AFRICAN STAR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 December 1943, Page 4

AFRICAN STAR

LIMITED SUPPLY OF RIBBON RECEIVED. ISSUE TO BE MADE SHORTLY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, December 13. The Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones) announced today that a very limited supply of Africa Star ribbon had been received at Army Headquarters. The supply of ribbon so far received will only permit of a small piece— enough for two packets—being issued to each entitled officer or soldier, and this quantity is being issued from Base Records in the course of a few days to those members of the Second N.Z.E.F. furlough draft who are to return to the Middle East and to those who served in the Middle East and are now with,the Third Division in the Pacific.

As further supplies of ribbon become available, an issue will be made to those entitled members of the Second N.Z.E.F. who are still serving in New Zealand.

The ribbon is pale buff in colour, symbolising the desert, with a central red stripe, representing the Army, a dark blue narrow stripe for the Navy and a light blue narrow stripe for the Air Force.

When the Africa Star was approved by the King it was announced that it was a special award intended to commemorate the successful conclusion of the fighting in Africa and that the medal itself would not be available until after the war. As the medal ribbon can only be wont in uniform, returned soldiers discharged to civil life, and next-of-kin of deceased soldiers, will not receive an issue of ribbon, but the star, with ribbon attached, will be issued after the war. In accordance with the conditions laid down, all members of the Second N.Z.E.F. who served in the Middle East on and after June 10, 1940, are entitled to the Africa Star and those who served in the Eighth Army from the beginning of the Battle of El Alamein, on October 23, 1942, to the cessation of operations in Tunisia are also entitled to wear on the ribbon a clasp in the shape of an Arabic eight. So far none of these clasps have been received in New Zealand, but they are on order and will be issued when received to those entitled to wear them. It is most unlikely that these clasps will be received in time for them to be issued to members of the furlough draft returning to the Middle East and arrangements will' be made for the clasps to be issued on arrival there.