WW2 Full Sized Silver Africa Service Medal To ACF89887 A.C. Drake.

WW2 Full Sized Silver Africa Service Medal To  ACF89887 A.C. Drake.  Original ribbon.

The Africa Service Medal was a South African campaign medal presented for service during World War II. The medal was instituted in December 1943, and was awarded to members of the Union Defence Forces, the South African Police, and the South African Railways Police who volunteered for war service outside South Africa, and had served continuously for thirty days, or part-time for a total of eighteen months, between 6 September 1939 and 2 September 1945.  With the declaration of war in September 1939, the South African Army numbered only 3,353 regulars, with an additional 14,631 men of the Active Citizen Force (ACF) which gave peace time training to volunteers and in time of war would form the main body of the army.