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The 1943-1944 Italian Campaign Medal (France)

The 1943–1944 Italian campaign medal is a campaign medal awarded to soldiers and sailors of the French Expeditionary Corps of Italy.

Time Period: World War II
Institution: 1 April 1953
Country: France

The 1943–1944 Italian campaign medal (or Médaille commémorative de la campagne d’Italie 1943-1944 in French) is a French commemorative campaign medal awarded to soldiers and sailors who served on Italian soil or Italian waters as part of the “French Expeditionary Corps of Italy”. The corps participated in the allied amphibious landing and the ensuing campaign in Italy in 1943 and 1944.

Composed in part of Frenchmen from North Africa and in part with colonial troops, the CEF covered itself with glory during this long campaign and especially during the battle of the Garigliano. In January 1953, Parliament approved the creation of a distinct medal to adequately recognize the valour in combat and the sacrifice of the men of the CEF – who lost more than 7,000 members.

The 1943–1944 Italian Campaign Medal Design

The 1943–1944 Italian Campaign Medal measures 36mm in diameter and is made of silvered bronze medal.

Its obverse bore the left profile view of a Gallic rooster in front of Sun rays surrounded by the relief circular inscription “CORPS EXPÉDITIONAIRE FRANÇAIS D’ITALIE * 1943-1944 *” within a relief laurel wreath along the entire medal circumference. On the reverse, within the same relief laurel wreath, the circular inscription “RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE” at the bottom a relief five-pointed star, in the center, the relief inscription “CEF”.

The 1943–1944 Italian Campaign Medal hangs from a ribbon passing through a suspension ring. The 36mm wide silk moiré ribbon is composed of seven red and six white alternating vertical stripes of equal width.

The George Medal

The George Medal (or GM) is a decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth instituted in 1940 by King George VI for gallantry.

Time Period: World War II
Institution: 1940
Country: Great Britain

The George Medal (or GM) is a decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VI as an award for gallantry “not in the face of the enemy” where the services were not so outstanding as to merit the George Cross.

During the height of the Blitz in 1940, there was a strong desire to reward the many acts of civilian courage. The existing awards were not judged suitable to meet the new situation, so it was decided that the George Cross and the GM would be instituted to recognize both civilian gallantry in the face of enemy bombing and brave deeds more generally.

The King announced the new awards by saying:

In order that they should be worthily and promptly recognized, I have decided to create, at once, a new mark of honor for men and women in all walks of civilian life. I propose to give my name to this new distinction, which will consist of the George Cross, which will rank next to the Victoria Cross, and the George Medal for wider distribution.

The warrant for the GM, dated 24 January 1941, was published in The London Gazette on 31 January 1941. Although the original warrant did not explicitly permit it to be awarded posthumously, this was changed in December 1977 to allow posthumous awards.

Recipients are entitled to the post-nominal letters GM.

The George Medal Design

The medal is circular and struck in silver. It measures 36 mm (1.4 in) in diameter.

The obverse depicts the crowned effigy of the reigning monarch. To date, there have been four types:

George VI, 1940 to 1948. Inscribed GEORGIVS VI D: G: BR: OMN: REX ET INDIAE IMP.
George VI, 1948 to 1952. Inscribed GEORGIVS VI DEI: GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF:
Elizabeth II, 1952 to late 1950s. Inscribed ELIZABETH II D: G: BR: OMN: REGINA F.D.
Elizabeth II, late 1950s to date. Inscribed ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F.D.

The reverse shows Saint George on horseback slaying the dragon on the coast of England, with the legend THE GEORGE MEDAL around the top edge of the medal.

The ribbon is 31.7 mm (1.25 in) wide, crimson with five narrow blue stripes. The name of the recipient is engraved on the rim of the medal, although some Army awards have impressed naming.

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The Newfoundland Volunteer War Service Medal

The Newfoundland Volunteer War Service Medal is a British medal created to honor those from Newfoundland & Labrador.

Time Period: World War II
Institution: November 6, 1981
Country: Great Britain

The Newfoundland Volunteer War Service Medal is a British medal created to honor those from Newfoundland & Labrador who served in the British Forces outside of the province from September 3, 1939 through September 2, 1945.

The medal was specifically created to honor service with the British Imperial Forces, the Newfoundland Overseas Forestry Unit, the Merchant Navy and the Newfoundland Regiment, or any other unit or organization prescribed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. It was issued to those who did not receive a volunteer war service medal from another country, and those who had volunteered and served in units contributed by the Dominion of Newfoundland to the allied war effort.

