Africa Star 1940-43 awarded to Sergeant Frederick Chambers, Royal Armoured Corps and Special Boat Service

Copper-zinc alloy medal in the form of a six-pointed star, 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.

Chambers joined the Army in 1932, serving in India for four years. At the outbreak of World War Two, while serving in the Royal Armoured Corps in the Near East, Chambers was recruited into the special forces. Following victory in North Africa SBS and Long Range Desert Group personnel were transferred to the Aegean where they took part in a series of raids. In July 1944 during a raid on Crete Chambers led one of a number of demolition teams attacking German fuel and ammunition dumps. SBS units went on to serve in Italy and take part in the liberation of Greece and it was in the latter campaign that Chambers won his Military Medal. Chambers went on to be mentioned in despatches in 1945.

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.

From a medal group including, Military Medal, 1939-45 Star, Italy Star 1943-45, Defence Medal 1939-45 and British War Medal 1939-45.