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
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
Ryan
FORENAME
Charles Campbell Bassett
UNIT
LRDG
RANK
Sergeant
NUMBER
SR598895V
AWARD
British Empire Medal,Mention in Despatches
PLACE
Aegean and Adriatic 1943-45
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit General Service Corps
IMAGES:
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, Roodepoort, Transvaal, South...
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...
SURNAME
Henry
FORENAME
Trevor (Jock)
UNIT
A Squadron
RANK
Sergeant
NUMBER
23910650
AWARD
British Empire Medal
PLACE
1973
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit Parachute Regiment
London Gazette 45984, 22nd May 1973, Page 6496
SURNAME
Bennett
FORENAME
Robert (Bob)
UNIT
22 SAS attached 21 SAS (PSI)
RANK
Warrant Officer First Class
NUMBER
22528123
AWARD
British Empire Medal
PLACE
1963
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 21.06.1919, Oxford, UK
served SAS 1941-45 (see SAS awards WW2)
21 SAS (M Independent...
SURNAME
Slater
FORENAME
Robert MacDonald
UNIT
SSM + RSM
RANK
Staff Sergeant (BEM) + Warrant Officer Second Class
NUMBER
22892988
AWARD
British Empire Medal, Member of the British Empire
PLACE
1968 (BEM) 1971 (MBE)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
London Gazette 44600, 31st May 1968...
SURNAME
Labalaba
FORENAME
Talaiyasi
UNIT
B Squadron
RANK
Corporal + Sergeant
NUMBER
23892771
AWARD
British Empire Medal, Mention in Despatches
PLACE
1968 (BEM) Dhofar 1972 (MiD)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit Royal Ulster Rifles
KIA - see Roll of Honour
London Gazette...
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