Africa Star 1940-43 awarded to Lieutenant P J Lewis, 1st Battalion, The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)

Copper-zinc alloy campaign medal in the form of a six-pointed star, with, on the obverse, the royal cypher, 'GRVI', for King George VI (1895-1952), within circlet bearing the medal name, 'The Africa Star', surmounted by a crown. The medal is suspended by a ring from a pale buff ribbon with central red stripe flanked by light and dark blue stripes.

Instituted in 1943, the Africa Star was awarded to British and Commonwealth personnel who served in the operational area of North Africa between the 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943 during World War Two (1939-1945). The pale buff colour of the ribbon represents the desert sand; the dark blue, the Royal Navy and Merchant Navy; the pale blue, the Royal Air Force, and the red, the Army.

Lewis served in Palestine before the Second World War, North Africa during the War, and was Depot Commanding Officer between April 1952 and December 1963.

From a medal group of Lieutenant-Colonel P J Lewis, 1st Battalion, The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) and Commanding Officer Depot April 1952 to December 1953.

From the collection of the former Buffs Regimental Museum.