The Newfoundland Volunteer War Service Medal Design

The Newfoundland Volunteer War Service medal is circular, made of bronze and measures 36 millimeters (1.4 in) in diameter.

The obverse has the legend NEWFOUNDLAND VOLUNTEER SERVICE MEDAL 1939-45 around the edge and bears the Crown of King George VI surmounted by a Newfoundland stag caribou. The reverse bears a depictions of Britannia standing, with a spear in her right hand and the sun’s rays behind her. Two lions encircle each side with their heads towards the bottom. The medal is numbered to an applicant on the rim.

The New Zealand War Service Medal

The New Zealand War Service Medal (NZWSM) was awarded to members of the New Zealand armed forces and Reserves during WW2.

Time Period: World War II
Institution: 1946
Country: Great Britain / New Zealand

The New Zealand War Service Medal (or NZWSM) was awarded to members of the New Zealand armed forces, the National Military Reserve and the Home Guard, as well as the New Zealand Merchant Navy and Naval Auxiliary Patrol Service.

The NZWSM was awarded for 28 days’ full-time aggregated service or six months’ part-time aggregated service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. Service brought to an end by death on duty, or due to wounds sustained on duty, or honorable discharge as a result of such wounds, automatically qualified for award of the medal.

The New Zealand War Service Medal Design

The obverse of the medal shows the uncrowned effigy of King George VI, facing left, with the legend “GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX F:D:IND:IMP.”

The reverse (designed by the historian and typographer Dr John Beaglehole and the wood engraver E Mervyn Taylor) has the inscription “FOR SERVICE TO NEW ZEALAND 1939-1945” above a fern leaf. It was the first distinctively ‘New Zealand’ campaign medal, emphasized by the use of the fern leaf motif on the reverse and suspension, and the national colors of black and white in the ribbon.

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More WW2 British Campaign Medals

During World War II (1939–1945) British campaign medals were awarded to members of the British Armed Forces and civilians for active service in specific military campaigns or operations. These included:

The Southern Rhodesia Service Medal

The Southern Rhodesia Service Medal 1939-1945 is a campaign medal awarded to members of the Southern Rhodesia Defence Forces for home service.

British Military Medals - WW2 - The Defence Medal

The Defence Medal (United Kingdom)

The Defence Medal is a campaign medal instituted in 1945 awarded to subjects of the British Commonwealth for service during WW2.

The Arctic Star

The Arctic Star is a military campaign medal which was instituted for service on the Arctic Convoys north of the Arctic Circle in WW2.

The Italy Star

The Italy Star is a military campaign medal, instituted by the United Kingdom in May 1945 for service in the Italian Campaign 1943 to 1945.

The Pacific Star

The Pacific Star is a British military campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom in 1945 for those who served in the Pacific Campaign.

The France and Germany Star

The France and Germany Star is a military campaign medal awarded to subjects of the British Commonwealth who served during WW2.

The Burma Star

The Burma Star is a military campaign medal for award to subjects of the British Commonwealth who served in the Burma Campaign.

WW2 Medals and Awards: The Australia Service Medal

The Australian Service Medal 1939-1945

The Australia Service Medal 1939–1945 is a military medal (Great Britain, Australia) that recognizes service in Australia’s armed forces, Mercantile Marine, and Volunteer Defence Corps during World War II.

See all WW2 British Campaign Medals >

The India Service Medal

The India Service Medal – 1939-1945 is a Commonwealth campaign medal awarded to Indian Forces for three years service in India in WW2.

Time Period: World War II
Institution: 6 June 1946
Country: Great Britain

The India Service Medal – 1939-1945 is a Commonwealth campaign medal awarded to Indian Forces for three years non-operational service in India during the Second World War.

The India Service Medal was awarded to Forces including Reserve, State and Womens’ forces, for at least three years non-operational service in India between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. It was issued in addition to, and worn immediately after, British campaign World War II medals (although those eligible for the Defence Medal could not receive the India Service Medal as well).

The India Service Medal - 1939-1945 Design

The India Service Medal is circular and made of cupro-nickel. It measures 36mm in diameter.

The obverse of the medal has the crowned effigy of King George VI facing left, with the legend “GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX ET INDIAE IMP.” The reverse shows a relief map of India and the words “INDIA” above and “1939-45” below.

The medal was awarded unnamed.

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