General Service Medal (2008)

General Service Medal (2008)

Obverse of the medal
Awarded by the United Kingdom
Type Campaign medal
Eligibility British forces.
Awarded for Campaign service.
Campaign Minor campaigns 2008present
Description Silver disk, 36 mm diameter.
Clasps
  • Southern Asia
  • Arabian Peninsula
  • Northern Africa
  • Western Africa
  • East Africa
Statistics
Established 2015
First awarded 12 June 2016
Related General Service Medal (1918)
General Service Medal (1962)

Service ribbon of the medal

The General Service Medal (GSM 08), was introduced in 2015 to recognize specified operations, not qualifying for another campaign medal. The medal was first awarded in 2016 for service in operations since January 2008. Like its predecessor medal the General Service Medal (1962), operations will be denoted by clasps which indicate the geographic area of operations and not a specific operation. The first awards of the medal were made by Secretary of State for Defence Michael Fallon at a ceremony on 12 June 2016.

Appearance

The GSM 08 is a circular silver medal. The obverse features the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Elizabeth II. The reverse bears a design featuring a figure of Britannia holding a trident standing ahead of a lion, symbolising Britain. The whole is encircled by an oak leaf wreath similar to the designs of previous GSM medals.[1]

Clasps

The claps for the medal are named based on the geographic region of operations and not for specific named operations.[2] The clasps for this medal and their qualifying periods of service are as follows:[3][4]

Southern Asia
Arabian Peninsula
Northern Africa
Western Africa
Eastern Africa

References

  1. "Armed Forces personnel from Plymouth among first to receive new medals". Plymouth Herald. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  2. "Defence Secretary awards new medal to 46 troops.". GOV.UK. Ministry of Defense. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  3. "UK Armed Forces Deaths: Operational deaths post World War II 3 September 1945 to 17 February 2016" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. 31 March 2016. p. 16. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  4. "JSP 761: Honours and Awards in the Armed Forces" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. October 2016. p. 8A-4. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  5. "MINUTES OF THE 122nd MEETING OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE ROYAL ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION, HELD IN 034 MEETING ROOM 16, MINISTRY OF DEFENCE MAIN BUILDING, LONDON, ON WEDNESDAY 21st JANUARY 2015" (PDF). The Royal Engineers Association. 24 February 2016. p. 1. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  6. "Naval officers honoured for role in Somalia". Royal Navy. 24 February 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  7. "THE BLYTHE SAPPERS MINUTES OF THE 18TH ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY 29th MAY 2013" (PDF). THE BLYTHE SAPPERS. 29 May 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
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