[Routine Order] SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS. NO.65/43 (cont'd). Page 3.

Sunday, 5 September 1943 Other

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SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS. NO.65/43 (cont'd). Page 3.
(ii) Where troops have been evacuated, e.g., from Dunkirk, Norway, etc; they will be eligible for the 1939-43 Star although their service in operations may have been less than six months, and specified commando raids will be similarly treated. The list of such exceptions is under consideration. India will not be regarded as an operational command, except for the purpose of operations on the Burma and North-West Frontiers. Service on passage to an operational command through dangerous waters will count towards the six months qualifying period.
(iii) AIR FORCE:- The 1939-43 Star will be awarded to all air crews who have taken part in operations against the enemy, subject to the completion of two months in an operational unit. In addition, non-air crew personnel serving in the area of an army operational command will qualify six months service in the area of the operational command being the qualification, and special exception being made as indicated in sub-para (ii) above, for those evacuated, e.g., from Dunkirk, Norway, etc: Air/Sea rescue and barrage balloon personnel serving afloat will qualify under rules similar to those for the Navy.
(iv) MERCHANT NAVY:- The Merchant Navy will be awarded the 1939-43 Star under the same conditions as the Royal Navy, except that six months service at sea will qualify, provided that at least one voyage has been made through one of the specified areas of active operations. Service in the landings on or after 8th November, 1942 on the coast of Morocco will be a qualification.
(v) GENERAL:- Operational service for a lesser period than six and two months, respectively, but brought to an end by death, wounds or other disability due to service will qualify. The grant for service in operations of an honour, decoration or mention in despatches would, in the armed forces or the Merchant Navy, be a qualification for the award of the star.
6. CLASP TO 1939-43 STAR:- This clasp will be denoted by a silver rose emblem, of the standard pattern, and will be confined to the Navy, the Air Force and the Merchant Navy, for North African service. The conditions will be as stated in brackets in para. 4, sub-paras (ii) (iii), and in sub-para (iv).
7. ALLIED NATIONALS IN THE BRITISH FORCES:- Allied Nationals serving as members of the British Forces (other than those enlisted or commissioned therein by virtue of their membership of Allied forces) will be eligible for the Stars as members of such forces, provided their services do not qualify them for similar awards from their own governments.
8. THE DOMINIONS, INDIA, BURMA and THE COLONIAL EMPIRE:- The above arrangements will also apply to the forces and merchant navies of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Burma and the Colonial Empire.
THE "DESPATCHES" EMBLEM, WOUND STRIPES AND CHEVRONS FOR WAR SERVICE
9. His Majesty has also approved an emblem to denote mentions in despatches and has authorised the institution of wound stripes and chevrons for War service. These will be issued as soon as they are ready, but production may take some months.
10. MENTIONS IN DESPATCHES:- The "despatches" emblem is to be granted only for mentions in despatches awarded for service in the present war. Only one such emblem will be worn in respect of any number of mentions in despatches. The emblem is in bronze of a new pattern in the form of an oak leaf and is to be worn on the coat immediately after all medal ribbons. It has been designed by Mr. Percy Metcalfe, C.V.O. It is not intended to be worn during the War on the ribbon of any medal or star, but is to be attached directly to the coat in the position in which a single ribbon would be worn or in the position in which a ribbon would be placed immediately after those already worn. It should be worn with the stalk furthest from the left shoulder.
11. WOUND STRIPES AND CHEVRONS:- The wound stripes and chevrons will be awarded not only in the Navy, the Army (including the Home Guard) the Air Force, the Merchant Navy and the fishing fleet serving at sea,

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Notes
* Military Abbreviations Expanded:
* e.g.: Exempli gratia (for example).
* Para.: Paragraph.
* C.V.O.: Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.
* Observations on Individuals:
* Mr. Percy Metcalfe, C.V.O.: Mentioned as the designer of the "oak leaf" emblem for mentions in despatches. Metcalfe was a renowned British artist and sculptor known for designing many coins and medals, including the Great Seal of the Realm.
* Location and Historical Context:
* Historical Significance of the Stars: This order, promulgated just days before the Allied invasion of Italy (Operation Avalanche), formalizes the recognition for the first four years of the war. The Africa Star and 1939-43 Star (later renamed the 1939-45 Star) were vital for maintaining morale as the theater shifted from the desert to the European mainland.
* Inclusion of South Africa: Paragraph 8 explicitly includes South Africa in the eligibility for these awards, confirming that the men of 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F. were officially recognized alongside their British and Dominion counterparts.
* Burma and India: The mention of service on the Burma and North-West Frontiers reflects the global scale of the conflict, acknowledging that while 21 Squadron fought in the Mediterranean, other units were eligible for the same stars in the Far East.
* The Battle of the Atlantic and Merchant Navy: The inclusion of the Merchant Navy and requirements for "dangerous waters" highlights the critical nature of Allied supply lines, which were under constant threat from U-boats during this period.

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Verification: This document is Page 4 of a set of orders and does not contain a formal "Date" column; however, it is verified as the concluding page of the orders originating on Page 1 (File 233) dated 5th September, 1943.