeth II on 24 November 2009 and further determination approved by the Governor General on 12 March 2010. The AGSMK was announced on 12 February 2010 by the Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, the Hon Dr Mike Kelly AM MP, following the recommendations of the 2005 Post-Armistice Korean Service Review.

The Australian General Service Medal for Korea Design

The medal is circular, struck in nickel-silver, and measures 38 mm in diameter. The design is ensigned with the Federation Star and has an antique silver finish with a raised polished outer edge.

The obverse has a central design of a relief map of South Korea superimposed over polar projection lines representing the United Nations and surrounded by the words “Australian General Service Medal Korea”. Centered on the reverse are the words “Post Armistice Service 1953–1956″ surrounded by Australian gum leaves and blossoms with two Federation Stars included in the bottom left and right-hand quadrants.

The ribbon measures 32 millimeters wide and has a central yellow stripe 8mm wide, flanked by 6mm stripes of blue, which in turn are flanked by 6mm stripes white. The ribbon colors are representative of the colors used for the Korea Medal and the United Nations Korea Medal. The ribbon bar consists of a strip of a full-sized ribbon with no emblem.

The Iraq Medal (Australia)

The Iraq Medal was instituted by Queen Elizabeth II on the advice of the Australian Prime Minister John Howard in 2004. The Iraq Medal is awarded to Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel who served in or around Iraq (19 March 2003 – 25 November 2013).

ADF personnel is also recognized by the ‘IRAQ 2003’ clasp to the Australian Active Service Medal.

Members of the ADF who render service with the forces:

  • Operation Falconer – the ADF contribution to the United States-led military operations to remove the threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction that commenced on 18 March 2003 and ended on 30 April 2003, with 7 days service in the specified areas comprising the total land areas, territorial waters, inland waterways, and superjacent airspace boundaries of Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates Oman, Saudi Arabia, Jordan Yemen, the Persian Gulf the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman, those portions of the Arabian Sea bounded by 68 degrees East and 12 degrees North the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el Mandeb, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba; commenced on 1 May 2003 and ended on 22 July 2003, with 30 days service in the specified areas comprising the total land areas, territorial waters, inland waterways, and superjacent airspace boundaries of Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia north of 23 degrees North, the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Operation Catalyst the ADF contribution to the United States-led coalition operations in Iraq to support the Australian effort to assist with the rehabilitation of Iraq and remove the threat of weapons of mass destruction that commenced on 16 July 2003 and ended on 31 July 2009, for 30 days service in the specified areas comprising the total land areas, territorial waters, inland waterways, and superjacent airspace boundaries of Iraq Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia north of 23 degrees North, the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Operation Riverbank from 21 July 2008 personnel attached to the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq as part of Operation Riverbank. The operation ended on 25 November 2013.
  • Operation Kruger from 1 January 2009 personnel deployed on Operation KRUGER as part of the Security Detachment Iraq which protects the Australian embassy in Baghdad. The operation ended in late July 2011.

The Iraq Medal Design

The medal is circular and struck in nickel-silver.

The obverse bears the Commonwealth Coat of Arms. The reverse has a processional lion, which is copied from a relief on the Gateway of the Temple of Ishtar in Babylon. In the Assyrian Empire, the lion was a dominant symbol of power. The lion stands on a narrow plinth, symbolizing balance, with the word ‘IRAQ’ inscribed underneath.

The ribbon is sand yellow representing the desert sands of Iraq, with central stripes of purple and red representing the ADF and the conflict in Iraq.

The Afghanistan Medal (Australia)

The Afghanistan Medal is a medal instituted by Queen Elizabeth II on the advice of the Australian Prime Minister John Howard in 2004. The medal is awarded to Australian defense force personnel who served in or around Afghanistan after 11 October 2001.

Members of the Australian Defence Force who render 30 days service (or 30 sorties) with the forces:

  • Operation Slipper — the ADF contribution to the International Coalition Against Terrorism that commenced on 11 October 2001 in the specified areas comprising the total land areas and superjacent airspace boundaries of Afghanistan; commenced on 11 October 2001 and ended on 5 December 2002 in the specified areas comprising the total land areas and superjacent airspace boundaries of Kyrgyzstan; the specified areas comprising the total land areas, territorial waters inland waterways and superjacent airspace boundaries of Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman, those portions of the Arabian Sea bounded by 68 degrees east and 12 degrees north, and the Gulf of Aden; that; commenced on 11 October 2001 and ended on 5 December 2002, and commenced on 1 January 2009;
  • Operation Palate – the Australian Defence Force contribution to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan that commenced on 6 December 2002 in the area comprising the specified total land areas and superjacent airspace boundaries of Afghanistan.

Defense force personnel are also recognized by the ‘ICAT’ clasp to the Australian Active Service Medal and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s Non-Article 5 Medal with ‘ISAF’ clasp. A person is not eligible for the award of the Afghanistan Medal where an entitlement exists to the Iraq Medal for the same deployment.

