Updated: 20 December, 2009

Britain - Medals 

Campaign Medals

Early Campaign Medals

British and other Campaign and Gallantry Medals from the Collection of Lester Watson (1889-1959)  Mr Lester Watson, who was an investment banker in Boston, Mass., seems to have started collecting medals while he was still at College – the earliest recorded provenance is a medal given to him by his uncle Charles Pfaff in 1904. He subsequently acquired most of the medals during the 1920s, some from US dealers, but mainly bought from the London firms Baldwins, Spink and Seaby during his visits to Britain. The collection is remarkable for its systematic representation of gallantry and campaign medals awarded to British servicemen during the period 1791-c. 1930. It has many rarities, including no fewer than two VCs and its New Zealand equivalent, of which only twenty-three have been awarded. Most of the medals had been acquired by 1928/29, and only a few more were added in the 1930s. The last pieces to be bought were in 1937. The Watson collection contains 411 individual items, 379 in the main catalogue and a few pieces separately numbered, as well as an array of grouped medals (awarded to the same person, and sometimes arranged on the same bar for wearing on dress uniform). For ease of browsing, the catalogue has been divided into five sections. fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

• Waterloo Medal Pinetree Web

• Nelson battle medal for sale A piece of history commemorating the Battle of Trafalgar is to be auctioned. The rare medal will be sold just three days before the 200th anniversary of Lord Nelson's finest moment. Expected to fetch more than £10,000, it was forgotten for years until it was discovered in a village just outside Cambridge. Experts from Bonhams, are keeping the location of the find secret, but said it had been discovered in a box of ordinary coins. The medal was awarded to Commander Edward Garrett, a distant relative of the current seller. It is thought no more than 5,000 of the medals were awarded and Garrett's is particularly rare because it also features one of only five bars awarded for service on the Onyx. cambridge-news.co.uk 17 Oct 05

• The Duke of Wellington This exhibition, produced by Archives and Corporate Records Services of King's College in London, explores the life of one of the most extraordinary military commanders in British history: Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. It describes his career in the Army leading to the final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte at Waterloo in 1815, and examines his achievements in civilian life, not least of which was his prominent role in helping to found King's College London between 1828 and 1829. Also contains information on the Waterloo Medal.

• Trafalgar Medal (BBC Antiques Roadshow)
• Britain - A medal awarded to Nelson's Captain Hardy for the Battle of Trafalgar sold for a record 248,800 pounds ($437,204) at a Christie's International auction in London that was held to celebrate the bicentenary of the battle. The gold medal, which had a top estimate of 120,000 pounds, was bought by Dix Noonan Webb for a client after a five-minute bidding contest, London-based Christie's said in a statement. No medal has ever before reached such a high price at auction, Christie's said. Oct 05
• Decorations and Medals of the East India Company [1600-1859] (Ed Haynes)
• The Issue of British Crimea War Medals 1854-56 by John Hayward (Spink’s Medal Website Newsletter, March 2001)  
• Orders, Decorations, and Medals of the British Army, 1815-1920 (Fred Larimore)
• Proposed General Service Medal, 1831 , published in Military Heritage Internet Magazine (on-line)

• Britain Basutoland Roll of Honour 1851 - 1881 Compiled by MAJOR G. TYLDEN, ED The South African Military History Society Military History Journal - Vol 1 No 5

• The Peninsular War 1808-1814 Lots of excellent background information Andrew C Jackson

• Paget medal expected to sell for £2000 An historic medal presented to Sir James Paget as a thank you for accompanying the Prince of Wales on a visit to India is expected to fetch up to £2000 at auction. It was awarded to Sir James and high-ranking officials to commemorate the Prince of Wales' visit to India in 1875. The silver medal, one of only 165, is expected to attract interest from collectors when it comes under the hammer at Bonhams in London.

• India General Service Medal 1854 “Persia” Joachim M. Waibel

• Crimea Medal 1854-56 Spink articles by John Hayward The Issue of British Crimea War Medals 1854-56 The Issue of British Crimea War Medals 1854-56 (continued)

• Turkish Crimea War Medal (BBC Antiques Roadshow)
• Crimea Medal (1854-1856) - To obtain access to specialists on this campaign, subscribe to the Crimean War mailing list by sending a blank e-mail to:  crimeanwar-subscribe@yahoogroups.com (Ref: Michael Hargreave Mawson, author of "Eyewitness in the Crimea"

• Lives of the Light Brigade - The E.J. Boys Archive This site is dedicated to the lives of the officers and men of the Light Brigade who fought in the Crimean War 1854-1856, and contains a provisional list of all the men of the five regiments of the Light Cavalry brigade known to have embarked for active service in the Crimean War.

   

• In Search of the Light Brigade An important resource for those interested in the Crimean War. The book contains biographical information on over 5100 men who served in the Light Brigade during the Crimean War. All of the individuals are listed by Regiment alphabetically and medal entitlements as stated on the medal rolls are listed and cited. Also indicates those who embarked for the Crimea, those who arrived but don't show up on the medal rolls, etc. A review of the book can be found at: http://www.victorianweb.org/history/crimea/crider/crider.html A limited number of copies are still available on the internet or through the publisher, Eurocommunica c/o eurocommunica@compuserve.com Ref: Lawrence W. Crider

• Riddle of medals to be sold at Riddle of medals to be sold at auction Three war medals taken to a charity shop by a mystery donor are expected to fetch up to £1,000 at auction. A Crimean war medal, Turkish Crimea medal and a Baltic medal were taken to Emmaus, a charity for the homeless based at Landbeach. The medals are all framed together with a photograph of the owner, John Morton, wearing them. Mr Morton served in the Royal Marines during the Crimean War between 1854 and 1856. He was on board HMS Miranda, a 15-gun steam sloop built at Sheerness, Kent in 1851. The medals are all inscribed with his name and, unusually, are being sold with a photograph of him in uniform wearing them. The money raised at auction will go to the charity. cambridge-news.co.uk 17 Apr 04

• Charge survivor's medals for sale The medals belonging to the oldest survivor of the Charge of the Light Brigade are to be sold at auction. Wrexham-born Edwin Hughes, otherwise known as 'Balaclava Ned', died in Blackpool in 1927 aged 96. Wrexham Museum will bid for the three medals, which are expected to fetch around £15,000 on Wednesday in London. news.bbc.co.uk 1 Mar 05

• Medals of honour go under the hammer One of Britain's finest privately owned collections of naval medals, assembled by Oliver Lee, is set to fetch around £100,000 at auction. The substantial and important 258-lot hoard is being offered for sale at medal specialists Dix Noonan Webb in London on December 1 following the death of the Second World War veteran in June aged 83. Mr Lee served with distinction in the Royal Navy from 1941 to 1946 and in later life, specialised in acquiring medals for services at sea. Medals in the collection range in dates from the late 18th Century to the Falklands Conflict of 1981 and range in estimate from £150 to £1,500 each. w3.cambridge-news.co.uk 25 Nov 04

• War horse's medal from valley of death up for sale As the Light Brigade hurled itself to destruction against the Russian artillery in the most famous cavalry charge in British history, the casualties among the horses were even higher than the riders. Out of almost 700 horses which galloped into a storm of enemy fire at the Battle of Balaklava in 1854, about 500 were killed, forcing many of the surviving soldiers to stumble back to the British lines on foot. Among the animals which survived the charge and the almost equally terrifying retreat was Drummer Boy, a six-year-old ridden by Lt Col Rodolph de Salis, second-in-command of the 8th Hussars. De Salis was so impressed by the bravery and stamina of the wounded Drummer Boy that he decided the horse deserved a medal as much as the men who had fought in the heroic but disastrous attack. He acquired a campaign medal awarded to British troops who served in the Crimea and had the rim engraved with the horse's name and the fact that he had been born in Ireland in 1848. On the reverse is the inscription "Carried Lt Col de Salis 8th Hussars". On April 30 this unofficial campaign award will be auctioned at Spink in London with an estimate of £300-£500, a fraction of the price paid for medals to men who charged with the Light Brigade. telegraph.co.uk 10 Apr 04

• The Kabul - Kandahar Participant Database Project A biographical database is being collected of participants in Field Marshal Lord Roberts' 314-mile march from Kabul to Kandahar, that took place August 8th to August 31st 1880, during the Second Anglo Afghan War (1878-80). The database is not intended to just list the 9,713 or so military men who took part in this endurance-beating feat, but to collect biographical data, mainly from descendants who provide a living link to this historical event. Medal collectors may also have information on individuials from their collections. The intention is to eventually gather this information into a printed volume, and a CD-ROM to be made available, as an illustrated index, resource and guide. The volume will be updated as the project grows.

