Eighty years ago this week Britain sets the seal on its first major victory of the war

 

Britain set the seal on its first significant, unarguable triumph of the war with the issue of the Africa Star to those who had fought in North Africa for "a victory that will shine in history." Those who had fought elsewhere were not to be left out and they would receive what was then called, the 1939-43 Star, later the 1939-45 Star, a blanket decoration for all who had seen service. The Africa Star was the first medal of the war to reward a specific campaign.

For the sixth day in succession the lead story in The Times was of a bombing attack, a good indication of quiet news elsewhere. Bomber command was still heavily commited to the Battle of the Ruhr but the last really big raid - on Wuppertal - was some weeks in the past.

King George VI approved the final design of the "Sword of Stalingrad" which was to be presented  to the Soviet city in honour of its resistance while he was still visiting forces in the Mediterranean theatre. He chose one design from a number presented by the Goldsmiths' Company. Quite why it was necessary for him to make the choice in the course of his journey is obscure, but it is tempting to suspect it was a very minor consolation prize for Stalin as the Allies planned their invasion of Sicily with no reference to him.