General Service Medal Query.

[Red Tom]

I hope this is the appropriate  forum for this topic. Was the 1918-62 G.S.M. awarded automatically for those in national service? and was it inscribed with the recipient's name etc? My late father-in-law served from 1945 to (presumably) '47, in the med and Palestine, (for which I understand there is a clasp pertaining to that?) I have a project in mind and would be grateful for any info offered.

[KGarrad]

Medals awarded after WW2 are named if issued by the crown. Exceptions include, UN, NATO, EU and for some reason SJM. Medals awarded by foreign nations do not have names engraved.

There was no National Service medal awarded to British or Commonwealth servicemen.

[macwil]

This site gives the criteria for awarding the GSM:-

medals-campaigns-descriptions-and-eligibility

Scroll down beyond WW2 Medals.

[Andy J2022]

The GSM or clasp should have been awarded automatically once a soldier had completed the stipulated period of service in the particular operational theatre. Awards are triggered by the man's unit issuing the requisite Part Two Order once the aggregated service had been accrued. A clerical cockup could result in an individual missing out if, for instance, he was posted individually rather than as part of a subunit or unit like a company or battalion. This would most affect soldiers in the Corps like REME or RASC. In theory the parent Record Office was supposed to pick up the ball if the unit failed to initiate the process. The actual time between qualifying and physically receiving the medal could be several months. For National Service men, many would have received their medals after they had completed their service commitment.

[Red Tom]

Medals awarded after WW2 are named if issued by the crown. Exceptions include, UN, NATO, EU and for some reason SJM. Medals awarded by foreign nations do not have names engraved.

There was no National Service medal awarded to British or Commonwealth servicemen.

Thank you KGarrad.

[Red Tom]

This site gives the criteria for awarding the GSM:-

medals-campaigns-descriptions-and-eligibility

Scroll down beyond WW2 Medals.

Thank you for that macwil.

[Red Tom]

The GSM or clasp should have been awarded automatically once a soldier had completed the stipulated period of service in the particular operational theatre. Awards are triggered by the man's unit issuing the requisite Part Two Order once the aggregated service had been accrued. A clerical cockup could result in an individual missing out if, for instance, he was posted individually rather than as part of a subunit or unit like a company or battalion. This would most affect soldiers in the Corps like REME or RASC. In theory the parent Record Office was supposed to pick up the ball if the unit failed to initiate the process. The actual time between qualifying and physically receiving the medal could be several months. For National Service men, many would have received their medals after they had completed their service commitment.

Thank you for your help Andy J2022.