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28/03/2024 10:16am

New Zealand War Service Medal

Conflict

 
World War II.
 
Further relevant historical context can be found at the foot of this entry.
 
History
 
The New Zealand War Service Medal was a New Zealand campaign medal presented for service during World War II. The medal was instituted in 1946 and was awarded to members of the New Zealand armed forces, the National Military Reserve, and the Home Guard who undertook a minimum of 28 days' full time aggregated service or six months' part time aggregated service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945.
 
Service brought to an end by death on duty, or due to wounds sustained on duty, or honourable discharge as a result of such wounds, automatically qualified for award of the medal.
 
The medal was awarded in addition to the standard Commonwealth campaign awards for World War II.
 
Description
 
The medal is circular, 36mm in diameter and was struck in cupro-nickel. The obverse of this medal bears the un-crowned effigy of King George VI, and the inscription; ‘GEORGIVS VI D:G: BR: OMN: REX F:D: IND: IMP.’ (George VI by the grace of God King of Great Britain and Emperor of India).
 
The reverse is inscribed; ‘FOR SERVICE TO NEW ZEALAND 1939-1945’, under which there is a fern leaf motif at the base of the medal.
 
The ribbon suspender is also in the style of two ferns leaves making the medal quite distinctive from other British and Commonwealth medals.
 
The medal was issued un-named.
 
Ribbon
 
 
The medal ribbon is 33mm wide and is black in colour with a white strip along either edge denoting the New Zealand national colours.
 
Bars/Clasps
 
None were authorised for this medal.
 
Further relevant historical context can be found at the foot of this entry.
 
Dealer Retail Value *
 
New Zealand War Service Medal
£30.00
 
* It should be noted that the values quoted above reflect the average price that a medal dealer may expect to sell this medal for - please see the ‘things you should know’ web page for more details about valuing medals.
 
Further Historical Context
 
This section contains information on:-
 
- New Zealand Forces During World War II.
 
New Zealand Forces During World War II - New Zealand entered the Second World War by declaring war on Germany with Britain. The state of war with Germany was officially held to have existed since 9.30pm on 3 September 1939, simultaneous with that of Britain, but in fact the declaration of war was not made until confirmation had been received from Britain that their ultimatum to Germany had expired.
 
Diplomatically, New Zealand had expressed vocal opposition to fascism in Europe and also to the appeasement of Fascist dictatorships, and national sentiment for a strong show of force met with general support. Economic and defensive considerations also motivated the New Zealand involvement - reliance on Britain meant that threats to Britain became threats to New Zealand too in terms of economic and defensive ties.
 
There was also a strong sentimental link between the former British colony and the United Kingdom, with many seeing Britain as the 'mother country' or 'Home'.
 
New Zealand provided personnel for service in the Royal Air Force and in the Royal Navy. New Zealand was prepared to have New Zealanders serving under British command. RNZAF pilots, many trained in the Empire Air Training Scheme, were sent to Europe. But unlike the other Dominions, New Zealand did not insist on its aircrews serving with RNZAF squadrons, so speeding up the rate at which they entered service. And the Long Range Desert Group was formed in North Africa in 1940 with New Zealand and Rhodesian as well as British volunteers, but included no Australians for the same reason.
 
The New Zealand government placed the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy at the Admiralty's disposal and made available to the RAF 30 new Wellington medium bombers waiting in the United Kingdom for shipping to New Zealand. The New Zealand Army contributed the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force.
 
This information was taken from ‘Wikipedia’. The original article and details of the authors can be found here. It is reproduced on this web-site under the ‘creative commons’ licence which can be found here.