Italy Star

The Italy Star was originally intended to be awarded to servicemen who saw service in Italy, but actually covered operational service in the Aegean, Corsica, Elba, Greece, Sardinia, Southern France and Austria as well as Yugoslavia during the period 11 June 1943 to 8 May 1945.

Army personnel were not required to have earned the 1939 - 1945 Star prior to qualifying for this medal, unlike their Royal and Merchant Navy counterparts, who had to have qualified for the the 1939 - 1945 Star, unless they entered into the war too late to qualify for this medal.

Members of the Royal Navy had to have completed service in the Mediterranean and the Aegean Seas, as well as operations in the Dodacanese, Corsica, Greece, Sardinia, Yugoslavia and Elba.

Members of the Army who save operational service in the Aegean, Dodacanese, Corsica, Greece, Sardinia, Yugoslavia and Elba. Those members of the Army who served in Sicily after 17 Aug 1943, Sardinia after 19 September 1943 and Corsica after 4 October 1943 did not qualify for this medal.

If personnel entered into Austria during the last few days of the war, they qualified for this medal and not the France & Germany Star.

The medal itself is a bronze six pointed star with the Royal Cipher "GRI VI" in the centre, surmounted by a crown with the inscription "THE ITALY STAR". The reverse is plain and blank as with all Second World War Stars. Their were no clasps issued with this medal.

The ribbon is 1.25" in width, with equal stripes of red, white and green, which represents the Italian flag.