Army: Entry into the operational area on the posted strength of a unit or formation in the area between the Suez Canal and the Straits of Gibraltar, between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943. Service in operations in Abyssinia, Somaliland, Eritrea, Malta and Syria also qualifies.
Air Force: Landing in an area of an Army operational command as defined above, or service in the air over an Army operational command or enemy occupied territory in North Africa.
Navy and Merchant Marine: Service at sea in the Mediterranean between the above dates or in support of the Army operations in Abyssinia, Somaliland and Eritrea. Also, shore service as for the Army.
An Arabic numeral 1 or 8 may be worn on this ribbon to denote service with the British 1st or 8th Armies.