Saturday, November 25, 2006

The General Service Medal

The medal is used in place of a specific campaign medal , for example if the campaign is not very large, clasps are added to the medal to denote the campaign. It bears the standing winged figure of Victory in a Greek helmet and carrying a trident, bestowing a wreath on the emblems of the Army (the sword) and the Royal Air Force (the wings). This specific medal was awarded to Gunner John Sutcliffe for service in Palestine in 1948. After World War One the League of Nations granted the British a mandate to govern Palestine. The League of Nations supported the Balfour Declaration of November 1917, to establish a 'National Home for the Jews' in Palestine. This suggestion caused the Arabs in Palestine to revolt in 1936. Part of the resolution of the 1936-9 revolt was the imposition of a immigration quota for Jews wishing to enter Palestine. This led to a Jewish guerrilla war against the British forces beginning in 1940.

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