The Afghanistan Medal Design

The medal is circular and struck in nickel-silver. The design is the same as the Vietnam Medal, but with a plain suspender.

The obverse bears the Commonwealth Coat of Arms. The reverse shows a snow-capped mountain range with a multi-rayed sun rising behind the mountains. The mountains represent the dominant terrain of the country and the rising sun signifies a ‘new dawn’ for the nation. The word ‘AFGHANISTAN‘ is inscribed in English and in the Arabic script of the two dominant languages of Afghanistan, Dari, and Pashto.

The ribbon has a central vertical stripe of red, signifying the conflict in Afghanistan. This is flanked by stripes of purple representing the three arms of the Australian Defence Force. Stripes of khaki, white, and light blue border the inner stripes. They symbolize the Afghanistan terrain, the snow-peaked mountains, and the sky above, respectively.

The International Force East Timor Medal

The International Force East Timor Medal (or INTERFET) recognizes members of the Australian Defence Force who served for 30 days (or 30 sorties) in East Timor during the INTERFET campaign – which lasted from 16 September 1999 to 10 April 2000. Australian Defence Force personnel are also recognized by the ‘East Timor’ clasp to the Australian Active Service Medal. Australia has also offered this medal to the other 16 nations that participated in the INTERFET operation.

The qualifying area comprises East Timor and the sea adjacent to East Timor out to a distance of 12 nautical miles (22 km) from the low watermark.

The International Force East Timor Medal Design

The medal is circular and struck in nickel silver. It’s surmounted by a connector piece, which features a raised Federation Star.

The obverse bears the outline of a dove holding an olive branch, as a symbol of peace. This outline is raised in polished white silver and is superimposed on a textured map of East Timor and Territories. ‘INTERNATIONAL FORCE EAST TIMOR‘ is inscribed on the inside of the medal rim.

The reverse features the wording ‘TOGETHER AS ONE FOR PEACE IN EAST TIMOR‘.

The ribbon measures 32 millimeters wide and has a central red stripe, flanked by stripes of green, white, and pale blue. The white, green, and blue stripes represent the Navy, Army, and Air Force, with the dual representation of white for peace, blue for the sea surrounding East Timor and green for the regrowth of a new nation. The central red stripe represents the turbulent past of East Timor.

The Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal

The Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal is a medal issued to recognize the service of Australian support personnel during the Vietnam War. Personnel who have already earned the Vietnam Medal are ineligible for the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal.

The qualifying criteria for the medal are as follows:

  • Service of one day or more as a member or crew of a ship or aircraft operating in the prescribed area of operations of Vietnam in support of Australian forces.
  • Service of one day or more within the prescribed area of operations of Vietnam while attached to a unit or organization in support of Australian forces.
  • Service of one day or more while attached to or serving with, a unit of the Australian armed forces or allied forces, as an observer.

Groups meeting the criteria for this award also include certain defense personnel in support roles, entertainers, journalists, civilian surgical and medical teams, Qantas aircrew, and embassy couriers.

The Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal Design

The medal is circular and struck in nickel-silver. The design is the same as the Vietnam Medal, but with a plain suspender.

The obverse bears the crowned effigy of The Queen with the inscription ‘ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F.D.’ The reverse of the medal has the word ‘VIETNAM‘ at the top center above a depiction of a man standing between two symbolic spheres.

The ribbon has three red stripes on a yellow center representing South Vietnam. The ribbon also has a blue stripe to represent the Navy, a red stripe for the Army, and a light blue stripe for the Air Force. The ribbon also has a brown stripe for the color of the earth and waterways of Vietnam.

Australian Active Service Medal

The Australian Active Service Medal (AASM) is an Australian military decoration that recognizes prescribed service in warlike operations.

The Australian Active Service Medal (or AASM) is an Australian military decoration created to recognize prescribed service in warlike operations, backdated to February 1975 and authorized on 13 September 1988.

The medal is awarded with a clasp to denote the prescribed operation and subsequent awards of the medal are made in the form of additional clasps. In 2012, it was announced that the medal would no longer be issued for future operations, and was replaced by the Australian Operational Service Medal.

The following clasps were authorised for issue with the AASM: Balkans, Cambodia, East Timor, ICAT, Iraq, Kuwait, Middle East, Namibia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Vietnam.

Australian Active Service Medal Design

The AASM is a circular nickel-silver medal ensigned with the Crown of St Edward. The obverse has a Federation Star within a wreath of mimosa and bears a laurel wreath surrounding the inscription ‘FOR ACTIVE SERVICE’.

The medal ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and has a central red stripe to symbolize the danger of warlike operations. It is flanked by stripes of silver-green which in turn are flanked by stripes of light green, gold, dark green and brown. The ribbon bar consists of a strip of full-sized ribbon with no emblem.