WWII Medals - Balkans Star

I was looking at the number of British personnel who served in the Balkans during WWII - land forces in Greece and Yugoslavia, and a whole air force The Balkan Air Force. Was a Balkans Star ever considered.

Other sideshows would include Madagascar, Abyssinia, Syria, Iraq. Were clasps issued for any of these?

 

The Africa Star was awarded for service in Abyssinia and Syria I believe, not sure of the other countries. Maybe Italy star for Greece and Yugoslavia?

Always been confused with medal entitlements for WW2.

 

Discussions from Times about campaign stars, incl link to Hansard (in post 10) - which might have something about this if it was raised in the House.
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/research-material/22940-distinctions-war-service-1939-1945-a.html

Super stuff dbf! will bookmark that for future reference, thanks.

 

Medals - Name dropping here - may I suggest anyone needing a definitive answer on decorations, MiD and medals of the UK and Empire/Commonwealth. look up Lieutenant Colonel AR Tinson Late KOYLI/LI, the British Legions medal consultant and author of several books, Medals Will be Worn. Decorations and Medals of Oman. Ashley was on the appeal team for the Suez GSM. I believe he contributes to Medal News magazine. A truly delightful man and if the question is of merit I am sure he will answer it.



https://www.sandhurstfoundation.org/news/Members-Articles.htm


He writes for many organizations

 

I was looking at the number of British personnel who served in the Balkans during WWII - land forces in Greece and Yugoslavia, and a whole air force The Balkan Air Force. Was a Balkans Star ever considered.

Other sideshows would include Madagascar, Abyssinia, Syria, Iraq. Were clasps issued for any of these?

Regs covering land forces for the Africa Star:
26. General
The Africa Star is granted for operational service in North Africa during the period from 10th June, 1940, to the 12th May, 1943, inclusive. The whole of the area between the Suez Canal and the Straits of Gibraltar is included, together with Malta, Abyssinia, The Somalilands and Eritrea.
Land Service

• The qualification for army personnel is entry as part of the establishment into operational service in areas defined in para. 27.
• The undermentioned categories are also eligible to qualify for the Africa Star by virtue of entry into operational service (i.e., a one-day qualification), between 10th June, 1940, and 27th November, 1941:-Sudan Defence Force.
  (Members of the full-time permanent Force, who served anywhere in the Sudan).
  Combatant irregular Forces:-
  Banda Bukr or Bukr Force. (Gedaref and Galabat area),
  Banda Fung (Kurmuk area),
  Frostyforce (Kassala Province Frontier area),
  Meadowforce (the hills west of the littoral in the Port Sudan and Tokar districts),
  Upper Nile Scouts (Upper Nile Frontier area),
  (provided members of these Forces served continuously on a full-time basis).
  Sudan Auxiliary Defence Force.
  (Officers and warrant officers who commended Sudan Police and other military personnel in active operations against the enemy, whether or not they were actually paid from army funds.)
  (Part-time service in, for instance, an anti-aircraft unit does not so qualify. The service must have been service in command of a unit earning campaign stars).
• The undermentioned categories are eligible to qualify for the Africa Star for 30 days' full-time operational service in the Sudan in areas shown in para. 27 (ii) (a), (b) or (c) during the period 10th June, 1940, to 27th November, 1941:-Sudan Police, including Provincial and railway police (personnel embodied as part of the Sudan Defence Force).
  Volunteers enrolled in the Sudan Auxiliary Defence Force (provided the volunteer personally served continuously on a full-time basis. The S.A.D.F. full-time paid units were the medical corps, the M.T. signals, interpreters and marine units).

27. Qualifying Land Areas
The qualifying areas for the Africa Star are:-
FromTo(i)North Africa (troops under Allied Force Headquarters, and Middle East Command Excluding formations not West of the Suez Canal and Red Sea)10.6.4012.5.43Malta10.6.4012.5.43Abyssinia (including attacks on Moyale Elwak and Kassala)10.6.4027.11.41Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (see para.26(i), (ii))10.6.4027.11.41Eritrea 10.6.4027.11.41The Solmalilands10.6.4027.11.41Kenya (excluding Tanganyika territory and Uganda, except to troops who the G.O.C.-- in-C., East Africa is satisfied were called forward form Uganda for operations in Lake Rudolf Area).10.6.4027.11.41(ii)Sudan (see para 26 (iii))10.6.4027.11.41

• Kassala Province South of a line drawn to the South of Suakin, Erkowit and Summit, and thence along the railway line to the Provincial boundary East of Atbara.
• Blue Nile Province East of the white Nile, and South of a line drawn from just South of Jebelein Eastwards to Abu Na'ama and then North- East to the River Ramad; or
• Upper Nile and Equatorial Provinces East of the Nile (excluding Nimule).

Notes.

• Service in West Africa is not a qualification.
• The conditions for a special award of the Africa Star for 30 days in the qualifying areas for visits, journeys and inspections are stated in Section I.

