A Wee Medal Experiment

Hey Guys:

I thought I would share this wee Blog:

So there is divided opinion amongst ex-serving guys and gals form across all of our
armed services.  Many if not all, are very proud to have served and
proudly display their ‘Armed Service Veteran’ pin as often as they can. 
The division is based on the availability or entitlement of medals that
mark our valuable service to the British Commonwealth in peacetime or during
hostilities and whose services in many cases have gone unrecognised. 
By not serving in a War Zone and not serving enough to obtain a Long
Service medal, many veterans have had no visual evidence of Services given to
this wonderful country of ours.  The Cold War era saw a very strong
defence of the UK and Commonwealth, and the unprecedented support of peacetime –
but no issue of medals for over three decades from the late 1950s thru to the
Falklands campaign in 1982 – unless you had served in Northern Ireland, or on a
UN deployment somewhere, or just received your LS/GC Medals.

Many have started Government petitions, with the three most popular being.

Petition #1: National Defence Medal
It is totally unfair that the British Government and the British Crown has awarded
the National Defence Medal to the Australian and New Zealand military and
ignored the British Military. The recent medal survey conducted by Sir John
Holmes was in favour of the medal award to all past and present British Military
and yet the Government have failed to act. They have acknowledged and issued
medals to Bomber Command and the North Atlantic veterans. Where is the British
justice that does not recognise those past and present military personnel that
wore the Kings/Queens uniform with pride and were prepare to die for our
freedom?

#2 : The Waterloo
Petition - Campaign for a Veterans Medal
We would wish to see legislation in place enabling the medal to be part of the
events marking the Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo in 2015. It has been
felt by many veterans that no formal recognition of service has been made to the
many sailors, soldiers and airmen who have served in times of peace for the
safety of the Nation.  National Defence Medals have already been
approved and awarded by Her Majesty to three Commonwealth countries – but not in
the UK.

Petition #3: Veterans Diamond Jubilee Medal
Request the Prime Minister to discuss with Her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth II the relaxing of the rules regarding the Diamond Jubilee
Medal.   MOD rules: members of the Armed Forces (Regular and
Reserves) who have completed five full calendar years of service on 6 February
2012.  There are many very proud Veterans whom have completed 5
years’ or more service but ineligible due to not still serving on date
specified.  A veterans’ medal would recognise the service of so
many of us who would still if The Queen commands return to service.

It is important to note here that all three of these petitions to Government have
failed and there are no plans (at the time of writing) to issue a UK Veterans
Medal.

There is another
option: 
There are many ex-service personnel who meet the
eligibility criteria and therefore the entitlement and, now have a valid
government agreed option, to purchase their own ‘commemorative’ versions,
and wear these with the same pride.  Some veterans however, would
argue that this doesn’t have the same impact and refuse to ‘purchase’ what they
feel is a Government failure

Two medals have been struck since 1992 that serve this
very purpose;

The General Service Cross is a superb hallmarked
solid silver cross was instituted in 1992 for those men and women who have given
valuable service to the British Commonwealth in peacetime or during hostilities
and whose services in many cases have gone unrecognised.   By not
serving in a War Zone and not serving enough to obtain a Long Service medal,
many veterans have had no visual evidence of Services given until
now.


Secondly, the Maritime Service Medal has been
struck in recognition of those military and civilian personnel who have served
at sea or in support of those at sea. This includes the RN and Associated
Reserve Forces, Mercantile Marine, Merchant Navy, RAF and Army Maritime
Sections, RFA, RNLI and other Maritime Emergency Services.
A Wee Experiment.
As one of those ex-Royal Navy veterans who feel hard-done-by, and as I qualified
the eligibility criteria for these two medals, I have purchased both. 
Of course, I fully understand that these are ‘Commemorative’ medals and
not presented by a Government official, nor did I get them presented by any
serving Officer, nor did they come from the MOD Medals office. 
However, I planted my [new] “entitlement” on the ‘left chest’ of my new
blazer and wore them with sincere pride to the Cenotaph at Whitehall, where I
was marching by kind invitation of the Royal Navy Communications Association
(RNCA) of which I am a member. 

I was also displaying my own TAVR Medal for my service in the Reserve Forces (RNR &
TA).

On
my right-chest, I wore my Dad’s Suez Canal Zone medal (also Royal Navy); and the
WW1 Triple (Pip, Squeak and Wilfred) of my Great-Uncle who died at the Somme in
1916, but I really wanted to gauge un-prompted reaction from ex-services
shipmates,  and others on the two commemorative medals pinned to
the left.
When I left my house on the way into London, I was a
little self-conscious of all the gongs on display, so wore an over-jacket which
stopped some of the stares from passers-by, and also calmed my nerves a
little.  On arrival at Horse Guards Parade, I removed the jacket
and handed it my wife, then walked onto Horse Guards to find the RNCA
platoon.  I was met by an ex-HMS Ark Royal shipmate whom I hadn’t
seen since 1973 – after a quick chin-wag catch-up, he then introduced me to the
other marchers, and to the RNCA Chairman.  There were several
rudimentary glances at my left chest – but nothing was said and no questions
were asked.  I suspect there were a few that wanted to ask, and
possibly some who knew but perhaps, didn’t want to raise the question. 
It’s true to say that most civilians just didn’t have a clue either way,
but I met many other Vets that day too and the response was the no
different.
So in summary, I’m not sure what my ‘commemorative medal’ experiment achieved. 
Was I embarrassed – absolutely not!  Did anyone I was with,
actually care – clearly not.  Did I feel proud to be on parade
displaying these medals – I was certainly very proud and exceptionally emotional
just being at the Whitehall Cenotaph – something I remember watching every year on TV as a child with my Dad : so yes, very proud particularly as I was displaying my Dad's Suez medal too - but not sure the commemorative medals were even in my mind at
that time!
So, for those who have raised and/or supported the
Government petitions for a Vets or National Defence medal, and feel disappointed
that nothing was gained from them – there is now a valid solution – two medals
that do recognise your contribution to Queen and Country during peacetime
:  
But I’m sure the ranks will still have a divided opinion…