Story: Military medals

New Zealand Defence Service Medal recipient Jim Gillies, 2011 (3rd of 4)

New Zealand Defence Service Medal recipient Jim Gillies, 2011

The New Zealand Defence Service Medal was instituted in 2011. This medal recognises all military service – regular, territorial, compulsory military training and national service – after the end of the Second World War. Jim Gillies of Dunedin completed the compulsory military training course in 1957 and was on the active list between 1960 and 1966, which meant he could have been called up to serve. He was one of the first to receive this medal – applications were originally opened only to those who were over 70 or terminally ill. Prior to the institution of this medal, non-operational military service had not been recognised by a medal.

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Otago Daily Times
Reference: 6 June 2011, p. 35
Photograph by Craig Baxter

Permission of the Otago Daily Times must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Kerryn Pollock, 'Military medals - Campaign and service medals', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/35629/new-zealand-defence-service-medal-recipient-jim-gillies-2011 (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Kerryn Pollock, published 20 Jun 2012