• The Asplin Military History Resources Kevin Asplin provides researchers with valuable information on Boer War Unit and medal rolls, and: Medal Roll China War of 1856-60 Casualty Rolls of the Crimean War of 1854-56 Casualty Roll South African Campaign 1877-79 Norminal Roll 15th Hussars in Bangalore Apr 1845 1898 Sudan Campaign Depot Roll 34th Foot (Cumberland 1838-1873 Army Death Index 1901

• Sudan Medal (1896) (Awarded to: Paymr. A. W. Morell R.N. HMS Melita) (Raymond J W Morrell)

  • Queen Victoria's Sudan Medal (1896-7)  - Awarded for the reconquest of the Sudan (Image) (Ref: Sudan.net) (Aug 02)

• China Medal (1900) (Boxer Rebellion)
(Raymond J W Morrell)
• Boer War
(Stephen Stratford)
• Boer War Dates
• The Siege of Ladysmith
(The Times Archives)

• How to trace an ancestor (Who served in the Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902)

• Coloured involvement in Namaqualand In January 1901 when Boer forces under General Jan Smuts invaded the then Cape Province, Sir Alfred Milner dispatched Lt. Colonel W. Shelton to Namaqualand with orders to protect the copper mines located at Okiep, the railway to and the harbour at Port Nolloth. Although the British government awarded medals for war service, the black and coloured defenders were excluded from these awards. However, the Cape Copper Company awarded a medal to all the defenders of their property, regardless of race. McGregor Museum South Africa Dec 03

• African General Service Medal (1906) (Britain's Small Wars)
• Campaign (Stephen Stratford)
  • Service Medals
    • NGS (1916-62)
    • GSM 1918-62
    • GSM 1962

• Armed Services: Campaign Medals, and other Service Medals (Public Records Office)

• Research Information for Period 1872-1914 (King's College London Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives) Military Archives covering the period 1872-1914, and includes a number of the principal military campaigns of this era, as well as significant military service undertaken in the UK and beyond, such as:
  • Zulu War, South Africa, 1879
  • First Boer War, South Africa, 1880-1881
  • Egyptian Campaign, 1882, and First Sudan (Gordon Relief) Expedition, Sudan, 1884-1885
  • Second Sudan Campaign, Egypt and the Sudan, 1896-1898
  • Second Boer War, South Africa, 1899-1902
  • Other military service in Africa, 1883-1914
  • Second Afghan War, Afghanistan, 1878-1880
  • Chitral Relief Expedition, Indian North West Frontier, 1895
  • Indian North West Frontier, 1897-1898
  • Other military service in India, 1874-1914
  • Boxer Rebellion, China, 1900-1901
  • Russo-Japanese War, Manchuria, 1904-1905
  • Military service in the UK, 1881-1914
  • Military service in the dominions, colonies and other outposts, 1910-1914
  • The Balkans, 1903-1913
  • Naval service, 1872-1914
  • Early aviation, 1910-1913

• Queen Victoria's Empire   (PBS.org)

WWI Era Medals

• British medals in WWI
• WWI Medals (Stephen Stratford)
• British & Commonwealth Gallantry Decorations of the Great War (Paul Hinckley)
• British Medals of WWI (Oriented towards Air Services)
• A Brief guide to British military medals entitlement in 1914-1918 (British Army in the Great War)
• Great War Medal List Researched at the Public Record Office (Philip Mortiboy)
• Examples (Stephen Stratford)
  • WWI DCM
  • Beefeater
• Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-19 CD-ROM)
• Queen honours fallen soldiers (80th Anniversary of WWI ceremony in Paris) (Medals, photos and other WWI related resources)
• World War I (BBC - Historical information and other resources)
• World War I Research Information (King's College London Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives)

• British Commonwealth Memorial Plaques for WWI (James F. O'Sullivan)

• Naval General Service Medal (1915-62) (Britain's Small Wars)

• General Service Medal (1918-62) (Britain's Small Wars)

• North Russian Expeditionary Force 1918-1919 Naval Honours Awards for service in Russia as compiled by PO George William Smith 29 May 04

• WW1 Awards to Females - Fourth Supplement to The Lond Gazette 6th May 1919.

• Last veteran of both wars pays tribute to comrades  He saw  many of his friends die in the First World War, and yesterday William Stone, 103, marched proudly to the Cenotaph to remember the fallen on the 90th  The Scotsman, UK 4 Aug 04

• Tears as survivors recall outbreak of Great War Time heals most wounds, but not all. Yesterday, Henry Allingham shed tears for friends lost in a war so long gone Telegraph.co.uk, UK 4 Aug 04

• The last survivors On 4 August 1914, the Great War began. 900,000 Britons perished. Ninety years on, just four veterans were able to honour the fallen. Independent, UK 4 Aug 04
• Four of Britain's 23 surviving WWI vets honour dead on 90th  Four First World War veterans, the youngest aged 103, brought wreaths of red poppies to Britain's main war memorial Wednesday to mark the 90th  Canada.com, Canada 4 Aug 04

•  Attempt to bring medals back fails A bid to bring some unique wartime medals back home to Cromer failed when they soared past their expected selling prices at an auction in London. The friends of the town's museum, helped by public donations, tabled bids for two sets of medals, but lost out both times as the sets sold for about three times the guide prices. The medals belonged to local men in a privately-run armoured car unit called the Czar's Squadron, which saw service in Russia during the first world war. Six medals awarded to Roy Gray Read, which were listed at £200-£300 fetched £820, while two given to Walter Edward Allen - who later died during a lifeboat rescue - made £1800. A third set to Petty Officer Don Spencer, which included a war diary and photographs, which the museum did not bid for, made £5800 instead of the guide £1,200 to £1,500. “It is disappointing, but at least the sale has brought out the stories of these men, which will be collated for the museum - even if we cannot have the real medals on display.” new.edp24.co.uk 23 Sep 06

• Roll of Honour Website The site features photographs of war memorials from across the UK, and provides details and background information about all the people who are listed.

• New medals for oldest war veteran Britain's oldest war veteran has been presented with medals to replace two he lost 60 years ago in the Blitz. Henry Allingham, 108, of Eastbourne, was given a British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He joined the Royal Naval Air Service in 1915 as an aircraft mechanic. Steps were taken by the Ministry of Defence to replace his medals after it was discovered he had borrowed some for a World War I commemorative event. news.bbc.co.uk 23 Feb 05

• Naval Honours Awards for services in Russia Newspaper cutting - extracts from "The Times" of London, c 1919) 12 Oct 04

• Gallipoli medals get lasting home An Oldhamman who fell on the battlefield nearly 90 years ago, and whose body rests thousands of miles away, has provided a lasting legacy for the town. Following a donation from his family, the medals of Private John Arthur Goldsby will forever belong to the people of Oldham and, after a special ceremony, have now taken pride of place alongside the belongings of many more of the borough’s bravest. In 1914, as a member of the Oldham Territorial Force (10th Manchester Regiment), Private Goldsby was called into service at the outset of the Great War. Oldhamadvertiser Mar 04

• Oldest known Great War veteran leads tributes to the dead Britain's oldest known veteran of the Great War led the tributes to the nation's war dead at the Remembrance Day march. Henry Allingham, 107, who served at the Somme and Ypres, rode in an open-top 1911 Austin car at the head of the long column of former servicemen and women who marched silently past the monument to The Glorious Dead. Telegraph 10 Nov 03 The Great Survivors Just 27 WWI veterans keep memory alive. Brief overview of each survivor's military career. Sunday Mirror 9 Nov 03

• 

• Researching a British soldier of 1914-1918 Lots of great information on researching medals of British soldiers of WWI (Ref: www.1914-1918.net)

• The British Army in the Great War Website (Chris Baker) The Army of 1914-1918 was the largest organisation ever produced by Great Britain. Who were these men? Why did they fight? What happened to them?

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission – Debt of Honour Register - Provides personal and service details and places of commemoration for the 1.7 million members of the Commonwealth forces who died in the First or Second World Wars.

WWII Era Medals

• WWII Medals (Stephen Stratford)

• War dead listed in CD roll of honour (WWII)

• WWII Commonwealth awards to RCAF (Canadian Department of National Defence)
• World War II (BBC - Historical information and other resources)
• Far East Research Information (King's College London Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives) This includes papers relating to Borneo, Burma, China, Hong Kong, Indochina, Japan, Korea, Malaya, Singapore and Vietnam.

