Operational Service Medal Sierra Leone
This medal was the first issue of the new Operational Service Medal. The details of this medal were published under Defence Council Instruction Joint Service No 78 and was released in 2002. It was first awarded to troops who deployed to Sierra Leone on Operation PALLISER on 5 May 2000, with 1 Para Battle Group.
The Operational Service Medal is to take over from the General Service Medal 1962, and would reward all campaign service. The only way to determine which campaign the medal had been awarded for was by the colour of the ribbon or by a clasp if issued.
The OSM Sierra Leone was awarded for the following operations:
Op PALLISER - 15 May - 14 June 2000
Op BASILLICA - 15 June - 1 November 200
Op MAIDENLY - 15 July 2000
Op BARRAS - 10 September 2000
Op SILKMAN - 2 November 2000 - 31 July 2002
The qualification period for this medal varies dependant on which Operation troops were deployed. For Op Maidenly and Op BARRAS, the qualification period was 1 day. For Op BASILLICA and Op SILKMAN the period was 45 days.
The obverse of this silver medal bears the head of Queen Elizabeth II with the words "Elizabeth II : DEI GRATIA REGINA FID.DEF"
On the reverse there is a Union Flag in the centre surrounded by a circular inscription "FOR OPERATIONAL SERVICE". Appearing from underneath the inscription are the points of a compass with a coronet at the point of each of the four main ones: Royal (top left), Naval (top right), Mural-Army (bottom left) and Astral-Royal Air Force (bottom right).
There are no clasps for this medal. But any soldier who wears a rosette on the ribbon, took part in Operation BARRAS, which was the military action to release members of the Armed forces who were kept hostage by the West Side Boys or on Operation MAIDENLY.
The ribbon is 1.25" wide and has a red central stripe, then a dark blue stripe either side, followed by a light blue and a leafy green stripe on the outer edges. These colours signify the three armed services who took part in the operation and the green denotes operations in Sierra Leone.
The OSM Sierra Leone counts towards the qualifying criteria for the Accumulated Campaign Service Medal. The Operational Service Medal has also been issued for service in Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.