The Iraq Medal was authorised on 23 February 2004. It was a campaign medal issued to members of the British Armed Forces and certain attached personnel, who served between 20 January 2003 and 22 May 2011 on, or in support of, Operation Telic - the designation for British operations during the 2003 Invasion of Iraq and its aftermath.

Appearance

The Iraq Medal has the following design: It is made of cupro-nickel and 36 mm in diameter. The obverse has the crowned effigy of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, with the inscription ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FID DEF. The reverse shows an image of a Lamassu (an ancient Assyrian statue) above the word IRAQ. The 32 millimetre (1.25 in) wide ribbon is sand colour with three narrow central stripes of black, white, red representing the Iraqi flag.

Qualification details

The medal was awarded to those meeting the qualifying period of service within the defined operational area. Eligibility was extensive, and included both Regular and Reserve members of the armed forces, foreign and Commonwealth exchange and attached forces, Ministry of Defence civilians, members of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and embedded journalists. The operational area was defined as being divided into two zones - Zone 1 (Iraq and Kuwait) and Zone 2 (elsewhere within the Gulf region). Qualifying periods of service varied depending on the area in which personnel were based.

With a clasp

The medal was awarded with the clasp "19 Mar to 28 Apr 2003" to British service and attached personnel who:

Without a clasp

Those who served before the invasion, or in its aftermath, were recognised by the award of the medal alone. The medal, without a clasp, was awarded to: In most cases, civilian public servants and contractors employed by the British Government and involved in the reconstruction of Iraq were not eligible for the Iraq Medal, but could receive the Iraq Reconstruction Service Medal.

Special circumstances

Service terminated by death, wounds or disability due to service, or the award of a military decoration (Mention in Dispatches or higher), immediately qualified for the award of the medal, regardless of whether the length of service requirement was met.

Accumulated Campaign Service Medal

Qualifying service for the Iraq Medal counted towards the period required to receive the Accumulated Campaign Service Medal.

Clasp