World War II Australian Miniature Group of Six
1939-1945 Star. Miniature stamped gilt metal six-pointed faceted star with lateral loop for ribbon suspension; the face with the crowned cipher of King and Emperor George VI centrally within a stippled ring inscribed ‘THE 1939 - 1945 STAR’; the reverse plain with maker’s mark ‘K.G. LUKE / MELBOURNE’; diameter 18.81mm (0.74 inch).
The Star was instituted in 1945 to be awarded for operational service between the declaration of war (3 September 1939) and V.J. Day (2 September 1945). Army personnel were required to complete six months’ service in an operational command. Airborne troops qualified if they had participated in any airborne operation and had completed two months’ service in a fully operational unit. Naval personnel were required to completed six months’ service and at least one voyage in an operational area. Air Force personnel were required to participate in operations against the enemy and to complete two months’ service in an operational unit. Non-aircrew personnel were required to complete six months’ service in an area of operational army command. For Royal Observer Corps personnel, the requirement was 1,080 days’ service. The Star was awarded immediately if service was terminated by death, disability or wounding. The award of a gallantry medal or of a Mention in Despatches led to immediate qualification for the Star.
Africa Star, 1940-1943 with ‘8’ device on the ribbon. Miniature stamped gilt metal six-pointed faceted star with lateral loop for ribbon suspension; the face with the crowned cipher of King and Emperor George VI centrally within a stippled ring inscribed ‘THE AFRICA STAR’; the reverse plain with maker’s mark ‘K.G. LUKE / MELB.’; diameter 18.86mm (0.74 inch); with gilt ‘8’ device on the ribbon.
The Star was instituted in 1943 to be awarded for operational service between the Italian declaration of war (10 June 1940) and the end of operations in North Africa (12 May 1943) on land in North Africa from the Straits of Gibraltar to the Suez Canal and on Malta; also on land in Ethiopia, Somaliland, Eritrea, Sudan and Kenya (up to 27 November 1941) and in the Syrian Campaign from 8 June 1941 to 11 July 1941 at sea in the Mediterranean or in support of operations in East Africa or the Morocco landings; in the air for active operations in the above areas.
To qualify for the 8th Army clasp, candidates had to have served in the 8th Army between 23 October 1942 and 12 May 1943, that is, from the beginning of the Second Battle of El Alamein until the end of hostilities; there was some controversy, since this excluded those who had fought bravely in the previous hostilities but the intention was to reward those who had fought in the pivotal battle of the North African campaign.
Pacific Star, 1941-1945. Miniature bronze six-pointed faceted star with loop for ribbon suspension; the face with the crowned cipher of King and Emperor George VI centrally within a stippled ring inscribed ‘THE PACIFIC STAR’; the reverse plain with maker’s mark ‘K.G. LUKE / MELBOURNE’; diameter 18.81mm (0.74 inch).
The Star was instituted in May 1945 to be awarded for operational service between the day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (8 December 1941) and V.J. Day (2 September 1945). Candidates must first have qualified for the 1939-1945 Star, for which Army personnel were required to complete six months’ service in an operational command, Naval personnel to completed six months’ service and at least one voyage in an operational area and Air Force personnel to participate in operations against the enemy and to complete two months’ service in an operational unit. The qualifying maritime areas for the award were the Pacific Ocean, including the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean east of a line running due south from Singapore round the south-east coast of Sumatra, through Christmas Island, and southwards along the meridian of 110 degrees east.
The Star was also awarded for operational service during conflict in those territories where there had been invasions; these included Hong Kong, Malaya, Nauru, Ocean Island, the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, Borneo, Sarawak, Celebes, the Bismarck Archipelago, the Molucca Islands, the Solomon Islands, Sumatra, Timor, Java and New Guinea but not Burma.. The Star was awarded immediately if service was terminated by death, disability or wounding.
Anyone qualifying for both the Burma and Pacific Stars would be awarded only one - the first-earned, the second award being indicated by a corresponding ribbon bar.
Defence Medal, 1939-1945. Miniature circular cupro-nickel medal with claw and ribbon bar suspension; the face with the head of King George VI facing left, circumscribed ‘GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR. OMN : REX F : D ; IND : IMP. (George VI by the Grace of God King of Great Britain, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India); the reverse with a crowned oak sapling with lion supporters, wavy lines representing the sea below, dated ‘1939’ and ‘1945’ upper left and upper right respectively, inscribed below ‘THE DEFENCE MEDAL’; diameter 18.94mm (0.74 inch).
The medal was instituted in May 1945 to recognise non-operational service from the outbreak of war (3 September 1939) to V.E. Day (8 May 1945) in Europe and to V.J. Day (2 September 1945) overseas. The qualifying service periods were 180 days in overseas areas subject to air attack or other close enemy threat, 360 days in other overseas areas and 1,080 days in the U.K.. For mine and bomb disposal personnel overseas, the qualification period was 90 days. A number of special awards, such as those to the Malta Home Guard and to recipients of a Commendation for Brave Conduct or for Valuable Service in the Air, were also made.
Australia Service Medal, 1939-1945. Miniature circular cupro-nickel medal with claw and ribbon bar suspension; the face with the crowned head of King George VI facing left, circumscribed ‘GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX ET INDIAE IMP: (George VI by the Grace of God King of Great Britain, Emperor of India); the reverse with the arms of Australia centrally, circumscribed above ‘THE AUSTRALIA SERVICE MEDAL’ and dated ‘1939-1945’ below; diameter 18.94mm (0.74 inch); on the ribbon of the War medal, 1939-1945.
The medal was instituted in 1949 and originally awarded to Australians who had served for eighteen months overseas or for 3 years at home between 3 September 1939 and 3 September 1945. In 1999 this was reduced to 30 days full time service or 90 days part-time service. *** Australia Service Medal, 1939-1945.
Another example; diameter 18.97mm (0.74 inch); on correct ribbon with a couple of small glue spots.
The Group is bar-mounted with pin to the reverse for wear, the ribbons possibly replaced.
K.G. Luke were medal and trophy makers active in Melbourne, Victoria from at least 1937 to 1974.
An interesting group.
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