Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

Medal - General Service Medal (1962)

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Overview

The General Service Medal (1962) is a campaign medal of the United Kingdom introduced in 1962 to replace both the General Service Medal (1918). The medal is a silver circle 36 mm in diameter. The obverse shows the crowned effigy of Queen Elizabeth II with the inscription ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F.D. The reverse bears the words 'FOR CAMPAIGN SERVICE' under a crown, all surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves. The 32 mm wide ribbon is purple with two outer stripes of dark green. These are the same colours as the GSM 1918–62, but in different proportions.

Historical information

The Borneo clasp was awarded to forces who fought Indonesian soldiers, marines and irregular elements in Sabah (North Borneo) and Sarawak in East Malaysia, during Indonesian-Malaysian Confrontation including Operation Claret. Eligibility required 30 days service. This conflict claimed the lives of 114 Commonwealth personnel with 180 wounded. Recipients were subsequently awarded and given permission to wear the Malaysian Pingat Jasa Malaysia.

This clasp for service during the Vietnam War was instituted in 1965 for Australians who participated in operations in defence of the Republic of Vietnam from 24 December 1962 to 29 May 1964. At least 68 members of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) qualified for the clasp. For service after 29 May 1964, personnel were awarded the Vietnam Medal.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-99-356

Inscriptions and markings

The name, rank, service number and regiment or corps of the awardee are annotated on the rim of the medal. Those mentioned in despatches or who received a Queen’s Commendation during a campaign qualifying for the 1962 GSM wear an oak leaf symbol on the medal ribbon. Fourteen clasps were awarded, the medal never being awarded without a clasp. Clasps are worn in the order that the recipient qualified for them, not the date of the relevant Army Order. The clasps most commonly awarded to Australian Army personnel are Borneo, and South Vietnam. The South Vietnam clasp was awarded exclusively to Australian troops.

Contextual Information

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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