british empire medal

Chindit
Chindit
By Richard Rhodes James
When Angels Fall
When Angels Fall
By Jeremy C. Holm
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.
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  1. EOD Adams, Alfred John

    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

  2. SASNZ Kawha, Niwa

    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
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  3. PARAS 2 Hartland, Alan Wilfred

    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...
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    • british empire medal op.banner queens gallantry medal
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  4. ZSU Olsen, Frederick Gordon

    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...
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    • british empire medal mention in despatches military medal op.agas op.python
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  5. ZSU Bower, Douglas Norman

    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

  6. PARAS 2 Furness, Thomas

    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
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    • british empire medal palestine emergency
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  7. PARAS 2 Lawrence, Cecil

    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...
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    • british empire medal palestine emergency
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  8. PARAS 2 Thorne, Charles Grantley

    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
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    • british empire medal palestine emergency
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  9. PARAS 2 McCormack, Alexander

    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
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    • british empire medal palestine emergency
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  10. PARAS 2 Jenkins, Robert Alfred

    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

  11. PARAS 2 Cain, Arthur Henry

    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...

  12. PARAS 2 Weeks, John Ernest Alexander

    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

  13. LRDG Andrews, Stanley Alfred John Eustace

    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...
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    • british empire medal mention in despatches
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  14. PARAS 2 Bardsley, Stephen Alan

    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)...
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    • british empire medal bronze star (usa) military medal op.corporate op.granby
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  15. 22 SAS Creaser, John Michael

    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

  16. 22 SAS Angus, Nicholas Claridge

    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

  17. 22 SAS Davies, Barry

    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...

  18. 22 SAS Callan, Steven James

    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...

  19. 22 SAS Allen, Malcolm John (Yank)

    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

  20. 22 SAS Seale, Michael John

    [ 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...
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