PM Transcripts

FOR PRESS P. M. No. 43/ 1966
THE VIET NAM MEDAL
Stater:: ent by the Prime Minister, 1M1r. Harold Holt
Her Majesty The Queen has signified her approval to the
award of a special medal for service in Viet Nam, and to the
desi8n of a ribbon for the medal.
The approval follows a joint approach by the Prime
Minister of Nev,, Zealand, the Rt. Hon. Keith Holyoake, and
myself to Her Majesty for a medal which would recognise
service by Australian and Ne:; Zealand servicemen in Viet Nam.
In consultation with New Zealand + he ribbon has been
desi-ned to incorporate the colours traditionall symbolic of
the Three Services and also red and yellow, whic are the
national colours of the Government of the epublic of Viet Nam.
Supplies of the ribbon are on their way to Viet Nam and will
be issued to our men shortly. The award will represent a
recognition of the excellent service our Forces have given in
the cause of freedom and the resistance of Communist aggression
in South Viet Nam. Australian servicemen have over t e years
been found serving the cause of freedom in many parts of he
world, and we are proud on this occasion that the medal is being
made available in the ANZAC tradition.
To qualify for the medal it will be necessary for a
serviceman to have been attached to a unit posted to South Viet
Nam for at least one day or in the case of aircrew, to have
flown one sortie over Viet tam. The medal will be available to
members of the armed forces and also to accredited members of
philanthropic organisations who wear the prescribed uniform.
n all cases, the relevant service must be on or after 29th
May, 1964. The Government of New Zealand is being consulted on a
design for the medal for submission to Her Majesty for approval.
As with all medals awarded by The Queen, the obverse will bear
an effigy of Her Majesty. The reverse will carry a suitable
theme to mark the nature of the award. Themes for the reverse
are now being considered, and the 1inister for Defence will be
making a furlher announcement on this subject when approval for
the theme has been received.
CANBERRA, 19th May, 1966