The British Empire Medal is granted in recognition of meritorious civil or military service. Recipients are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "BEM".
The honour is divided into civil and military medals in a similar way to the Order of the British Empire itself. Like the ribbons used for other classes of the Order of the British Empire, the ribbon of the British Empire Medal is rose-pink with pearl-grey edges, with the addition of a pearl-grey central stripe for the military division. While recipients are not technically counted as members of the Order, these medals are nevertheless affiliated with it.
Between 1993 and 2012, the British Empire Medal was not awarded to subjects of the United Kingdom, although it continued to be awarded in some Commonwealth realms during that time. The practice of awarding the British Empire Medal to subjects of the United Kingdom was resumed in June 2012, to coincide with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, although only in the civil division.
SURNAME
Adams
FORENAME
Alfred John
UNIT
Royal Army Ordnance Corps
RANK
Corporal
NUMBER
10585374
AWARD
British Empire Medal
PLACE
Savernake, Wiltshire, England 1946
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
London Gazette 37753, 8th October 1946, Page 5025
SURNAME
Kawha
FORENAME
Niwa
UNIT
NZ Squadron 22 SAS
RANK
Lance Corporal
NUMBER
348062
AWARD
British Empire Medal, Mention in Despatches
PLACE
Borneo 1965
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
London Gazette 43837, 10th December 1965, Page 11682
SURNAME
Hartland
FORENAME
Alan Wilfred
UNIT
Parachute Regiment
RANK
Corporal (BEM), Sergeant, Staff Sergeant (MiD), Colour Sergeant (QGM)
NUMBER
24084512
AWARD
British Empire Medal, Commander N.Ireland Certificate of Commendation, Mention in Despatches, Queens Gallantry Medal...
SURNAME
Olsen
FORENAME
Frederick Gordon
UNIT
A.I.F.
RANK
Sergeant + Lieutenant
NUMBER
VX111818
AWARD
Military Medal,British Empire Medal,Mention in Despatches
PLACE
North Borneo 1944-45
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Op.Python 1944
Op.AGAS 1945
awarded BEM as Sgt
awarded MiD as Lt...
SURNAMEBower FORENAMEDouglas Norman UNITA.I.F. RANKStaff Sergeant NUMBERNX129792 AWARDBritish Empire Medal PLACESarawak 1945 ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONOp.Semut
born 12.10.1917 Darlinghurst,New South Wales
enlisted 10.11.1936 Marrickville,New South Wales
discharged 16.1.1946
SURNAME
Furness
FORENAME
Thomas
UNIT
Parachute Regiment
RANK
A/Warrant Officer Second Class
NUMBER
4342541
AWARD
British Empire Medal
PLACE
Palestine 1946-48
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
London Gazette 38505, 7th January 1949, Page 123
SURNAME
Lawrence
FORENAME
Cecil
UNIT
Parachute Regiment
RANK
Warrant Officer Second Class
NUMBER
5780693
AWARD
British Empire Medal
PLACE
Palestine 27th September 1947 - 26th March 1948
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
former Royal Norfolk Regiment
London Gazette 38505, 7th January...
SURNAME
Thorne
FORENAME
Charles Grantley
UNIT
1 Para
RANK
Private
NUMBER
14488224
AWARD
British Empire Medal
PLACE
Palestine 1947
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Putney, London
London Gazette 38089, 3rd October 1947, Page 4687
SURNAME
McCormack
FORENAME
Alexander
UNIT
1 Para
RANK
Private
NUMBER
14962339
AWARD
British Empire Medal
PLACE
Palestine 1947
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
London Gazette 38089, 3rd October 1947, Page 4687
SURNAME
Jenkins
FORENAME
Robert Alfred
UNIT
Parachute Regiment
RANK
Colour Sergeant
NUMBER
6019028
AWARD
British Empire Medal
PLACE
Java 1945-46
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
London Gazette 37598, 4th June 1946, Page 2804
SURNAME
Cain
FORENAME
Arthur Henry
UNIT
8 Bn
RANK
A/Sergeant
NUMBER
5214201
AWARD
British Empire Medal
PLACE
NW Europe 1944-45
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
POW June 1944 Normandy
Camp 357,Oerbke,Lower Saxony (POW No.70221)
B.E.M. for POW activities
served in Java 1945-46
13 Bn...
SURNAME
Weeks
FORENAME
John Ernest Alexander
UNIT
3 Para (B Company)
RANK
Warrant Officer Second Class
NUMBER
24128654
AWARD
British Empire Medal
PLACE
1984
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
served Falklands 1982
London Gazette 49768, 16th June 1984, Page 21
SURNAME
Andrews
FORENAME
Stanley Alfred John Eustace
UNIT
LRDG
RANK
Staff Sergeant + Squadron Quatermaster Sergeant
NUMBER
SR598893V
AWARD
British Empire Medal, Mention in Despatches
PLACE
Adriatic 1944
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 10.01.1911
parent unit Union Defence Force...
SURNAME
Bardsley
FORENAME
Stephen Alan (Baz)
UNIT
2 Para + attached 505 Parachute Infantry Regiment (Company C,2 Bn) (82nd US Airborne Division)
RANK
Lance Corporal + Sergeant
NUMBER
24511890
AWARD
Military Medal, British Empire Medal, Bronze Star (US)
PLACE
Falklands 1982 (MM)...
SURNAME
Creaser
FORENAME
John Michael
UNIT
A Squadron
RANK
Staff Sergeant (A/Warrant Officer Second Class)
NUMBER
23882168
AWARD
British Empire Medal
PLACE
1980
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Yorkshire
SURNAME
Angus
FORENAME
Nicholas Claridge
UNIT
D Squadron
RANK
Staff Sergeant
NUMBER
23834530
AWARD
British Empire Medal
PLACE
1979
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit Parachute Regiment
SURNAME
Davies
FORENAME
Barry
UNIT
G Squadron (22 Troop)
RANK
Sergeant
NUMBER
23877394
AWARD
British Empire Medal
PLACE
Mogadishu 1977
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit 1 Bn Welsh Guards
born 22.11.1944 Wem,Shropshire
son of Raymond and Ethel Davies
educated Wem School...
SURNAME
Callan
FORENAME
Steven James
UNIT
A Squadron and Op.Research
RANK
Sergeant
NUMBER
23546836
AWARD
British Empire Medal
PLACE
1977
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 1941
Royal Corps of Signals
22 SAS 1959
A Squadron
attached D Squadron for Aden 1966
Operations Research
left...
SURNAME
Allen
FORENAME
Malcolm John (Yank)
UNIT
A Squadron
RANK
Staff Sergeant (A/Warrant Officer Second Class)
NUMBER
23211667
AWARD
British Empire Medal
PLACE
1977
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent regiment SASR
[ 23 SAS ENTRY ]
SURNAME
Seale
FORENAME
Michael John
UNIT
B Squadron
RANK
Staff Sergeant
NUMBER
23682453
AWARD
British Empire Medal
PLACE
1975
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit Royal Corps of Signals
born 24.03.1940
1958 Parachute Regiment
31.03.1989 end of service...