Medal clasps

Medal clasps are thin bars attached to the ribbon of a medal to indicate service in a particular operation or campaign. For example, the North Africa 1942-43 clasp, which is worn on the Africa Star, was awarded to personnel of the Royal Navy Inshore Squadrons and Merchant Navy vessels which worked inshore between these dates. It was decided that the maximum number of Second World War stars that could be earned by one individual was five, so those that qualified for more, received a clasp for the ribbon of the appropriate star.