• Spink sees Red over Russian medal (Russian leaders want to hand out awards to surviving Royal and Merchant Navy sailors in Britain to honour their service during the Second World War. The sailors, who took part in the Arctic Convoy, kept supply lines open and carried tanks and aircraft which saved many Russian lives and ultimately helped to win the war. But Whitehall has described the scheme as "inappropriate" because the medal was originally intended only for Soviet sailors. (Sep 02)

• France presents Jock with highest honour - as he heads back to Normandy beaches The oldest member of the Normandy Veterans Association is due to be presented with France’s highest award for bravery, at a ceremony in London next week – a few days before he travels back to the beaches where he landed 60 years ago. Mr John Wilson MM, who was 100 last year, fought his way through Belgium, Holland and Germany in the Second World War as a soldier in the Scottish Horse, Royal Regiment of Artillery. Now he is one of seven elderly soldiers to be awarded the prestigious Légion d’Honneur – the French order of knighthood – for his part in the Allied invasion of Europe which started on June 6 1944. eastlothiancourier.com 28 May 04

• France honours British WW2 veterans - Seven British war veterans have been awarded France's highest military honour for their part in the country's liberation. All of the former soldiers received the Legion d'Honneur for sacrifices they made during Second World War. Some were on the beaches at D-Day while others fought with Free French forces trying to liberate their country from Nazi occupation. Alexander Barron, 82, who moved from Sheffield to Edinburgh 40 years ago and is a former dean of Napier University, was among the veterans who received their medals. He served as a lieutenant in the 114th Armoured Regiment which was landed at Sword Beach on D-Day. Charles Kennedy, 83, a former London bus conductor from Tottenham now living in Harlow, Essex, did not take part in the D-Day landings but fought alongside French troops in north Africa. The other men to receive the Legion d'Honneur were: Percy Redfearn, 79, who was landed a Gold Beach on D-Day; Frank Jones, 83, who served with the Free French naval forces; Gordon Fleming, 79, who also landed at Sword Beach; Tom Bird, 85, who helped relieve French troops in north Africa; and Dennis Cox, 83, who served on a French submarine in the Mediterranean. Patrick Churchill, 80, from Witney, Oxon, who was decorated for fighting SS troops in Antwerp, took part in today's ceremony but did not receive his medal. He will be presented with the honour by President Jacques Chirac of France on June 6 as a representative of all British troops who fought in Normandy. telegraph.co.uk 24 May 04

• City D-Day hero wins award for bravery A city D-Day veteran has received France’s highest military bravery award for his part in the Normandy landings. Alexander Barron was among seven old soldiers awarded the prestigious Legion d’Honneur for their part in history’s biggest military invasion. Mr Barron, 82, of Lanark Road, Juniper Green, served as a lieutenant in the 114th Armoured Regiment and landed at Sword Beach on D-Day. He fought in France and was then involved in the pursuit of enemy forces deep into Germany until the end of the war. scotsman.com 25 May 04

• Harrogate war veteran A Harrogate war veteran has been awarded France's highest military bravery decoration for his efforts during World War Two. Dennis Cox, 83, was among seven British veterans to be awarded the Legion d'Honneur for their gallantry and aid to the French during the Second World War, an act marking the anniversary of D-Day and of the French liberation. The great-grandfather and retired librarian was liaison officer onboard the Free French submarine Curie for two years from 1943 on patrols in the Mediterranean. harrogatetoday.co.uk 28 May 04

• D-Day heroes to be remembered online The names of 12,000 war heroes decorated for bravery during the Second World War will soon be searchable online. All the servicemen and women were granted awards for gallantry in North West Europe between D-Day and the end of the war. The names of nearly 600 soldiers and officers are now available and The National Archives hope to complete the project by May 2005 in time for the anniversary of the end of the war. The records can be viewed on The National Archives' website www.nationalarchives.gov.uk and click on the catalogue, PROCAT. icbirmingham 1 Jun 04

• French Medal Honours D-Day Veterans D-day veterans Edwin Hannath and Roland Jefferson were among 35 men from across the country to receive the Legion d'Honneur at a ceremony in London. The award is France's highest military award for bravery, and it was presented to Mr Hannath and Mr Jefferson for their part in France's liberation and their role in the Normandy Veterans' Association. It follows the award given to Frank Jones (83), of Sutton-on-Sea, last week. The veterans will be allowed to wear the French medal alongside their British medals. thisisgrimsby.co.uk 2 Jun 04

• Medal for 'forgotten soldier Glyndwr Collins, who fought in the World War II liberation of the Philippines, is being awarded with a special honour by the country's ambassador. The Aberfan ex-communications serviceman is one of just three people in the UK who are being presented with the Philippine Liberation and Medal. BBC News 3 Dec 03 Apparently only the third medal awarded to the British - Mr Glyndwr Thomas Evan Collins (pictured), Mr Constantine Shiels and Mr Frank Broomhead being awarded it under General Orders Number 1090.

• Battle of Britain Roll of Honour 'The Few' were 2353 young men from Great Britain and 574 from overseas, pilots and other aircrew, who are officially recognised as having taken part in the Battle of Britain. Each flew at least one authorised operational sortie with an eligible unit of the Royal Air Force or Fleet Air Arm during the period 10 July to 31 October 1940. 544 lost their lives during the period of the Battle, and these are marked by an asterisk. A further 791 were killed in action or died in the course of their duties before the wars end, which is also noted. Alphabetical List (Sep 02)

• Convoy veterans to take medal protest to No 10 Survivors of one of the Second World War's most dangerous campaigns are battling for long-overdue medals to be awarded. More than 60 years ago, thousands of Royal Navy and Merchant Navy seamen risked their lives to keep Russia in the war, by taking vital supplies across the Barents Sea to the Arctic ports of Murmansk and Archangel. They endured frequent attacks from German U-boats, bombers and surface raiders in one of the world's harshest environments. But while the veterans were later awarded two commemorative medals by a grateful Russia, Whitehall has never granted the men a British medal specifically linked to the Russian convoys. Seven years after first mounting a nationwide campaign to win recognition, the survivors are stepping up their fight by marching on 10 Downing Street on May 15, when a delegation will deliver a petition to Prime Minister Tony Blair. From August 1941 to May 1945, nearly 3,000 Allied seafarers lost their lives on the Russian convoys and nearly 100 ships were sunk. It is estimated that 2,000 heroes from the conflict are still alive today. westernmorningnews.co.uk 14 Apr 04

• Medal campaign peaks with London demo The fight for a medal to recognise the sacrifices of the Arctic Campaign heroes of the Second World War will be taken to Tony Blair in a demonstration organised by The News, Portsmouth. The Last Chance for Justice petition was launched by The News on January 5 because of the Government's continuing refusal to honour the men who fought in sub-zero horrendous conditions to keep Russia supplied in the Second World War. The Arctic Campaign took place between 1941 and 1945 and involved taking supplies of weapons, food, fuel and other resources to the Russian Army. Without the efforts of both the Royal Navy and the Merchant Navy, Russia could have been defeated by the Germans leaving the Allies with an almost impossible task to win the Second World War. But, despite their huge success and the unique harshness of a campaign that involved cold of -30C, the veterans were not awarded a medal after the war. Instead they were offered the Atlantic Star, which was for a different campaign. To add insult to injury a six-month qualification period for the Atlantic Star meant that the crews on just six of the 670 Arctic ships could qualify. All other Second World War campaign medals had a one-day qualification period. Mike Gilson said: "We hope this petition and the huge support we have received from all corners of Britain will finally persuade Mr Blair to award an Arctic Star." holdthefrontpage.co.uk 14 May 04

  • Arctic Veterans march for medal Second World War veterans who delivered supplies to Russian allies in perilous conditions have marched in London to demand a separate Arctic Star medal. bbc.co.uk 15 May 04

• Wartime Arctic Medal Campaign 'Backed by Most Mps' A naval veteran leading a battle for a belated wartime campaign medal claimed majority support in the House of Commons. Commander Eddie Grenfell, 84, wrote last month to each of the 659 MPs asking them to back the demand for a specific campaign medal for those who served on the Arctic convoys in the Second World War. He said 332 MPs had so far given their support. The Arctic Medal Campaign organisation has been fighting for seven years for medals to be awarded to all the veterans of the convoys which carried essential military supplies to the Russian army between 1941 and 1945. During those four years they steamed through treacherous icy seas and deadly enemy action to deliver four million tons of war equipment, including tanks and planes, to the Russian front line. Many of the surviving 3,000 Arctic veterans are angry that they have not been awarded a campaign medal in recognition of their efforts. Similar wartime campaigns, such as those in the Pacific, Burma, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, have been officially recognised. news.scotsman.com 23 Jul 04

• Blair Challenged on Arctic Medal The Prime Minister faced an angry backlash when he said the Government was still trying to resolve issues surrounding the awarding of a medal for serving on Russian convoys in the Second World War. Facing a fresh challenge about the award of an Arctic Star campaign medal, Mr Blair said: “We continue to look at this but it is extremely difficult at the moment to see the way through.” Tory Julian Lewis (New Forest E) responded: “That’s not the answer these courageous men were hoping to hear the day before Remembrance Day.” Mr Lewis said the Prime Minister had the power to “over-rule the bureaucrats” and urged him to do just that. But Mr Blair said it was not simply for him to decide. “It has to be done in a way that the armed forces themselves are satisfied with and that is something that continues to be the subject of discussion. scotsman.com 10 Nov 04

• Arctic Convoys Medal Campaign Breakthrough Campaigners will try to persuade a key official that servicemen who braved treacherous conditions in the World War Two Arctic convoys deserve belated medals. Commander Eddie Grenfell, who represents the veterans, will meet with the secretary of the Honours and Decorations Committee, Gay Catto. This is only the second time the committee will have taken a direct representation from a veterans’ group over a medal claim. Only the Suez veterans have been able to do this previously, and their campaign was successful. 
  The group will argue that it was wrong to ignore the men who sailed through subzero conditions under constant attack to keep the Soviet Union fighting on the Eastern Front against Nazi Germany. This committee has the power to recommend to the Queen that a new medal is created. The Arctic Medal Campaign organisation has been fighting the campaign for seven years. news.scotsman.com 24 Nov 04

