Document
SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDER. NO. 65/43. NO. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.
by
LT. COL. J. F. BRITZ, D.F.C.
Officer Commanding,
21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.,
U.D.F., M.E.F.,
5th September, 1943.
Para. 230. INTRODUCTION OF AFRICA AND 1939-43 STARS.
* It has been decided to introduce two Stars, an emblem for Mentions in Despatches, wound stripes and chevrons for War service, under the conditions outlined in the succeeding paragraphs. No action should be taken pending the issue of further orders containing full particulars and, meanwhile, enquiries regarding the conditions should not be addressed to the Air Ministry.
* THE AFRICA AND 1939-43 STARS AND CLASPS THERETO.
In commemoration of the expulsion of the enemy from North Africa and to recognise services rendered in operations during the first four years of the War, the King has approved the institution of two awards for the Armed Forces and the Merchant Navy to be known as the Africa Star and the 1939-43 Star. No individual will qualify for both. Consideration of the manufacture and issue of the Stars themselves will be postponed until after the War. The ribbons are to be made now, and will be issued when supplies are ready.
* THE AFRICA STAR:- The Africa Star will be granted for service in North Africa from the date of the entry of Italy into the War on the 10th June 1940, up to the date of the cessation of operations against the enemy in North Africa on 12th May 1943 inclusive. The ribbon is pale buff in colour, with a central vertical red stripe and two other, narrower, stripes, one dark blue and the other light blue. The background is intended as a symbol of the desert, and central red stripe stands for the Armies, the dark blue stripe for the Naval forces and the Merchant Navy, and the light blue stripe for the Air Forces. The ribbon is to be worn with the dark blue stripe furthest from the left shoulder. The conditions of award will be indicated in sub-paras (i) to (iv) below.
(i) ARMY:- The qualification is entry, as part of the establishment, into an operational command in North Africa. The individual should have been taken on the strength of a Unit or Formation. The whole of the area between the Canal and the Straights of Gibraltar is included. Service in operations in Abyssinia, Somaliland and Eritrea, and also in Malta is a qualification. Service in West Africa is excluded.
(ii) AIR FORCE:- The qualification is landing in the area of an army operational command as defined above, including Malta. Casual journeys and inspections, other than those specially are excluded. In addition service in the air over any of the army operational commands in North Africa, as defined above, or over enemy occupied territory in North Africa, is a qualification, provided that the individual is not eligible for the 1939-43 Star mentioned below.
(iii) NAVY:- In the Navy the Africa Star will be awarded only for service on shore or in harbour in the same areas and between the same dates as the Army and provided that the individual is not eligible for the 1939-43 Star mentioned below.
(iv) MERCHANT NAVY:- In the Merchant Navy the Africa Star will be awarded for Service on shore or in harbour under the same conditions as in the Royal Navy.
* CLASPS TO THE AFRICA STAR:- Clasps to the Africa Star will be granted under the conditions indicated in sub-paras. (i) to iv) below.
(i) ARMY:- A silver emblem in the form of an Arabic figure "8" or "1" will be worn on the ribbon in service dress denoting
Transcriber’s Notes
* Expanded Abbreviations:
* S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force.
* U.D.F.: Union Defence Force (the official name of the South African military during WWII).
* M.E.F.: Middle East Forces.
* LT. COL. / D.F.C.: Lieutenant Colonel / Distinguished Flying Cross.
* Observations on Individuals:
* Lt. Col. J.F. Britz, D.F.C.: Jacobus "Jack" Frederik Britz was the Officer Commanding (OC) of No. 21 Squadron SAAF. He was a highly decorated and respected leader who personally participated in hazardous night sorties over Italy, leading by example from the front.
* Location and Historical Context:
* Current Location: On September 5, 1943, 21 Squadron was based at Cuticchi (near Gerbini in the Catania plain of Sicily). They were in a state of high readiness just four days before the Invasion of Italy (Operation Avalanche) began on September 9.
* The Africa Star: This order details the formal recognition of the hard-fought North African Campaign, which had ended months earlier on May 12, 1943. The symbolic colors of the ribbon—buff for the desert, red for the Army, dark blue for the Navy, and light blue for the Air Force—reflected the joint-service effort required to defeat the Axis forces in the desert.
* The Arabic "8" and "1": The clasps mentioned at the bottom of the page refer to service with the Eighth Army (led by Montgomery) or the First Army, recognizing specific contributions to the final victory in Tunisia.
* Transition of Theater: While these orders look backward to the victory in Africa, the squadron's focus was already northward. Within two weeks of this order, the crews mentioned in the crew lists—such as Major Ord, Capt. Saunders, and Lt. Eaton—would be flying intensive night interdiction missions over Eboli, Auletta, and Potenza to disrupt the German retreat from Salerno.
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Verification: This specific document is Page 2 of a set of orders and does not contain a dedicated "Date" column; however, it is verified as the continuation of the orders from the preceding page (File 233) dated 5th September, 1943.