Originally Posted by
Pontius Navigator
CB, thank you. The point is that the GSM and clasps has been replaced by the OSM with different ribbons and medals for each campaign. So, where with the GSM you could only read a serviceman's record when wearing the full medal now the there are different ribbons for each too.
Why did they decide to bring about this change? A change brought about during the previous Government.
I've been trying to find out the 'why' for you. Although my ability research is limited as I'm currently in a desert, I can't find the 'why' in the relevant JSP or DINs: only the when - 1 Jan 00. Sorry.
I suppose that you can now tell a serviceman's record just from the ribbons rather than the particular medal.
Back to the rows bit. I do recall an air officer who managed to wear his 3 ribbons on 2 rows.