• Russian Convoy Heroes Demand Medal Recognition Royal Navy heroes who ferried crucial supplies to Russia during the Second World War today warned Tony Blair he would not stop them campaigning for a medal by inviting them to Downing Street for a sherry. The veterans of the Russian Convoys, issued the warning ahead of a reception for the men who survived horrendous Arctic conditions and some of the war’s most brutal sea battles. The veterans say the Arctic Campaign was the only one in the Second World War not to have its own medal. Instead men who served in the Russian convoys were decorated with the Atlantic Star which many had already earned and many others could not receive because of its six month qualification period. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “We have considered the request for a medal for service in the Arctic convoys and we do not feel it is appropriate to issue a separate medal. scotsman.com 7 Mar 05

  • Anger as Arctic war heroes are denied campaign medal The Scottish leader of a battle to win a campaign medal for veterans of the wartime Arctic convoys reacted with fury last night to a proposal to award them a special Arctic Emblem. Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, announced at a Downing Street reception that the veterans would be awarded the honour, which stops short of the medal they have been demanding for their efforts ferrying vital supplies to Russia during the Second World War. Mr Blair said the emblem - which will also be made available to next of kin - could be worn as a recognised addition to medals. Mr Blair said the decision to award the emblem was taken after "careful thought" and he paid tribute to the veterans’ "exceptional service". The veterans have long complained that the Arctic campaign was the only one of the war not to have its own medal. scotsman.com 8 Mar 05

• Russian medals for Bay's heroes Robert Kidd and his mates braved icy waters in the name of freedom. He signed up for duty at 17 and became a radioman on a destroyer , escorting merchant vessels through some of the most treacherous seas in the world - from Scapa Flow in northern England to Murmansk, Russia. Medals were presented by the Russian ambassador to 24 Bay of Plenty and Waikato men who served in those Arctic convoys. bayofplentytimes.co.nz 21 Apr 05

• Ten British servicemen receive Russian medals Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov has signed a resolution to award medals to ten British servicemen who saved a Russian Baltic Sea Fleet sailor. "In compliance with the Russian defense minister's resolution, For the Strengthening of Military Cooperation medals have been awarded to ten representatives of the Armed Forces of Great Britain who helped save a Baltic Sea Fleet sailor," the fleet's press service said. interfax.ru 29 Apr 05

• Russian medal for convoy war hero He almost drowned in the freezing waters of the Arctic Ocean when his ship was torpedoed by enemy fire during the Second World War. Now, exactly 60 years on from that fateful day, George McDougall has been honoured by the Russian government. The former sailor has won recognition for the part he played in the hazardous convoys taking vital supplies to the Soviet Union as the conflict raged. Many ended with disastrous results, but George’s convoy in 1943 successfully reached its destination. He was presented with a commemorative medal in the mayor’s parlour. tamesideadvertiser.co.uk 27 Apr 05

• Arctic convoy veteran set to win medal fight Norman Pickles, 87, of Kirkham, was a radio operator aboard a converted fishing trawler escorting cargo ships to Russia more than 60 years ago. The brave men were honoured with a medal for their efforts by the Russians earlier this year – but had never received a commendation from the British Government. But the Ministry of Defence has now finally proposed to single out the men who sailed in the campaign to serve northern Russia with supplies in the fight against the Nazis. And a delighted Mr Pickles, the recipient of an Atlantic Star medal which was previously claimed to cover the Arctic missions, reckons the special recognition from his own country is long overdue. The British Government has been criticised for making the survivors wait so long for recognition of their war efforts. The Ministry of Defence has now proposed a modification to veteran's existing medals. If agreed, the compromise would give them the recognition they have been denied for more than 60 years. blackpooltoday.co.uk 9 Nov 05

• Mixed reaction to vets' bravery award Veterans from the Second World War's deadly Arctic convoys have won a bitter 60-year battle to have their bravery recognised. Many heroes of the treacherous route to Russia were denied a special medal for what was one of the most brutal campaigns of the war. Now the Government has caved in to pressure to honour the heroes, but sparked anger by not giving the new Arctic Star the same status as other medals. The sailors were grouped in with those who served in the Atlantic, after an Honours and Awards Committee decided in the 1940s that operations in the Arctic and Atlantic were not separate campaigns. Now the Government it is to release a new emblem – the Arctic Star – that can be pinned to the Atlantic Star or the 1939-1945 campaign star, one of which all veterans should have. Defence Secretary John Reid has been thanked by veterans groups for clearing the way for the award, but he has refused to give official permission for the Arctic Star to be attached to existing medals, though he has told them he will not object if they are. sunderlandtoday.co.uk 28 Dec 05

• Airman's medals go on sale Three medals awarded to a Birmingham man for his actions during the Battle of Britain are expected to fetch up to £800 at auction. Air Gunner Sergeant Percy Rollo Prosser, from Quinton, was given the medals for his service during the most famous air battle of the Second World War. During the Battle of Britain, he flew in a Blenheim with 235 Squadron over Holland and flew on convoy protection and reconnaissance missions. Along with two other officers, Sgt Prosser took off on December 16 1940, to act as an escort for minelayers, but tragically their plane crashed into the sea. The medals are being sold with a letter from the RAF Record Office confirming their issue to Sgt Prosser's son. Mark Quayle, medals expert at London auctioneers Spink, said the medals consisted of a gilt clasp with the words Battle of Britain inscribed on it. The clasp is worn with the ribbon of the 1939-45 star, which was awarded to all air crew who flew on at least one sortie with a Battle of Britain squadron. icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk 17 Nov 04

• Hero's medals sale trebles Three medals awarded to a Birmingham airman for his role in the Battle of Britain sold for three times more than predicted at a London auction. London auction house Spink had estimated Air Gunner Sergeant Percy Rollo Prosser's medals would sell for £800, but the three awards finally went under the hammer for £ 2,530. Richard Bishop, medal expert at Spink, said the original estimated price had been quite generous although Battle of Britain memorabilia was very popular. icbirmingham,icnetwork.co.uk 2 Dec 04

• Fighter Ace's Medals Fetch £71,000 A collection of medals awarded to Battle of Britain hero and former Royal beau Peter Townsend were sold for more than £71,000 at auction today. The medals, along with the fighter ace’s original flying log books, were sold to a private buyer for £71,300 (£62,000 plus 15% buyer’s premium) at the Dix Noonan Webb auction in London. Townsend shot to fame during the Second World War when he became the first airman to bring down a German aircraft on English soil in 1940. Townsend was awarded the Commander, Royal Victoria Order, Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar Group of Medals. news.scotsman.com 1 Dec 04

• Eighth medal honour for war hero John An Edinburgh war veteran who battled in perishing Arctic conditions to rescue the bodies of his countrymen was set to be honoured with his eighth medal. John Burns, now 85, was a young man when he was sent on a rescue mission as a gunner with the Royal Navy's Russian Arctic Convoy in 1941. In perilous icy weather and ferocious high seas, Mr Burns and his crewmen scoured the seas in search of survivors of the disastrous PQ17 Merchant Navy convoy, which had been left abandoned by its Royal Navy escort ships following misinterpreted intelligence from their command about an imminent German attack elsewhere. Out of 33 ships left behind, 24 were sunk by German bombers and U-boats, leaving 153 merchant seamen dead. Mr Burns' youngest daughter said her father was thrilled to be receiving the 60th anniversary medal from the Russian Consul General. news.scotsman.com 13 Mar 06

• Arnhem veteran gets his battle medal 60 years on Arthur Collins was among the brave squad of British paratroopers who volunteered for the daring but ill-fated operation to seize a vital bridge at Arnhem as the allies pushed forward towards Germany. The operation, which could have helped bring the war to an early close, turned into a bloodbath because military intelligence services had failed to discover a crack German unit was stationed nearby. His experiences during the conflict were so harrowing he has rarely spoken about them and for more than six decades remained unaware he was entitled to a service medal in recognition of his role in the conflict. But a trip to Doncaster War Museum last year convinced him to contact the Veterans Agency and they revealed he was entitled to the medal, which was finally presented to him at his home in Bessecar, Doncaster by Council chairman with his Arnhem medal. yorkshiretoday.co.uk 21 Jun 06

• Air Crew Europe Stars Identifying Copies by Ian R. Hartley & Paul Firth

• Prisoner's list proves Gurkha lifeline In November 2003 the British government decided to pay £10,000 ($17,000) to each of its soldiers who were interned in Japanese prisoner-of-war camps during World War II. Among those who were eligible were the Gurkhas of Nepal, who fought for Britain. But the team sent to Kathmandu to discover which Gurkhas were eligible faced an almost insuperable task of identifying who had served in the war. Many looked as if they would never benefit from the payout, since few had the papers necessary to prove that they had been captured. In Mrs O'Neal's loft were sheets of thin paper, typed in Rangoon at the end of World War II. They contained the names of 1,000 Gurkhas who had been imprisoned by the Japanese. Captain O'Neal was captured along with his men following the fall of Malaya (the former name for peninsular Malaysia) in 1942. He was interned in a series of prisoner of war camps, and made to work on the notorious Burma railway. It is not known exactly how many Gurkhas were imprisoned by the Japanese, but Britain's Ministry of Defence estimates that they numbered around 3,000. bbc.co.uk 30 Dec 05

• British Merchant Navy at War 1939-1945 - Medals

• The Burma Star Association

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission – Debt of Honour Register - Provides personal and service details and places of commemoration for the 1.7 million members of the Commonwealth forces who died in the First or Second World Wars.

