Member of the British Empire Medal

The Order of the British Empire , designed in 1917 was the first Award allowing for women to be recognised alongside men to honour the wide-ranging war services of large numbers of civilians, especially in the voluntary sectors. It was to cease being awarded at the end of the war but was made permanent in 1922 with two medals being awarded, The Empire Gallantry Medal and The British Empire Medal for Meritorious Service. The British Empire Medal is made of silver. On the obverse is an image of Britannia surrounded by the motto, with the words "For Meritorious Service" at the bottom; on the reverse is George V's Imperial and Royal Cypher, with the words "Instituted by King George V" at the bottom. The name of the recipient is engraved on the rim. It has a rose pink ribbon with light grey edges with an additional central light grey stripe for the Military.Thomas Basil Silk (TKS 1927-33) was awarded a Member of the British Empire (Military Division) on 14 Feruary 1946 for Meritorious Service in the Pacific. The full citation is found in Silk's Service Record with the National Archives of Australia (see link). He was twice Mentioned in Despatches - 23 December 1943 and 6 March 1947. Silk enlisted on the 20 January 1941 at Paddington NSW (Service No NX68660) and saw Operational Service in the Middle East and New Guinea in the 2/3 Australian Infantry Battalion. In 1945 he was seconded to HQ 16 Australian Infantry Brigade.