The medal was awarded for service during the qualifying period of 10 June 1940 to 8 September 1943, during and after the Siege of Malta. Three distinct groups were eligible for the medal, uniformed members of the allied armed forces and merchant marine, civilians on Malta who served in specific capacities during the qualifying period, and members of the Scout Association of Malta for service during the qualifying period.
Allied armed forces and merchant marine
The medal was eligible for presentation to all former uniformed members of the allied armed forces and merchant marine who, at any time during the qualifying period, served in Malta; in air or sea operations in the Mediterranean connected to the defence, relief or supply of Malta, including participation in convoys and convoy escort; or in operations mounted from Malta against the Axis Forces. British citizens who were awarded the medal are allowed unrestricted permission to wear the medal so long as they are not in Crown Service.
Civilians
Civilians eligible for the medal were those who, at any time during the qualifying period, were in Malta and served in one of the following capacities: Malta Police Force personnel and Special Constables; Malta Dockyard Police and Malta Dockyard personnel who served with the Dockyard Defence Battery; Nursing members of the Voluntary Aid Detachments, the Red Cross and St John Ambulance, who served in naval, military, or civilian hospitals; Malta Civil Defence personnel; Malta Auxiliary Corps; Malta Volunteer Defence Force or Home Guard; Malta Fire Brigade; and District Commissioners, Regional Protection Officers, and Protection Officers. Members of the Scout Association of Malta were also eligible for award of the medal for service during the qualifying period.
Appearance
The medal is circular, made of cupronickel and in diameter. The obverse depicts the Coat of Arms of Malta with the year 1992 at its base. On the reverse is the George Cross in the centre, surrounded by the words BĦALA XHIEDA TA’ EROIŻMU U DEDIKAZZJONI and TO BEAR WITNESS TO HEROISM AND DEVOTION separated by a Maltese cross at the top and the date 1942 at the base. The medal is held by a straight suspension bar depicting a relief of olive branches and palm fronds meeting in the centre. The medal is suspended from a blue moire ribbon wide with two narrow central vertical stripes of white and red, each 3mm in width. The medal may also be worn in miniature on appropriate occasions. The miniature of the medal may is in diameter, and the ribbon in width.