• Man gets medals after 50-year wait Seaman John Flint has finally received his medals – 52 years after he earned them in the Second World War. Mr Flint, 76, of Charminster Road, Mottingham, confessed he “didn’t have a clue” about how to claim his honours won during five years in the merchant navy. And it was only when Mr Flint’s son Gerald began to look into the situation last year it emerged someone else had fraudulently claimed the medals already. News Shopper, UK - 15 Jul 2003

Korean War Era Medals

• Medals of the Korean War (Mike Nielsen)
• Korea Medal (Britain's Small Wars)
• UN Korea Medal (Britain's Small Wars)
• Korean War (Stephen Stratford)
  • Korea VCs 
  • UN Resolution
  • Middx Roll
  • The Armistice
• Far East Research Information (King's College London Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives) This includes papers relating to Borneo, Burma, China, Hong Kong, Indochina, Japan, Korea, Malaya, Singapore and Vietnam
• Research on Palestine and Israel (King's College London Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives) An introduction to the Centre's holdings on Palestine and Israel.  
• 1951: The day 650 Glosters faced 10,000 Chinese (Fifty years ago, a battalion of the Gloucestershire)
• Korean War (BBC - Historical Information and other resources)
• General Service Medal 1962 (Britain's Small Wars)

• Suez heroes win medal after 50 years A medal is finally to be awarded to the forgotten heroes of the Suez Canal emergency. Premier Tony Blair announced that the servicemen will at last get the recognition they deserve almost 50 years after the 1951-4 conflict ended. As many as 200,000 British troops fought for three years to keep the canal open against terrorist gunmen and rioting crowds. Veterans will now get a General Service Medal with a special metal clasp with the campaign's name on it. The Mirror, UK - 12 Jun 2003

  • 'Forgotten army' will get medals icNorthWales, UK - 13 Jun 2003

  • Suez veterans to get medals BBC News, UK - 11 Jun 2003

• Uncertain wait for Veterans' new Medal Prime Minister Tony Blair announced in June this year that the troops who served in the Suez Canal Zone would at last be honoured with a campaign medal. Although previous announcements have indicated that the medal will only be for the 200,000 personnel who fought between 1951 and 1954, the Government has not yet confirmed this. Western Morning News, UK - 19 Aug 2003

• Medals 'U-turn' for Suez Veterans Westcountry veterans of the "forgotten" Suez Canal conflict could finally receive the medals they have waited 50 years for by Christmas. In a recent letter Adam Ingram, the Armed Forces Minister, expressed his hope that the task of issuing the medals to the 200,000 potential applicants would begin "later this year". Western Morning News, UK - 16 Aug 2003

• Suez Veterans to Receive Service Medal The Queen has given Royal Assent to a General Service Medal with a special clasp for veterans who served in Egypt from 1951-54. Scotsman.com 22 Oct 03
  • War Medal on way to Veterans Suez Canal Zone should receive their long-awaited medals in time for Remembrance Sunday. Thousands of National Servicemen and regulars were stationed at bases in the Suez Canal Zone between 1951 and 1954 and were regularly targeted by Egyptian terrorist groups. They received no medals even though decorations were awarded to the British and French forces who invaded the zone when Colonel Nasser nationalised the canal in 1956. "I have been informed they have already started engraving the medals and some should be issued in time for Remembrance Sunday in November. Express & Echo 21 Oct 03
  • 'I Don't want Suez Medal' A plymouth war veteran is refusing to claim his medal of honour - because he believes it has come almost 50 years too late. John Peerless fought for almost two years in the Suez Campaign of 1951 to 1954 and he told the Herald he would not accept the General Service Medal for the Suez Campaign because it 'should have been given out at the time'. Evening Hearald 24 Oct 03

• Medal will finally honour Suez heroes An old soldier has finally won an 11-year campaign to have a medal struck to honour soldiers who took part in the Suez Canal Zone Emergency. Tom Radford's success means more than 200,000 soldiers who took part in the conflict in the early 1950s can now be awarded a medal recognising their service to the country. Mr Radford, of Tranmere, Wirral, campaigned for 15 years so they could be honoured with the General Service Medal. The 69-year-old, who served with the Cheshire Regiment, has now been awarded his and the Ministry of Defence is working through 11,000 more applications. Cheshire online 14 Nov 03

• Naval General Service Medal 1915/Army and RAF General Service Medal 1918 - The award of the Naval General Service Medal 1915 or Army and RAF General Service Medal 1918 with clasp CANAL ZONE for service between October 1951 and October 1954 has been established by Command Paper 5999 of 2003. Ref: OMRS Journal Dec 03

• Medal of honour – 51 years late Mr Kenneth Jones is one of thousands of former servicemen entitled to the Canal Zone Medal, awarded for service between 1951 and 1955 in the Suez Canal area of Egypt. Prolonged pressure by the Royal British Legion over many years eventually led to The Queen giving the go-ahead for the medals to be issued last October. Lynn News 26 Feb 04
• Veteran is one of first to get Suez Medal An RAF veteran has become one of the first people in the country to be presented with a medal for his service during the Suez Conflict. Ray Walker was presented with the Suez Canal Zone Medal by Coun Mick Jameson, chairman of Doncaster Council. The medal is awarded to members of the armed forces based in the Suez Canal area between 1951-54. Mr Walker was stationed at Fayid in Egypt during the period in which a terror campaign was waged against British troops. Mr Walker and fellow Rossington veteran Derek Oldfield campaigned for veterans of the conflict to receive official recognition and urged colleagues to apply for the medals. The government finally agreed to honour the veterans in May this year. doncastertoday 12 Mar 04

• Henry gets his medal at last Mr Henry Corlett, 74, served at Suez from 1950 to 1953 in the Coldstream Guards' 3rd Battalion but had never received a medal in recognition of his service. Last summer the Ministry of Defence's Army Medal Office wrote to him saying that anyone who served in the Suez Canal conflict between 1950 and 1955 should claim a General Service Medal. iomonline 17 Mar 04 

• Veterans angry at medals delay Veterans of the "forgotten war" in Suez are dying before they get medals promised by Tony Blair, say campaigners. The MoD insists it is processing applications as quickly as possible given the huge response. At one point the Department was receiving more than 1,000 applications a day and even now up to 500 new applications per week are being received. Officials have to trawl through records to ensure that veterans qualify for the medal. To date, more than 36,000 applications have been received, of which fewer than 5,500 have been processed. A spokesman acknowledged that veterans applying now were unlikely to have their applications processed for "about 18 months". westernmorningnews.co.uk 12 Apr 04

• Veteran gets Suez medal - 50 years late Francis Rowe is proof that good things come to those who wait. The 69-year-old has finally got a medal for his Suez Crisis service - 50 years after returning home. The modest merchant navy veteran was trapped on the RFA Tidereach in the middle of the Suez Canal in 1956 for three months. Supplies were running low after the Egyptians sealed off the key shipping route by blowing up British ships at both ends. The Tidereach made it through the Suez Canal to pick up 29,000 tonnes of aviation fuel, and was heading back to the Mediterranean to take the fuel to the aircraft carriers Ark Royal and Albion. But she was cut off for three months as the conflict raged all around her. Mr Rowe said: “We had to put on searchlights at night to stop Egyptian frogmen attaching limpet mines to the ship. new.edp24.co.uk 8 Mar 06

• Battle to end secret of service When 18 members of the Royal Norfolk Regiment left for Aden in 1964, the departure was kept secret because of political sensitivities. But that secret may have been kept too well. Forty years on, the Ministry of Defence, has told Wymondham veteran John Adamson there was no record of his stint in the Arabian Desert fighting Radfan tribesmen. Now he has launched a battle to get recognition, in the form of medals, for the men who put their lives on the line. Regiment members flew out to the desert on May 29, 1964.The Army kept the story quiet until June 9, 1964. The Ever Readies' returned on June 12, 1964 and 40 years on, Mr Adamson told a friend about his two-week experience abroad. The friend, a medals collector, told Mr Adamson he might be entitled to a service medal. So the men put together a request and sent it off to the MoD. But he was shocked when a letter came back saying the Army had no record of his overseas service. An MoD spokesman, who looked into Mr Adamson's complaint, said the Army Medal Office would reconsider his claim for a General Service Medal if he resubmitted his request and included more documentation. new.edp24.co.uk 31 Jul 04

• Jungle wars veterans denied right to wear medal on Remembrance Day Veterans who fought in two of Britain's "forgotten wars" have accused the Government of "diabolical insensitivity" for refusing to allow them to accept medals honouring their bravery. During the 1950s and 1960s, thousands of British servicemen fought against rebels in the jungles of Malaysia and Borneo and 590 were killed. The Malaysian Government has awarded medals to all the soldiers from Commonwealth countries who took part in the fighting. But, even though New Zealand and Australian troops have been issued with their medals, British veterans have been forbidden to accept theirs because the Government says it would breach current regulations - because the fighting took place too long ago. The decision has angered ex-servicemen. Between 1948 and 1966, more than 100,000 British troops were stationed in the region during the Malayan Emergency and the Borneo conflict. A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "The Government policy is that you cannot accept foreign awards if the action took place more than five years ago. The policy is under review and a decision is expected in the next few weeks." telegraph.co.uk 6 Nov 05

