The General Service Medal 1918-62 and the Naval
General Service Medal 1915-62 have been awarded, with a new Clasp, for
service in the Suez Canal Zone between 16th October 1951 and 19th
October 1954. Both the GSM and the Naval GSM
are silver and circular in shape.
Although the reigning monarch changed during the Suez campaign,
Queen Elizabeth II appears on
the obverse of each medal issued for the Canal Zone
because it was Queen Elizabeth that approved the award of the Clasp to
the GSM 'Canal Zone'.
The reverse
of the GSM bears the standing winged figure of Victory in a Greek
helmet and carrying a trident, bestowing a wreath on the emblems of
the Army (the sword) and the RAF (the wings). The
reverse of the Naval GSM bears the image of Britannia on two sea horses
travelling through the sea, her left hand resting on the Union Shield
and her right holding a trident.
The
GSM Ribbon
has a central stripe of green flanked by purple stripes and that
of the Naval GSM has a wide central white stripe divided by two narrow crimson stripes
and flanked by crimson edges.
The
criteria to qualify is that one must have served in the Canal Zone
or were within the territorial waters of Egypt and the Canal
for a minimum of thirty consecutive days between 16th October 1951
and 19th October 1954.
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Members of
the Armed Forces based in the Suez Canal Zone. |
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Accompanying
civilians who wore the appropriate uniform of their organisation. |
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Commonwealth and Colonial forces, subject to approval by their
government. |
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Foreign
nationals enlisted with any of the above categories. |
Veterans are
invited to apply in writing to the Ministry of Defence, Medal Office
at the address below. Giving as much of the following
information, as possible:
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Full Name (at time of Service). |
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Service Number. |
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Regiment/Corps (Army/RM) or Branch/Trade (RAF and RN). |
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Rank. |
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Date of Birth. |
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Date of
Enlistment. |
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Date
of Discharge. |
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Plus
your Current Name and Address. |
Next of Kin of Veterans who have died are also invited to apply, but
it will be necessary to supply documentation supporting that fact.
