South Atlantic Medal

South Atlantic Medal

Instituted in 1982 and issued to all personnel who were involved in Operation CORPORATE - the liberation of the Falkland Islands & South Georgia following the invasion by Argentinian forces.

Support personnel on the island of Ascension also qualified for the medal, but they did not qualify for the rosette, which denotes actual service on the Islands of South Georgia & the Falklands. Otherwise, forces had to operate below a specific line of Longitude for 30 days to qualify for the rosette, or one days service on the islands themselves. Nearly 30,000 medals were awarded, and medals to the Parachute Regiment & Royal Marines are particularly sought after by collectors, and command high prices