• Heroes fight for malaysia medals Soldiers from Ulster are among veterans who have been prevented from accepting medals for their role in the "forgotten wars" against rebels in the jungles of Burma and Malaysia. The Malaysian government wanted to award the medals to all the soldiers from Commonwealth countries who took part in the battle against Indonesian domination, which left 590 British servicemen dead. Australian and New Zealand troops have been issued with their medals but UK servicemen are not normally allowed to accept medals if there would be an equivalent British medal, or if the campaign took place in the distant past. The Malaysian authorities sought early permission for the medal, so that this convention could be waived. A Foreign Office (FO) spokesman said that a Cabinet Office committee would be meeting next month to consider a FO paper on the acceptance of foreign awards. "We realise how much the medals mean to veterans and hopefully there will be a decision soon on the review and for consideration of this medal," he said. belfastlelegraph.co.uk 21 Nov 05

• War vet's medals arrive . . . 42 years later The Government has been accused of "insulting" ex-servicemen after it emerged that an Ulster war veteran was forced to wait 42 years to receive two General Service medals. Former Royal Navy veteran George Fleming said he was shocked when he finally received his medals through the post in a Jiffy bag more than four decades after completing his service in the Far East during the Brunei Insurrection and the Borneo Confrontation. Mr Fleming received the Naval General Service medal with clasp Brunei and General Service medal with clasp Borneo from the Royal Navy medals department in June. However, details of the lengthy delay only emerged after the Belfast Telegraph revealed yesterday that former Army chaplain the Rev Charles McCartney received his Iraq War Medal in the post two years late. Urgent calls have now been made for reforms to ensure that veterans are treated with greater respect and get their medals promptly. belfasttelegraph.co.uk 30 Dec 05

• Whitehall ‘insult’ claim as Malaya veterans miss out on medals Tens of thousands of British veterans are likely to have an offer of campaign medals withdrawn by the Malaysian government because it feels insulted by Whitehall red tape and diplomatic delays. The medals were offered 11 months ago to British and Commonwealth soldiers – mostly national servicemen – who won a jungle war against communist insurgents in the 1950s and 1960s. The withdrawal follows a decision by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office that the veterans could accept the medals, but that they would not be allowed to wear them on Armistice parades because it contravened rules on "foreign medals awarded for events in the distant past". As revealed by The Herald last month, a Cabinet Office committee had already made up its mind on the issue, but decided to delay an announcement until the new year. About 30,000 surviving UK veterans are understood to have been eligible to receive the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal to commemorate their part in the Malayan "emergency". The conflict was not elevated to the status of a war because that would have rendered insurance on British-owned rubber plantations and railways – both prime targets for the communist guerrillas – void. A total of 519 British troops were killed in the conflict. theherald.co.uk 10 Jan 06

• Borneo vets fight to wear medal Jungle war veterans have hit out at Foreign Office rules which prevent them from wearing a medal for their service. Thousands of soldiers who risked their lives in Borneo more than 40 years ago were awarded a Pingat Jasa Malaysia.In January, the Queen granted approval for eligible veterans who served from 1957 to 1966 to receive the Pingat Jasa Malaysia. The period covers the Malayan Emergency and the Indonesian Confrontation with the enlarged state of Malaysia after the addition of areas of Borneo in 1963. A Foreign Office spokesman said that although veterans did not have official permission to wear the medal, it was up to the individual whether he chose to do so. "It's not something that is policed as such. It's for the individual to decide if they wear the medal in light of the Queen's approval for them to receive it," he said. "We appreciate how much the medals mean to the veterans and that's why a special exception was made for them to get it." news.bbc.co.uk 1 May 06

• Malaya veterans may sue in medal conflict British veterans who fought a bitter and costly guerrilla war in Malaya 50 years ago are considering suing the Cabinet Office for "maladministration" to win the right to wear a medal awarded by a grateful Malaysian government in honour of their sacrifice. Campaigners representing the eligible 35,000 former UK soldiers, sailors and airmen - including an estimated 5000 Scots - say a handful of unelected civil servants are denying them an honour they earned as teenagers in battles against Communist insurgents. Despite a 1968 ruling by the Queen that orders, decorations and medals conferred on UK citizens by Commonwealth countries could be worn "without restriction", the Cabinet Office's seven-member Honours and Decorations Committee has spent much of the past two years obstructing the process. The committee finally ruled in 2006 that eligible veterans, most now in their 70s, could receive the Pingat Jasa Malaysia(PJM) medals for the Malayan "emergency" but not wear them at Remembrance or other parades. The conflict was never raised to the status of a "war" because that would have rendered void insurance on British-owned rubber plantations and railways, both prime targets of Chinese communist guerrillas. But 519 British troops were killed, including 95 Scots, in more than 10 years of ambushes and patrol actions in some of the most inhospitable jungle, mountain and swamp on earth and thousands of others were wounded or fell sick. The Malaysian government offered to supply the campaign medals at its own expense in 2005 to honour the Commonwealth troops who underwrote and defended its existence and sovereignty in the 1950s and 60s. The governments of Australia, New Zealand and Fiji all accepted the offer and their Malaya veterans can now wear the PJM alongside their other decorations. Denis Brennan, Cabinet Office secretary to the UK medals' committee, and the individual campaigners hold responsible for the problem, could not be contacted yesterday but a spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "Her Majesty's Government's rules preclude the wearing of foreign medals for events in the distant past or for events more than five years previously. "Eligible veterans of the Malayan emergency should already have received the Malaya bar to be worn as a strip or clasp across the ribbon of their General Service Medals. This is an issue for the Cabinet Office." Despite this, the government last year granted permission for the award and wearing of medals for the 1956 Suez campaign and allowed Russian medals to be pinned on British survivors of the 1940s Murmansk convoys. Barry Fleming, a veteran who runs a website dedicated to the PJM campaign, said: "Our information is that a handful of civil servants made the decision not to allow the wearing of the medal and that neither government ministers nor the Queen were fully aware of their behind-the-scenes manipulation. "The entire British honours system has been brought into disrepute by the way the PJM issue has been mishandled. It is an insult to veterans and to the government of Malaysia. "We are taking advice on suing the Cabinet Office for maladministration. A number of MPs of all parties have also agreed to table questions and to attempt to have the issue aired by means of Early Day Motions in Parliament."  Brigadier Allan Alstead, a former commander of 51st Highland Brigade, spent two years fighting as a second-lieutenant in the campaign. He said: "Many thousands of Scots and other British troops gave up two years of their young lives as national servicemen in Malaya. They deserve better."  theherald.co.uk 19 May 07 
• War heroes join fight on medals

• Rhodesia Medal (Britain's Small Wars)

• Suez Veteran Association This website contains lots of information, such as updated information, critiria for award, how to obtain service records, entitlement and qualifying service for the medal, links, etc.

Falkland War

South Atlantic Medal (1982) South Atlantic Medal (Raymond J W Morrell) South Atlantic Medal (Britain's Small Wars)

Fight for the Falklands - Twenty Years On It's 20 years since the Falklands War. In this unique collaboration between BBC News Online and the World Service's Spanish news site BBC Mundo we look at the story from both sides of the conflict.

• £52K Hero Medals Medals won by Falklands hero Sergeant Major Bill Nicol made £52,000 at auction. The Scots Guard survived when a bullet hit his rifle as he tended a wounded comrade. dailyrecord.co.uk 23 Sep 06

• Falklands hero sells medals to avoid row! A Falklands War hero who was sent to the islands three weeks before the Task Force arrived has put his medals up for auction - and they could go for £10,000. SBS Royal Marine Sgt Tim Collins won the Military Medal for gallantry after he and three colleagues hid in a hole in the ground and reported on Argentinian troop movements. The men became known as the Interflora Squad because they had to cover themselves in new foliage each day to stay camouflaged. Sgt Collins, now in his 50s, also won the South Atlantic Medal with rosette. He auctioning them along with his General Service Medal with Northern Ireland clasp and his naval long service medal. Also going under the hammer is a picture of the Interflora Squad drawn by a war artist. He is selling his medals to prevent his children arguing about them when he is gone. This year is the 25th anniversary of Argentina's failed attempt to conquer the British sovereign territory in the South Atlantic. Chris Copson, from Charterhouse Auctioneers in Sherborne, who is selling the collection, said there was huge interest in anything connected with the SBS. He said: "Sgt Collins was in 3 Company SBS and was part of a four-man team put on the island three weeks before the invasion. "They set up an observation post above St Carlos and reported on Argentinian movements by radio. "To conceal themselves they used cam nets and foliage and had to keep changing the foliage or it would turn brown and give them away. "They became known as the Interflora Squad because of this. "However, they became compromised when the BBC reported that special services were on the islands. "The men fled the observation post and went to hide on a penguin colony. "Although they were armed with armalites with rocket launchers, even four SBS men would not have had a chance against the entire Argentinian army. "He has four children and is selling his medals because he didn't want them squabbling about them when he is gone. "Anything from the special services is extremely desirable for collectors of militaria. "And as well as the medals there is a lovely drawing of the Interflora Squad in their hide on the Falklands. "We've put an estimate on the collection of between £6,000 and £8,000, but I think that is conservative and I would expect it to raise more than that." The sale takes place on September 21. thisisdorset.net 25 Aug 07 advertisement

• Britain - 25 years on: full coverage of the Falklands War In March 1982, Argentine scrap metal workers landed at Leith Harbour, in South Georgia, and raised the Argentine flag. A fortnight later, Argentine troops invaded the Falklands Islands, triggering a 74-day conflict with Britain. Twenty-five years on, the Telegraph looks back at the war and the lasting impact it has made.

