The Iraq Medal

Time Period: Post-WW2
Year of Institution: 23 February 2004
Country: Great Britain

The Iraq Medal is a campaign medal issued to members of the British Armed Forces and certain attached personnel who served between 20 January 2003 and 22 May 2011 on, or in support of, Operation Telic – the designation for British operations during the 2003 Invasion of Iraq and its aftermath. It was authorized on 23 February 2004.

The medal was awarded to those meeting the qualifying period of service within the defined operational area. Eligibility was extensive, and included both Regular and Reserve members of the armed forces, foreign and Commonwealth exchange and attached forces, Ministry of Defence civilians, members of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and embedded journalists.

The medal was awarded with the clasp “19 Mar to 28 Apr 2003″ to British service and attached personnel who:

served in Zone 1 (Iraq) between 19 March and 28 April 2003, and:
completed seven days continuous service; or
served as aircrew flying into Iraq and who completed two or more operational sorties.

A silver rosette denotes the clasp when worn on the ribbon bar.

The Iraq Medal Design

The Iraq Medal is made of cupro-nickel and measures 36 millimeters (1.4 in) in diameter.

The obverse shows the crowned effigy of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, with the inscription ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FID DEF. The reverse shows an image of a Lamassu (an ancient Assyrian statue) above the word IRAQ.

The ribbon measures 32 millimeter (1.25 in) wide and is sand color with three narrow central stripes of black, white, red representing the Iraqi flag.