Campaign News

THE last living British serviceman to see WW1 conflict has been awarded an Australian Defence Medal. Claude Choules, 108, joined the Navy at 15 and served on a battleship. He later moved to Australia .

Read more: Here

It seems the RBL are fed up with the number of medal queries they receive. But the fact they and the MoD admit to being inundated tells us there is much wrong with the system and far too many anomalies.

http://www.legion-magazine.co.uk/blogs/how-about-a-new-medal-campaign/

Perhaps the editor should take a long hard look to see if they can help turn this situation around.   

I SERVED in the Army for 12 years during the 1960s and 70s and left the Service with no medals.  Five of my years in uniform were spent with a bomb disposal unit which had never officially been “stood down” post-1945 due to the continued need to dispose of German ordnance.

If anything the unit’s taskings became more dangerous as the years passed, with unexploded bombs becoming increasingly unstable.  I, along with many others, faced daily dangers just as life-threatening as those encountered in operational theatres, but apparently deserve nothing for my efforts.

The General Service Medal with bomb and mine clearance clasp was awarded to bomb disposal units from 1945-49. Why was the award discontinued when the dangerous work it recognised continues to this very day?

I volunteered to serve my country and it would be nice to have a tangible symbol of my service to pass on to my sons, as my grandfather did to me.

Ex-sapper R Robinson, Uckfield, East Sussex.

OLD soldiers campaigning for a National Defence Medal - a parade gong for all service personnel since WWII - are being given the bum's rush by the Ministry of Defence.

A Whitehall magazine called ‘Veterans World’ was asked to run a short letter about the medal. Just the forum for such a contribution, you might think. Or not.

The editor, one Clare Valentine, replied “that she would not publish anything which did not support MoD policy'. No doubt she will be promoted."

Quentin Letts

Published Daily Mail 29/08/2009

Repatriation Friday, 7th August of Craftsman Anthony Lombardi

RAF Lyneham have confirmed (at 09:35 hrs) that the repatriation of the above will take place with the timings below

Wootton Bassett ? Flypast - 12:00 hrs

RAF Lyneham ? Family Service starts - 13:00 hrs

RAF Lyneham ? Cortege Departs - 14:15 hrs

Wootton Bassett - 14:30 hrs

Gable Cross Police Station (A420) - 14:45 hrs

UK Defence Academy (A420) - 15:00 hrs

Folly Lay (A420) - 15:30 hrs

Greyhound Pub (A420) - 16:00 hrs

John Radcliffe Hospital (Oxford) - 16:30 hrs

                                                                                   Timings could be +/- 30 minutes

Regards

Derek Blondie Boorn

Royal Marine Association - Poole Branch

On behalf of the Royal Marines Association

We have been asked to support a petition on behalf of HMS Ledbury, HMS Brecon and RMS St Helena.  They sailed as part of Operation Corporate from Rosyth on the 15th May 1982, before the Argentine surrender. As the war reached its conclusion it became clear that a major clearing-up operation would be required, with the intention of making the islands coastal waters safe, this was achieved with total professionalism with these three ships playing a major role.

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/medalsam/

They were denied the South Atlantic Medal due to lack of accumulated days before the war ended, however their task and the risks involved were still very real as they continued their operations. We ask the Prime Minister/Secretary State for Defence to review the criteria for the award of the South Atlantic Medal set in Command Paper 8601, presented to Parliament in July 82 while the three ships were conducting Mine Clearance Operations in the South Atlantic and re-consider awarding the medal (Without Rosette) to these ships.

Another example of Risk & Rigour going unrecognised.

Henry spent the last years of his life travelling the country, visiting schools, telling dumbstruck listeners what it had really been like to be there. It often left him weak, particularly if he had picked up a nasty bug in a classroom. But he was still accepting invitations until his death on Saturday. He didn't have to do it. But he felt that he should.

So, how has Britain seen fit to recognise the man who became the surviving embodiment of the trenches, of Flanders fields, of the poppy and the 'lions led by donkeys'? How did we thank him? Well, actually, we forgot. The French government might have bestowed two illustrious decorations on him. But the British Government did not think that he warranted so much as an MBE.

RAF Lyneham confirm repatriation for Friday, 10th July

Wootton Bassett Flypast 11:00 hours

Family Service 12:00 hours

We are told four men are coming home, expect lengthy delays during the time the families are at the 'Chapel of Rest'

Derek 'Blondie' Boorn

(42 Commando Royal Marines 1956-58)

On behalf of the Royal Marines Association

New Zealand have taken the bull by the horns to find out what their Military personnel past and present really think on the National Defence Medal issue. It has been very well received in NZ and has given a voice to all interested parties.

Browse the survey and let us know your thoughts: 

https://forms.nzdf.mil.nz/nzdf/medallic-survey.asp

On the issue of medals a spokesman for The British Legion at a French award ceremony for a British veteran said: "Other governments seem more generous in recognising their war veterans than this country. So many deserving people get left out and there doesn't appear to be any rules or guidelines as to what people should get to bring them into the limelight. It's heartbreaking when people don't receive an award they deserve."

Norman Baker, MP for Lewes, commented: "It's great news that the French have taken this step but it's a great pity our government could not do the same."

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/4209398.Britain_has_to_honour_its_oldest_war_veteran/