And for the Italy Star:


43. General

The Italy Star is granted for operational service in the Sicily or in Italy from the capture of Pantellaria on 11th June, 1943, until 8th May, 1945, inclusive. This star is also granted for certain operations in Sardina, Greece, Corsica, Elba, Yugoslavia, the Aegean and Dodecanese.
Land Service

The qualification for army personnel for service on land is entry as part of the establishment into operational service in the areas defined in para. 44.
Note. - The conditions for a special award of the Italy Star for 30 days' service in the qualifying area on visits, journeys and inspections, are stated in Section I.
44. Qualifying Land Areas

The qualifying areas for the Italy Star are:-
From ToAegean11. 6.438. 5.45Corsica 11. 6.434.10.43Dodecanese11. 6.438. 5.45Greece11. 6.438. 5.45Italy (including Elba)11. 6.438. 5.45Pantellaria11. 6.43-Sardinia11. 6.4319. 9.43Sicily11. 6.4317. 8.43Yugoslavia11. 6.438. 5.45
Note. - Army personnel who entered Austrian Territory during the closing stages of hostilities in Europe are eligible for the Italy Star, but not for the France and Germany Star.

hope this helps

Regards

simon

 

Perhaps Assam or DBF could help me here.

I recall reading somewhere, that POWs taken in North Africa and held in Italian camps, and who escaped and served with Partisan forces after Italy capitulated could qualify for the Italy Star.

Is this correct, and if so, under which circumstances?

 

Springbok,

this qustion was raised some time ago from memory.

I think that you would need to prove that the participation was not just as a result of stumbleing across some Germans on the escape route through Italy, but more so the individual was engaged in recognised operations, that had allied power oversight or written evidence from allied files that this person was known to have participated in operations whilst serving with partizen forces.

Having said that, I would not in the least be surprised that if say your man was South African or ANZAC or Canadian, that you might have a better chance of "getting a claim up"but there would still need to be documentary evidence of participation. Commonwealth medal offices may take a less intense view of the regulations under these circumstances.

I am led to believe that awards of the Italy star have been made in such circumstances, however the following dates would need to be taken into the mix:

Italy Star = 1 day operational service from 11/06/1943 - 08/05/1945. where you stumble is on "organisational stength" so the proof of a recognised partizan organisation comes into play & thats why I mentioned allied oversight.



I hope the above is helpful to you

Regards

Simon

 

My understanding is that the Greek Campaign of Mar-May 1941 is not recognised with a campaign medal. The author of 'Diggers and Greeks' (Maria Hill) has an on-line petition for the establishment of an Australian campaign medal. Can anyone confirm or deny? What is the situation in the UK or NZ?

 

My understanding is that the Greek Campaign of Mar-May 1941 is not recognised with a campaign medal. The author of 'Diggers and Greeks' (Maria Hill) has an on-line petition for the establishment of an Australian campaign medal. Can anyone confirm or deny? What is the situation in the UK or NZ?

Peter,

Here is a link to her web page that has the petition linked:

Diggers and Greeks by Dr Maria Hill – Professional Historian specialising in Military History

Another retrospecive medal in the making I think.

Regards

Simon

 

Thanks for that, Simon.

I was just wondering.
My father-in-law stated in his Application for Campaign Medals that his service period included being a POW in Italy from 23/11/1941 until Sept 1943, and then as being 'with partisans' in Italy from Dec 1943 until Sept 1944.
His official military record simply shows him as being a POW from Nov 1941 until released on 2/10/1944.
It is more likely that he was hidden by locals possibly even partisans, as happened with so many escaped POWs, rather than playing an active role in any partisan activities.

Once again, thanks for the info.

By the way, from Jedburgh22 initial post, was their a campaign medal for Madagascar?

 

To the best of my knowledge no campaign star for Madagascar. wpuld be a similar situation to that of PAIForce in that the 1939-45 star would substitute for the following period only: 05/05/1942 - 05/11/1942. Was not considered an operational area outside of those dates.

Regards

Simon

 

Thanks Simon. I wouldn't be confident of a retrospective medal 'getting up'. The momentum for recognition seems to have faded... unfortunately. The Greek Campaign is poorly understood and there are those who see it as an embarassing episode in Commonwealth performance (diplomatically and militarily)... again unfortunately.

 

Can Someone tell me if a man serving in India [the RASC ] in WW2 was entitled to any campaign star other than the 39/45 star.

Thankyou, Keith

 

Can Someone tell me if a man serving in India [the RASC ] in WW2 was entitled to any campaign star other than the 39/45 star.

Thankyou, Keith

Short answer is yes, if he served in Assam and Bengal east of the Brahmaputra & Dihang river rivers between 1.1.1941-2.9.1945

or in Bengal & Assam between 1.5.1942 - 31.12.1943

the Campaign against the Japanese in India in 1944 is covered by the former.

West of the rivers for the period 1.4.1944 to cessation in Bengal & Assam for 6 months earned the Defence Medal for those that qualify.

hope this helps

Regards

Simon

 

Hello Simon, Thanks very much for the information.

Regards, Keith.

 

My understanding is that the Greek Campaign of Mar-May 1941 is not recognised with a campaign medal. The author of 'Diggers and Greeks' (Maria Hill) has an on-line petition for the establishment of an Australian campaign medal. Can anyone confirm or deny? What is the situation in the UK or NZ?

Peter,

The Greek government issued a medal, a nice star similar in size to the Britsh stars.

My father was in Italy with the 4th Reconnaissance Regt, 4th British Infantry Division and his unit was taken off the Gothic line around Christmas day in 1944 and shipped off to Greece on the 1st January 1945 to help the Greek government against the Communists.

He was presented with a medal and Certificate. Take a look at my homepage and photo albums.

The certificate covers the whole of the second world war and so I believe any soldier serving in Greece would have been entitled to apply for it.

My late father was only made aware of this late in his life, but was persuaded by a friend to apply for it, which meant supplying proof of military service in Greece during WW2.

I hope that this helps.

Regards
Tom