Vietnam Medal

History

The Vietnam Medal was established by Royal Warrant on 8 June 1968 and countersigned by the Prime Minister. It was created within the British system of honours, but was mainly awarded to Australian and New Zealand personnel, who developed it jointly under separate Royal Warrants.

Although it is an Imperial era award, it is now regarded as the second medal of the Australian system, after the Australia Service Medal 1939-1945. It was the primary Australian campaign medal of the Vietnam War until the Australian Active Service Medal was created some thirty years later.

Design & ribbon

The medal

The Vietnam Medal is a circular cupro-nickel medal. The obverse carries the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. The reverse bears the word VIETNAM above a symbolic representation of the ideological war, a figure of a man standing between two spherical shapes.

The ribbon

Three red stripes on yellow for the Republic of Vietnam flag, flanked by red, dark blue and light blue for the Army, Navy and Air Force.

The ribbon has three central red pin-stripes on a yellow background, representing the flag of the Republic of Vietnam, flanked by stripes of red, dark blue and light blue for the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Eligibility

The Vietnam Medal was awarded for service in Vietnam between 29 May 1964 and 27 January 1973. Earlier service, from 24 December 1962, was recognised instead by the General Service Medal 1962 with clasp South Vietnam.

• The qualifying period is 29 May 1964 to 27 January 1973;
• Personnel who received the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal are not entitled to the Vietnam Medal;
• The exact criteria are set out in the Royal Warrant and the governing regulations.

Order of wear

The medal is worn among the campaign medals of its period. The precise neighbours should be confirmed against the current Australian Order of Wear.

Frequently asked questions