Hi All Apologies if this has been asked before. My Father was in the 151 / 156 Parachute Regiment during WW2, during this time he was posted to North Africa and the Middle East, i have his war medals and on his Africa Star medal he also has an 8th Army clasp, could anyone let me know by what means he would have earned or been entitled to the 8th Army clasp. Thanks.
hope this helps explains it in theis link Africa Star - World War 2 Medal Guides - Researching WW2 Soldiers The Africa Star is a military campaign medal, instituted by the United Kingdom on 8 July 1943 for award to British and Commonwealth forces who served in North Africa between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943 during the Second World War.[1][2] Three clasps were instituted to be worn on the medal ribbon: North Africa 1942–43, 8th Army and 1st Army.[1 Africa Star - Wikipedia 151 PARACHUTE BATTALION The 151st Parachute Battalion was raised from British Army volunteers at Delhi in October 1941 and belonged to the 50th (Indian) Parachute Brigade. It played an internal security role suppressing Congress riots in Delhi in August 1942. In November it was re-designated 156 Parachute Battalion and joined the 4th Parachute Brigade at Kabrit in Egypt in 1943. 151 Parachute Battalion | ParaData 156 PARACHUTE BATTALION The 156 Parachute Battalion was the previous 151st Parachute Battalion (that formed in Delhi) changing its title in November 1942. It became part of the UK 4th Parachute Brigade at Kabrit in Egypt in 1943. The Battalion trained in Palestine before joining the 4th Brigade in North Africa and Tunisia. It landed in Italy with the 1st Airborne Division in September 1943 and spearheaded the advance from Taranto to Bari. It left Italy in November to return to the UK to prepare for the invasion of Europe. 156 Parachute Battalion | ParaData
156 Para bn ended up at Arnhem in 1944, was he with them then? And the 8th Army clasp was only awarded to those who served with 8th Army AFTER montgomery took charge - my father was very aggrieved he didn't get it, his bn leaving the desert before Monty arrived. Later, in 1945 Monty was pinning a MC on a cousin's chest when Monty noticed the N African service medal ribbon without the 8 Army clasp and asked him when he was there - the cousin replied 'Before you came sir - before it was fashionable!' He thought Monty was going to hit him! James Colvin ( if you are interested in the desert war, have just published 'Eighth Army versus Rommel', details on publisher's website 'hel1290')
