New Zealand War Service Medal

New Zealand War Service Medal
Obverse and reverse of the medal.
Type	Campaign medal
Awarded for	Campaign service.
Description	Cupro-nickel disk, 36mm diameter.
Presented by	New Zealand
Eligibility	New Zealand forces.
Campaign(s)	Second World War 1939-45.
Clasps	None authorised.
Established	1946
Total	238,000

Ribbon: 32mm, black with white edges.

The New Zealand War Service Medal (NZWSM) was a New Zealand campaign medal for service in World War II.

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Transcription

Award Criteria

The NZWSM was approved in 1946, and was awarded to members of the New Zealand armed forces, the National Military Reserve and the Home Guard, as well as the New Zealand Merchant Navy and Naval Auxiliary Patrol Service.^[1] It was awarded in addition to,^[2] and worn immediately after,^[1] the standard Commonwealth campaign awards for World War II.

The NZWSM was awarded for 28 days' full-time aggregated service or six months' part-time aggregated service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. Service brought to an end by death on duty, or due to wounds sustained on duty, or honourable discharge as a result of such wounds, automatically qualified for award of the medal.^[3]
Some 238,000 medals were issued.^[3]

Description

The obverse shows the uncrowned effigy of King George VI, facing left, with the legend "GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX F:D:IND:IMP."^[4]
The reverse has the inscription "FOR SERVICE TO NEW ZEALAND 1939-1945" above a fern leaf.^[4]
The reverse and mount were designed by the historian and typographer Dr John Beaglehole and the wood engraver E Mervyn Taylor. It was the first distinctively ‘New Zealand' campaign medal, which was emphasised by the use of the fern leaf motif on the reverse and suspension, and the national colours of black and white in the ribbon. The use of the fern leaf motif was made at the request of the Labour party cabinet who wanted 'a fern leaf like on the All Blacks' jersey'.^[5]

The NZWSM was issued unnamed.^[3]

Clasps

None authorised

Notes

^ ^a ^b Royal Warrant, The New Zealand War Service Medal
^ Ribbons and Medals, page 103
^ ^a ^b ^c British Battles and Medals, pages 256-7
^ ^a ^b Medal Yearbook 2015, page 193
^ Tim Beaglehole, A life of J C Beaglehole: New Zealand scholar (Wellington: Victoria University Press, 2006), pages 299-300.

Bibliography

Joslin, Litherland and Simpkin (eds), British Battles and Medals, (1988), Spink
Mussel, J (ed) - Medals Yearbook - 2015, (2014), Token Publishing
Royal Warrant, The New Zealand War Service Medal (1948)
Taprell Dorling, Captain H. Ribbons and Medals (1956) A.H.Baldwin & Sons

External links

v t e New Zealand campaign medals
19th century	New Zealand War Medal
Second Boer War	Queen's South Africa Medal King's South Africa Medal
World War I	1914–15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal Mercantile Marine War Medal
World War II	1939–1945 Star Atlantic Star Arctic Star Air Crew Europe Star Africa Star Pacific Star Burma Star Italy Star France and Germany Star Defence Medal War Medal New Zealand War Service Medal (1939–45)
General Service	Naval General Service Medal (1915–62) General Service Medal (1918–62) General Service Medal (1962–2003) New Zealand Operational Service Medal (1945–present)
Post-World War II	New Zealand Service Medal 1946–1949 (1946–49) Korea Medal (1950–53) Vietnam Medal (1964–73) Rhodesia Medal (1979–1980) New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 (Warlike) (1956–1991) New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 (Non-Warlike) (1954–present) East Timor Medal (1999–2006)
21st century	NZGSM 2002 (Solomon Islands)(2000–2013) NZGSM 2002 (Afghanistan) – Primary Operations Area (2001–present) NZGSM 2002 (Afghanistan) – Secondary Operations Area (2001–present) NZGSM 2002 (Iraq 2003) (2003–present) NZGSM 2002 (Timor-Leste) (2006–2012) NZGSM 2002 (Korea) (2001–present) NZGSM 2002 (Counter-Piracy) (2009–present) NZGSM 2002 (Iraq 2015) (2014–present) NZGSM 2002 (Greater Middle East) (2014–present)
Special service	New Zealand Special Service Medal (Nuclear Testing) (1956–1973) New Zealand Special Service Medal (Erebus) (1979–1980) New Zealand Special Service Medal (Asian Tsunami) (2004–2005)