Gulf War Medal

• Gulf War (Stephen Stratford)
• Gulf War Medal (Britain's Small Wars)

• Persian Gulf War Medals (Ed Emering) (Mar 02)

• The Royal Air Force - Operation Granby - Honours Page
• Liberation of Kuwait Medal (Saudi Arabia) (Britain's Small Wars)
• Liberation of Kuwait Medal (Kuwait) (Britain's Small Wars)
• Medal for forces who fought in conflict British armed forces who served in the war against Iraq will receive a medal. Defence sources said a medal for the second Gulf war was being considered to recognise the contribution of the 45,000 servicemen who took part. Daily Telegraph, UK - Apr 03

• Broken Links - Posted for information purposes only:

  • The General Service Medal 1962 [Service on Air Operations over Iraq from 19 September 1991].   A new clasp has been authorized for this medal . It is "AIR OPERATIONS IRAQ" and will be awarded for participation in the Air Operations over Iraq from 19 Sep 97 until a date to be specified. 

Iraq Campaign Medal

• Iraq war medal gets Queen's approval A specific Campaign Medal is to be awarded for service in the Iraq war, the Ministry of Defence has announced. The Queen has approved the award of the medal to service personnel and some civilians involved in Operation Telic, said Defence Minister Ivor Caplin. Around 45,000 people served in Iraq and surrounding areas in the course of the conflict. "The detailed eligibility criteria for this award are being determined and will be published in due course." Reading Chronicle, UK - 8 Jul 2003 Iraq war medal gets Queen's approval Femail, UK - 8 Jul 2003 UK to award medal for serving in Iraq war IRNA, Iran - 8 Jul 2003 Iraq Campaign Medal The MOD announced the eligibility criteria for the Iraq Campaign Medal. (Photographs of the new medal can also be found here.) MOD 23 Feb 04 Journalists to receive Iraq Medal British service personnel, civilians and media workers who took part in the Iraq war are to receive a campaign medal, the Ministry of Defence says. The medal, known as the Iraq Medal, is expected to be awarded from this spring. One side shows the crowned image of the Queen, and the other side shows the symbol of the Lamussu, a sculpture dating from the Assyrian period which is symbolic of the region, above the word "IRAQ". BBC 23 Feb 04 Iraq medal for embedded reporters Journalists who were embedded with troops during the war in Iraq will be eligible for a medal recognising their service during the conflict under a controversial government scheme. In a move bound to reignite the row over the system of "embedding" journalists, which critics say brings them too close to the military, the ministry of defence said journalists who were officially accredited would be eligible for the same reward as soldiers who fought in the war. Members of the armed forces and MoD civilians who lost their lives in the conflict will automatically be eligible, while other soldiers and civilians, including embedded media, can put their names forward for the Iraq medal, which will be awarded from this spring. However, the Guardian's Audrey Gillan, who was embedded with the Household Cavalry, said she would not accept the medal because she went to Iraq to report on the conflict as an independent witness and not to remove Saddam Hussein. "I'm not going to take it for a number of reasons. One of them is I'm not a soldier, I'm a journalist. I was there as an independent witness for the Guardian, not for the government," Gillan said. It is not the first time accredited journalists have been eligible for a medal - it happened in the first Gulf war as well. Guardian Unlimited 23 Feb 04 Journalists offered Iraq war medals The MoD expects to issue about 48,000 Iraq medals, with some 150 members of the media likely to qualify. Guardian Unlimited 23 Feb 04

• War Heroes Reflect on Year since Missions Began War heroes who pulled off daring rescues and dangerous missions in Iraq look back on the conflict with a mixture of emotions. Royal Marine David Beresford revealed his pride at serving his country as he collected a bravery medal at Buckingham Palace. The Corporal, of 42 Commando, plunged into a muddy lagoon to drag two machine-gunners who were weighed down with heavy kit to safety during his time in action. He received a Military Cross for saving his two colleagues after coming under fire from the Fedayeen forces. Bomb disposal officer Captain Timothy Gould, of the Royal Logistic Corps, cleared a route through a minefield by hand to allow medics make their way to help an injured soldier. The 30-year-old from Swansea, south Wales, received the Queen’s Gallantry Medal for his “exceptional courage” during the perilous task. Flight Lieutenant Andrew Turk, from Eastcote, near Ruislip, Middlesex, flew in the opening seconds of the war on the first operational Storm Shadow mission. He was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery. Lieutenant Colonel Michael Riddell-Webster led the Black Watch Battlegroup in an attack that liberated the city of Al Zubayr. The 43-year-old from Cuper Angus, near Perth in Scotland, received the Distinguished Service Order for his efforts. news.scotsman.com 14 Mar 04

• Soldiers honoured for outstanding bravery More than 120 men and women in the armed forces have been honoured for their services, including one soldier who single-handedly stormed an Iraqi position. Among those to be honoured was Corporal Shaun Jardine for his actions in Iraq's Al Uzayr in August after he and his men came under fire from a number of enemy positions. Jardine assaulted the first single-handed, despite coming under heavy machine gun fire, killed two gunmen and then engaged and suppressed the second position while calling on his men to join him. A third firing position was seen and he also engaged this, forcing the remaining gunmen to withdraw. Jardine, who served in The King's Own Scottish Borderers, received the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross. Other honours awarded for operations ranging from Afghanistan to Sierra Leone included a Military Cross for part-time soldier Michael Davison, of The King's and Cheshire Regiment, on his first operational tour of duty in Iraq. reuters.co.uk 22 Apr 04

• Schoolboy Awarded Prestigious Medal Lieutenant Commander Steven Krosnar-Clarke, 37, has been awarded the Operation Veritas medal for his role in support of the Afghanistan crisis. Lt Cdr Krosnar-Clarke, who is the officer in charge of the initial engineering principles training unit in the Maritime Warfare School at HMS Collingwood in Hampshire, earned his medal while serving as a media operations officer on HMS Illustrious. thisiscornwall.co.uk15 Apr 04

• Soldiers handed Iraq Medals Territorial Army soldiers have been presented with medals to mark their six-month tour of duty in Iraq. Four squadrons of the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers carried out infrastructure work around Basra. The volunteer soldiers helped fix electricity and water supplies, as well as building and repairing bridges. At a ceremony in Monmouth, 115 of them received medals from the Duke of Gloucester before marching through the town centre. All soldiers who took part in Operation Telic will receive medals, but this was one of the first regiments to be presented with them. bbc.co.uk 18 Jul 04

  • Medals honour for TA More than 100 soldiers from a Coventry-based regiment are to take part in a medal awards ceremony in honour of service given in Iraq. Territorial Army soldiers will be honoured for providing battlefield communications during Operation Telic at a public ceremony in Birmingham tomorrow. About 30 soldiers from 35 (South Midlands) Signal Regiment (Volunteers), which has its headquarters in Sir Henry Parkes Road, Canley, will receive medals from the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr Mike Nangle, in Victoria Square. iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk 23 Jul 04

• Mother Receives Medal for Irish Guardsman Killed in Iraq A Dublin-born soldier killed while serving with the British Army in Iraq was posthumously honoured for his role in the war. Lance Corporal Ian Malone, the only Irishman to die in the war, was shot dead while fighting with 1st Battalion of the Irish Guards in the battle of Basra last year. His mother, Mrs May Malone, received the Iraq Medal 2004 from British Ambassador Stewart Eldon at a special ceremony in south Dublin. Lance Corporal Malone, 28, from Ballyfermot, was killed by a sniper outside the southern Iraqi city on April 6, 2003, along with a Zimbabwean colleague, Piper Christopher Muzvuru, 20. The NCO had already been awarded the Nato Kosovo 2000 Medal for services in the Balkans with the Irish Guards. news.scotsman.com 5 Aug 04

• 8,000 in Call for Bravery Award A Campaign to secure a posthumous bravery medal for the only Derbyshire soldier killed in Iraq has moved a step closer to success. Mike Aston yesterday handed a 5,500-name petition calling for an award for his son, Russell Aston, to Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon at the House of Commons. Corporal Aston (30), of Newhall, was killed when he and five Royal Military Police colleagues attempted to defend a police station in Al Majar al-Kabir in June last year. "I hope Mr Hoon sees fit to push for a medal for the boys. It seems everyone recognises that they were heroes except the Army." thisisderbyshire.co.uk 20 Jul 04

• Queen gives Iraq service medals The Queen has presented medals earned for operational service in Iraq to soldiers of the 1st Battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Among the soldiers presented with Operational Service Medals was L/Cpl Gary Hannah, 21, from Greenock in Scotland , who lost his left leg after his vehicle was hit by a rocket during operations in Iraq. The Queen is the Colonel-in-Chief of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. news.bbc.co.uk 9 Nov 04

