Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

Medal - Vietnam Medal

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Overview

The Vietnam Medal is a circular medal made of nickel-silver. The obverse bears the crowned effigy of Queen Elizabeth II with the inscription 'ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F.D.'.( Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen, Defender of the Faith). The reverse of the medal has the word 'VIETNAM' at the top centre above a depiction of a man standing between two symbolic spheres, "in representation of the ideological war in Vietnam".
The medal ribbon contains a broad central stripe of bright yellow surmounted by three thin red stripes (representing the Republic of Vietnam). The ribbon also has a blue stripe to represent the Navy, two red stripes for the Army and a light blue stripe for the Air Force.

Historical information

From 1962 to 1973, more than 60,000 Australians served in the Vietnam War. They were part of an allied force led by the United States. Australians fought alongside South Vietnamese Government troops against the Vietcong, a communist-led insurgent force supported by the North Vietnamese Army.

In 1964, the National Service Act introduced a scheme of selective conscription in Australia, designed to create an army of 40,000 full-time soldiers. Many of them were sent on active service to the war in Vietnam.

521 Australians died during the Vietnam War and around 3000 were wounded.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-99-345

Inscriptions and markings

The recipient's name, rank and serial number are engraved on the edge of the medal. The Mentioned in Despatches insignia is displayed on this medal if awarded.

Contextual Information

The Vietnam Medal is a jointly developed Australian and New Zealand campaign medal awarded for service in the Vietnam War. The medal was jointly developed by Australia and New Zealand, although there were separate Royal authorisation warrants for each country. Qualifying Army service for the Vietnam Medal was for one or more days on the posted strength of a unit or formation on land between 29 May 1964 and 27 January 1973.

Multiple examples of this medal are retained either singly or in groups as an ongoing memorial to the service and sacrifice of Western Australians. Medals are displayed in context throughout the Museum. All medals are identified, archivally stored and those not on display are accessible and viewable with prior notice.

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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