However the dark blue ribbon was abolished soon after the formation of the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918 .
The original ( 1856 ) specification for the award stated that the ribbon should be red for army recipients and dark blue for naval recipients .
The dark blue ribbon was abolished soon after the formation of the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918 .
The original ( 1856 ) specification for the award stated that the ribbon should be red for army recipients and dark blue for naval recipients .