General Service Medal (1918)


The General Service Medal was instituted to recognise service in minor Army and Royal Air Force operations for which no separate medal was intended. Local forces, including police, qualified for many of the clasps, as could units of the Indian Army prior to 1947.
The GSM was equivalent to the 1915 Naval General Service Medal. Both these medals were replaced by the General Service Medal in 1962.

Description

The 1918 GSM is a circular silver medal, in diameter, with following design:
  • The obverse shows the crowned effigy of the reigning monarch with an appropriate inscription.
  • The reverse bears the standing winged figure of Victory in a Corinthian helmet and carrying a trident, bestowing a wreath on the emblems of the Army and the RAF. It was designed by E Carter Preston.
  • The wide ribbon has three equal stripes of purple, dark green and purple.
  • The service number, rank, name and regiment or corps of the recipient are impressed on the rim of the medal in small block capitals.
A bronze oak leaf emblem is worn on the ribbon of the medal to signify a mention in dispatches or King's/Queen's Commendation for a campaign for which the GSM was awarded.

Clasps

A total of eighteen clasps were awarded, the medal never being awarded without a clasp. The clasps consist of silver bars bearing the name of the relevant campaign or theatre of operations. They were attached to the medal's suspension bar.
Where a minimum qualifying period was laid down for a clasp, it did not apply to those killed or wounded due to operations, or to those decorated for bravery or distinguished conduct, including a mention in dispatches and a Queen's Commendation.
The clasps and the award criteria for each are:S. PersiaKurdistan
Army Order No. 387 of 1924 and Army Instruction No. 132 of 1925 extended eligibility for this clasp to cover further operations in Kurdistan under Air Marshal Sir J.M. Salmond IraqN.W. PersiaSouthern Desert IraqNorthern KurdistanPalestineS.E. Asia 1945–46Bomb and Mine Clearance 1945–49Bomb and Mine Clearance 1945–56
note – if the Bomb and Mine Clearance 1945–49 clasp had already been issued it was to be replaced with this clasp, not issued in addition to.Palestine 1945–48Berlin AirliftMalaya
It was issued to members of the British, Commonwealth and Colonial Forces and Civil personnel, for example as the Malayan Police Force.Canal ZoneCyprus
It was issued to members of the British Military Forces and Civil personnel, for example the Cyprus Police Force.
The clasp was originally awarded for 120 days service between 1 April 1955 to 18 April 1959. As a result of the 2012 Independent Medal Review conducted by Sir John Holmes, from 1 October 2014 the qualifying period was reduced to 90 days service, to bring it into line with the Africa General Service Medal awarded for the Kenya campaign.Near East
It was issued to members of the British Armed Forces and selected civil personnel.Arabian PeninsulaBrunei
It was issued to members of the British Armed Forces, specially approved civilians and civil police forces, such as the Sarawak Police Force.

Obverse variations

There were six obverses. The Malaya clasp could be awarded with the George VI or with either Elizabeth II version.