British Commonwealth War and Campaign Medals Awarded to New Zealanders - The Naval General Service Medal 1915 - 62
About the Naval General Service Medal (NGSM) 1915 - 62
The Naval General Service Medal (NGSM) 1915 - 62 was instituted in 1915 to recognise service in minor naval operations for which no separate medal was intended. Because of its relatively long history this medal carries the Obverse effigy of three successive Sovereigns, King George V, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. In addition, there are two different versions of the George VI and Elizabeth II effigies.
Only one clasp to the NGSM 1915 - 62 has been awarded to New Zealand military personnel in large numbers: the clasp 'Malaya'. The clasp 'Malaya' recognised service by Royal New Zealand Navy personnel in the Malayan Emergency of 1948 to 31 July 1960. For information on the qualifying service required for the NGSM 1915 - 62 with the clasp 'Malaya' see Note 1, below.
The NGSM 1915 - 62 was replaced in 1964 by the General Service Medal 1962.
Royal Warrant
Campaign Medals are instituted by Warrants signed by the reigning Sovereign at the time they are instituted.
Medal Regulations / Command Papers
The Regulations / Command Papers for the following clasps to the Naval General Service Medal 1915 - 62 can be viewed below.
Clasps and Bars
A total of seventeen clasps were issued with this medal.
- Notes:
- 1. 28 days service 'in ships or craft on patrolling off the Malayan coast in support of operations against bandits' are required for the award of the NGSM with clasp 'Malaya' to personnel on RNZN Ships serving with the Far East Strategic Reserve. Days in port in Singapore or in Malayan ports cannot be counted towards the required 28 days service. For more information see Command Paper 7907 dated March 1950 [especially paragraph 3(i)]. Also see Listing of all RNZN deployments whose crews are eligible for the Naval General Service Medal with clasp "Malaya" and/or the New Zealand Operational Service Medal (NZOSM).
- 2. New Zealand Army and Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel who served in the Malayan Emergency were awarded a different campaign medal, the General Service Medal 1918 - 62 with clasp 'Malaya'.
| Clasp | Comments |
|---|---|
| Persian Gulf 1909 - 1914 | |
| Iraq 1919 - 20 | rare |
| NW Persia 1919 - 20 | exceptionally rare |
| Palestine 1936 - 39 | |
| SE Asia 1945 - 46 | |
| Minesweeping 1945 – 47 | |
| Palestine 1945 – 48 | |
| Malaya (George VI and Elizabeth II) | for service between 16 Jun 1948 and 31 Jul 1960 (see Note 1) |
| Yangtze 1949 | |
| Bomb and Mine Clearance 1945 – 53 | rare |
| Bomb and Mine Clearance 1945 – 46 | very rare |
| Bomb and Mine Clearance Mediterranean | very rare |
| Canal Zone | for 30 days' continuous service between 16 Oct 1951 and 19 Oct 1954 |
| Cyprus | for service between 1 Apr 1955 and 18 Apr 1959 |
| Near East | for service during the Suez Crisis of 1956 |
| Arabian Peninsula | for service between 1 Jan 1957 and 30 Jun 1960 |
| Brunei | for service between 8 Dec 1962 and 23 Dec 1962 |
Order of Wear
The position of the NGSM 1915 - 62 in the Wearing of Medals in New Zealand Table can be viewed here.
Media Statements
concerning service by New Zealand military personnel recognised by the NGSM (Malaya)
- 16 December 2001 - Minister of Defence presents medals to Navy veterans for service in Malaya
- 11 June 2001 - Medallic grievances addressed
RNZN deployments whose crews are eligible for the NGSM (Malaya)
- Listing of all RNZN deployments whose crews are eligible for the Naval General Service Medal with clasp "Malaya" and/or the New Zealand Operational Service Medal (NZOSM). Also see Note 1, above.
- To see the medallic entitlement for each RNZN deployment (listed chronologically) see the Medals Listed by RNZN Deployment 3 Sept 1945 to 2010 page of this website.