|
|
Civilian Service Medal 1939-1945
Full size replica from $60 court mounted. Miniature replica from $50 court mounted. Remounting of Original or replica + clean from $60 court mounted. Further reading The Committee of Inquiry into Defence and Defence Related Awards (CIDA) received submissions from a number of civilian organisations such as the Women’s Land Army, the Northern Australia Railway, the Civil Construction Corps and the Volunteer Aid Detachments, which assisted in the war effort in Australia during World War II. These voluntary groups received no medals to recognise their service. The CIDA agreed that this service should be formally recognised and recommended that a Civilian Service Medal 1939–1945 be introduced to correct this anomaly. The Government accepted this recommendation and introduced the medal in 1994. The medal is the responsibility of the Honours, Symbols and Territories Branch. The medal is awarded to members of civilian organisations nominated by the Governor-General. Members of these organisations must have been required to work in arduous circumstances during the war period and been subject to military-like arrangements and conditions of service. ‘Arduous circumstances’, in this instance, is defined as exposure to sustained risk of enemy bombardment, having to live in camps in isolated parts of Australia or being away from home for lengthy periods. Military-like arrangements include living in camps maintained by military authorities or being subjected to military-like standards of direction, discipline or conduct. The Civilian Service Medal 1939–1945 may be awarded to members of prescribed civilian organisations for a period of at least 180 days service during the period of World War II. The medal may be awarded posthumously and presented to the next of kin. Design The Civilian Service Medal 1939–1945 is a circular bronze medal 38 mm in diameter, ensigned with the Federation Star. The obverse has in the centre, the Southern Cross symbolising Australia, superimposed on a globe surrounded by golden wattle, which represents the civil population combining in the defence of Australia. The reverse has a central horizontal panel 27 mm across and 8 mm high with ‘1939’ inscribed above it and ‘1945’ inscribed below. The integral suspender bar has the inscription ‘CIVILIAN SERVICE’. Ribbon The Civilian Service Medal 1939–1945 ribbon is 32 mm wide, with a wide central ochre stripe flanked by white pin-stripes and wide green stripes. The ochre colour represents the soil of Australia, the green represents the land and food production; the white stripes represent transport and communications. Order of Wear Is below the National Emergency Medal. And above the National Police Service Medal. Further information can be found at Governor General Office PMC Honours and Symbols Information sourced from the DHAM. |
