BACKGROUND: There were eight campaign stars instituted for WW2 with the maximum of five allowed to be worn at one time. There were a number of bars issued for the stars but a maximum of one bar could be worn per star. The Africa Star was awarded for one or more days of service in an operational area of North Africa between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943. Three bars could be awarded for the star, First Army 8 November, 1942 to 12 May, 1943, Eighth Army 23 October, 1942 to 12 May, 1943 and North Africa 1942-1943, for service with the Navy or Air Force 23 October, 1942 to 12 May, 1943.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The medal takes the form of a, bronze colored, six-pointed tombac star, 42mm from point to point, whose uppermost point features a suspension loop. To its slightly domed, obverse center is the stylized Royal Cypher "GRI," with "VI" beneath it, surmounted by a King’s crown and with "The Africa Star" scrolled around it. Its reverse is featureless. The medal has a ring fed through its suspension loop, with its ribbed ribbon passing through the ring. The ribbons colors are a Pale Buff with a central Red stripe and two narrow stripes, Dark Blue to the left and Light Blue to the right. They represent the desert, the Navy, Army and Air Force.