AFRICA STAR RIBBON

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 121, 18 November 1943, Page 6

AFRICA STAR RIBBON

ARMY COUNCIL APPROVES

Rec. 11.15 a.m. RUGBY, Nov. 17. Provisional instructions have been approved by the Army Council for the issue, of Africa Star, ribbon, and clasps, which the King has instituted "to commemorate the expulsion of the enemy,from l*ie continent of Africa." The Africa Star will have priority over the 1939-43 Star, concerning which instructions will be issued at a later date. No person shall be entitled ] to wear both the Africa Star and the 1939-43 Star. The ribbon of the Africa Star will be worn immediately after prior war ribbons. It is of light blue colour, with a central vertical red stripe and two narrow stripes, one dark blue and the other light blue. To qualify for the award individuals must have been taken on the strength of a unit or formation for appropriate periods in the qualifying command. The Star is instituted for service in certain operation commands in the Middle East and Africa from the date of the entry of Italy into the war, 'June 10, 1940, to the date of the cessation of operations against the enemy in North Africa, May 12, 1943, both dates inclusive. A silver emblem in the form of the Arabic numeral 8 for personnel of the Eighth Army and the Arabic number 1 for personnel of the First Army will be' worn on the ribbon to denote the award of a clasp to the Africa Star. This award will be restricted to service in the Eighth ' and First Armies respectively in the period from October 23, 1942, to May 12, 1943, both dates inclusive.—B.O.W.