Campaign News

Very very welcome news, lets hope they don't need to issue that many more.

Next step to honour the living.

I was delighted to read this earlier today. However, you can bet your boots that someone, somewhere will find an excuse not to issue one to my elderly mother as next of kin of her little brother who died in Korea in June 1954. He was a medic and the jeep he was travelling in (along with driver and officer) was blown up by a landmine. He was 22.

This is great news. I'm sure that the campaign teams constant pressure to right past wrongs had an impact. Nice to see movement in the correct direction.

Let's hope this is the first sign of a thaw and that serious consideration will now be given to setting up the National Defence Medal for which we have been tirelessly campaigning. It would be the greatest unifying and pacifying influence since handshakes were invented. Serving all causes and all eras, as well as all arms, all ranks. All of us, everywhere, would welcome some signs of an awakening of conscience and forward thinking, at the MoD.

Sheila M says...
I was delighted to read this earlier today. However, you can bet your boots that someone, somewhere will find an excuse not to issue one to my elderly mother as next of kin of her little brother who died in Korea in June 1954. He was a medic and the jeep he was travelling in (along with driver and officer) was blown up by a landmine. He was 22.

From the write up, it looks to me as though your Brother's case would qualify. Go for it Sheila mate and test the waters.

I sincerely hope that it will mean that your family can at long last receive a tangible sign of remorse and appreciation from the government and MoD.

I beg your pardon Sheila, I should have said Uncle.

Let us hope and pray that this is the beginning of an emergance of common sense and natural justice, instead of pompous fools dancing to a rather stupid and outdated tune. One small step.... as they say

It is important to make the distinction that this is not a posthumous medal for the fallen but national recognition for the family for their loss.

The wording is a little disappointing because it is not recognising the contribution of the Armed Forces personnel but the suffering of the family. This is a shrewd political definition to defend the previous policy of not looking at retrospective awards more than 5 years old. Because the award is not to the fallen it conveniently side steps this ruling. Still the fallen or wounded are not recognised directly.

Gerry says...
From the write up, it looks to me as though your Brother's case would qualify. Go for it Sheila mate and test the waters.

I sincerely hope that it will mean that your family can at long last receive a tangible sign of remorse and appreciation from the government and MoD.

Well, I have asked one of my mother's friends to print the form off so she can complete it and get it sent off. If there is a refusal I shall be beating down the door of the medals office as my uncle's name is on the Armed Forces Memorial and he is buried in a Commonwealth War Grave in Pusan, that's criteria enough as far as I'm concerned.

When we went to the BKVA day at the National Memorial Arboretum last year, the Korean Ambassador and his wife both personally thanked my mother, as did the Koreans she met when she visited my uncle's grave three years ago. It's about time some recognition was given to the people who fought over there instead of being part of a forgotten war - no-one over here seems to remember Korea, which saddens me somewhat.

This is similar to the Silver Cross, awarded by the Canadian Government, to mothers of service personnel killed on active duty. Perhaps this will lead to recognition for ALL servicemen. Surely we shoud have some momento without having to die for it.

This is the latest news to cross my desk.

THE Queen personally intervened to create a new honour in her name for the families of fallen troops.
It was the monarch's own idea to give out the Elizabeth Cross, which was unveiled by the MoD yesterday.

Until then, defence officials had been planning on a simple brooch for dead heroes' next of kin.


But The Sun can reveal that the 83-year-old Queen ordered her name should be given to the award.

Senior sources said she has been so moved by the sacrifice of 348 heroes in Iraq and Afghanistan that she wanted to soften the blow for their loved ones.

Her intervention came at a meeting with Britain's top warrior, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup.

It is the first such move since the George Cross was instituted in 1940 by her father King George VI.

The Elizabeth Cross is also another victory for The Sun's Help for Heroes campaign to win more recognition for the Forces.

A source said: "It was Her Majesty's own idea. She told the Chief of Defence Staff she wanted to put her name to it."

The Cross, which is not officially a medal, is made of hallmarked silver and on its four corners are the rose of England, the Scottish thistle, the Irish shamrock and the Welsh daffodil.

It will be given to the next of kin of servicemen killed on major operations like Afghanistan, or on smaller missions and in terrorist attacks.

Controversially it will not be given out for deaths in training or general service in the UK.

It will be retrospective as far back as 1945 and more than 8,000 may be issued.

Yesterday the Queen made a rare personal broadcast over Forces' radio and TV station BFBS.

She said: "I hope the Elizabeth Cross will give further meaning to the nation's debt of gratitude."

Sir Jock said it was "a lasting symbol of recognition of sacrifice."

................................

To me, this suggests that the MoD were dragged, kicking and struggling, into doing this. A brooch indeed! So much for a change of heart at the MoD.

Meantime, I can only express my utmost admiration for a gracious Queen that refuses to be cowed or intimidated by stupid protocols designed to minimise her influence, in matters such as this.

If only some of the eunuchs at the Mod had just a modicum of her courage, generousity, dignity and perspicacity.

Gerry, I'd extend your final comment to politicians generally......

Great idea, but what about a wound badge, or medal. The poor serviceman/woman will never live to wear that award, and in all probability the badge will be confined to a cupboard and only brought out once a year. The MOD are staffed by idiots who are jealous at the thought of anyone being awarded a medal that they can't have. The award of medals should be staffed by a committee that consists of ex servicemen/woman with a rank no higher than warrant officer. Until this is achieved, we'll continually have to fight for something, which should have been awarded without too much thought.

Gerry and Erroll, you are both spot on !

[Errol McClelland]
The poor serviceman/woman will never live to wear that award, and in all probability the badge will be confined to a cupboard and only brought out once a year.
[/Errol McClelland
Not in my family it won't. My mother will wear it with pride at every parade she goes to (and at 83 years old she still manages a few). If she wishes to donate the miniature to me or my son I can guarantee it will be worn daily in proud remembrance of the handsome young medic who gave his life whilst attending to the well being of others.

Fantastic news but it can not take away the pain of their loss. Heres hoping the Queen can honour the many thousands who have served her for many years and award the NDM to Veterans past and present.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5724472/The-Elizabeth-Cros
s-Is-it-too-little-too-late.html

It has a hollow ring for some.

The Elizabeth Cross, in lacking a ribbon, falls short of being a medal but has far greater status than the bauble presently handed out to Veterans in lieu of a medal.

That it will bring a measure of comfort to grieving familes is good and that needs to be acknowledged.

I wonder why the MoD always manages to fall just short of what would really do the trick though? It has to be cost that is the stumbling block, it strikes me that they are making false economies though. Extending the ambit of the bauble has had no effect at all on the increasing demand for the NDM to be set up. Neither will the presence of the EC in any way ameliorate the need for a broad based Defence medal.

Last weeki had a talk with my daughters about the Elizabeth Cross.My grans father died on service in Jaffa Palestine 1947 her mother gran etc died shortly after her twin brother in a Jap camp in Sumatra I dont understand the next of kin form as i am the great-grandson Our Emails to the Medal office are unanswared What can we do?My daughter only wants us to have the medal as a keepsake.We just have to give up on this one.