Campaign Service Medal 1962, 2 Clasps: Northern Ireland, Gulf, awarded to Able Seaman P.J. Hill, Royal Navy who saw service in Northern Ireland during the troubles and again during operations in the Persian Gulf between 17th November 1986 and 28th February 1989.
Campaign Service Medal 1962, 2 Clasps: Northern Ireland, Gulf; (D095431R P.J. HILL. AB. RN) Note that the Gulf clasp is a copy.
Condition: Gulf clasp a copy, Nearly Extremely Fine
Awarded to Able Seaman (No. D095431) P.J. Hill, Royal Navy who saw service in Northern Ireland during the troubles and during operations in the Persian Gulf at some time between 17th November 1986 and 28th February 1989.
The oil rich Arabian Gulf has long been an area of strategic and commercial interest to the United Kingdom, and unit's of the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary have formed a permanent presence in the Gulf since October 1980 to demonstrate the United Kingdom's commitment to the region, protecting maritime trade and providing reassurance to friendly Gulf States, this being known as the 'Armilla Patrol'. In September 1980 Saddam Hussain launched Iraq on what was to become a ruinous eight year war against Iran. The land campaign became more or less a stalemate, but both sides however extended the conflict to the Gulf waters, each attacking neutral shipping carrying the other belligerent's oil. In 1986 alone, 111 neutral vessels were sunk or damaged in hostilities. As about 50 percent of West European and 7 percent of US oil imports came from the Gulf, the Western Powers intervened to protect oil exports by sea from the region. By early 1988, ten Western Navies were patrolling the area. Though the conflict ended by 1st November 1988, further service continued for personnel involved in mine clearance, and clasp qualification as mentioned above continued through to February 1989.