• Martin's Iraq service earns Medal from Prince Senior Aircraftman Martin Burton was awarded his OP TELIC  medal by Prince Michael of Kent recently. newsandstar.co.uk 12 Sep 05

• Iraq service recognised Twenty Territorial Army reservists were awarded the ‘Iraq Medal’ for their service with the Regular Army either during the Iraq War on Operation Telic 1 or later on in the conflict on further operations.The officers and soldiers were all members of 94 (Berkshire Yeomanry) Signal Squadron, who have units based in our town as well as Windsor and Chertsey. Those from Reading awarded medals included 26-year-old Cpl Paul Harwood, a financial advisor for John Scott & Partners, who performed radio and guard duties during his deployment. Corporal Gareth Nicholas, 26, a Brunel University student who was a driver operator, Corporal Aiden Dalgleish, 26, also a driver operator whose day job is IT services for CSC Computers, radio operator Corporal Sonja McCoy, 31, a trainer at John Lewis and 25-year-old Signalman Iain Gaitens. getreading.co.uk 11 Aug 05

• My Iraq bravery medal arrived in a jiffy bag An Ulster war veteran who risked his life in Iraq has told of his surprise and sadness after a military medal to recognise his bravery was sent to him in the post two years late and wrapped in a Jiffy bag. The Rev Charles McCartney, from Belfast, who served as a chaplain with the British Army when they invaded Iraq in March 2003, has expressed his disbelief after he unceremoniously received his Iraq war medal from the postman. In the past, the former major had personally been presented with his medals for service in Kosovo and Bosnia during military ceremonies. Throughout his time in Iraq, where he was stationed for five months, Mr McCartney witnessed innumerable atrocities and risked his life on a daily basis to help raise the spirits of an often demoralised army. Unarmed and without protective clothing, he was based with Logistics, whose army camp was a constant target for a series of Iraqi missiles. On completing his operational tour of duty at the end of 2003, he was expecting an invitation to a military ceremony where he would be formally presented with his Iraq war medal, which is awarded to all members of the armed forces who served in the country. But Mr McCartney did not receive his medal until earlier this month- two years after completing his service - and instead of being awarded his medal during a special military event it was handed to him in a padded envelope by the postman. The only accompanying letter was a sheet of paper for him to sign to confirm he had received the package. belfasttelegraph.co.uk 29 Dec 05

• Soldiers sell Iraq medals through eBay Soldiers thought to be disillusioned with the war in Iraq are selling their medals from the campaign for hundreds of pounds on the internet. Dozens of the Operation Telic decorations have appeared for sale on eBay, the online auction site, just months after they were issued to troops. The revelation is said to have "dismayed" senior officers and members of the Defence Medal Office, the organisation that issues medals. Many of the troops auctioning medals are hoping to cash in on their rarity value. Although more than 90,000 have been issued, few have previously found their way on to the collectors' market. telegraph.co.uk 1 Jan 06

   

• Para risked his life to save US soldier hurt in Taliban attack A Paratrooper who ran to the aid of a wounded American soldier while under heavy fire could be among the first British troops to be awarded a gallantry medal in Afghanistan. Pte Peter McKinley has been praised by his commanders for a "massive display of bravery" after saving the life of the US sergeant in one of the most intense battles 3 Bn the Parachute Regiment has experienced during its deployment to Helmand province. Military sources said he would receive recognition for his courageous act. Pte McKinley, 21, was part of a 100-strong force of Paras that came to the rescue of an American convoy of 10 vehicles that had been ambushed near the town of Sangin in northern Helmand. telegraph.co.uk 21 Jun 06 Hero para to be rewarded for bravery

• Medals £50 A Go Fed-up Iraq war veterans are selling off their medals for as little as £50. Many soldiers are auctioning their keepsakes in shops and on internet bidding sites, including ebay, in protest at going to war. They say they do not want to be "rewarded" for fighting in a conflict they resent and that the award is meaningless. One former serviceman, who did not wish to be named, said: "I don't want a medal that reminds me of my sacrifice for an oil-thirsty government." The Op Telic medals have been awarded to more than 80,000 servicemen in Iraq. A MoD spokesman said: "It's a huge shame." mirror.co.uk 3 Apr 06

• Rob has a medal and bar A pub landlord who serves in the Territorial Army has received a medal for his six-month tour of duty in Iraq. Rob Richier, who runs the Warrant Officer pub in Higham Hill Road, Walthamstow, was presented with an Iraq Medal three years after he spent six months as a diplomatic courier in the Royal Logistic Corps in 2003. "As a diplomatic courier within the Royal Logistic Corps I spent a lot of time travelling around the Middle East with important documents. "We also spent a lot of time driving around Iraq unescorted, so it was quite dangerous."  guardian-series.co.uk 10 Jun 06

• 74 embeds accept Iraq war medal Some 74 journalists have requested campaign medals from the MoD for being embedded with British forces in Iraq — sparking a debate over journalistic ethics. Some 128 journalists were embedded with the British military during Operation Telic — the first six weeks of the British invasion and liberation of Iraq. In a written Parliamentary answer this week, junior defence minister Tom Watson revealed that 74 war correspondents accepted the offer of a campaign medal from the MoD, of which 62 have so far received it. The remaining 12 are held pending collection or confirmation of addresses. A further five journalists have notified the MoD to say they did want the medal, Thomas said. Those journalists embedded with the MoD who did not express a preference either way did not receive the medal. pressgazette.co.uk 13 Jul 06

• Female soldier's heroism under fire Medic, Private Michelle Norris, will be honoured as "the first female soldier to be decorated for bravery in Iraq". Norris' moment of heroism under attack came as she "dodged sniper fire when she leapt out of a Warrior patrol vehicle to rescue the sergeant who had been shot in the mouth". The report continues to explain how the medic was under heavy fire for a full three minutes as she sprung to her colleague's aid. The Sun adds that commanding officer David Labouchere MBE "is recommending her for a top gong". megastar.co.uk 9 Aug 06

• War journalists eligible for medals An MP has been told that journalists who have reported from Iraq could be awarded medals. South Holland and The Deepings MP John Hayes asked the Government if journalists and photographers would be honoured for their work. Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the Ministry of Defence Derek Twigg said: “Accredited war correspondents, photographers, cameramen and sound recordists were included in eligibility proposals for the Iraq medal made by the Ministry of Defence to the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals in November 2003. “Entitled journalists were invited to apply for the medal. It has not been sent to them automatically. “The practice of making medals available to journalists deployed alongside the armed forces goes back to at least the first world war and, more recently, happened in both the Falklands the Gulf.” peterboroughtoday.co.uk 31 Jan 07

• Full Details are contained here - pdf file
• New Iraq honour for ex-policeman A former policeman from north Wales has revealed there was a $5,000 price on his head when he was in Iraq helping to rebuild the country's police force. John Hughes-Jones, who retired from North Wales Police in 2005, spent six months in Baghdad, where he became a prime target for Iraqi insurgents. Mr Hughes-Jones has just been awarded the Iraq Reconstruction Medal from the Foreign Office. The former chief inspector has already been given an MBE for his services. The honour was awarded in 2004 for his contribution to international policing in Iraq, and came after earlier stints in Bosnia helping train the police force there. news.bbc.co.uk 26 Feb 07

United Nations and NATO Medals

• United Nations Special Service Medal - Her Majesty the Queen has been graciously pleased to approve the unrestricted acceptance and wearing by UK Service personnel of the United Nations Special Service Medal for services in, or in direct support of, the airlift to Sarajevo from 3 Jul 92 until 12 Jan 96 as detailed in DCI 199.

• UN Medals (Specific to UK) (Britain's Small Wars)
• The Wearing of Numerals or Bars Denoting Multiple Tours with U.N., N.AT.O., W.E.U. (DCI 200)
• The Wearing of U.K. Fourth Level Awards on UN, NATO, and WEU Medal Ribbons - MID, QCVS, QCB, QCB (Air) (DCI 201)
• NATO Medal (Britain's Small Wars)
• NATO (Former Yugoslavia) Medal – The Queen has authorized numerals on the ribbon to denote multiple tours for those entitled to this medal. (Ref: Megan, My Delphi)

• King Abdullah Present Medals to Light Dragoons King Abdullah of Jordan today made a flying visit to an army regiment to present soldiers with campaign medals in recognition of their peace-keeping efforts in the former Yugoslavia. The King awarded medals to around 20 soldiers in The Light Dragoons at their barracks in Swanton Morley, Norfolk. The King became Colonel-in-Chief of the Light Dragoons in July last year in succession to Princess Margaret. Two decades ago he served with the Royal Hussars after graduating from the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. In 1992 the Hussars became part of the Light Dragoons during an amalgamation. scotsman.com 3 Mar 04NATO (Kosovo) Medal – The Queen has approved the wearing of the NATO Kosovo medal by troops involved in the liberation operations there. Those who complete more than one tour, may wear a numeral on the ribbon. (Ref: Megan, My Delphi) Kosovo Medals for North East Gunners (Nov 01)

• Humanitarian/Peacekeeping Medal - The Queen has also approved the creation of a Humanitarian/Peacekeeping medal to be awarded to both military and civilian personnel participating in humanitarian or peacekeeping operations for which neither the new Operational Service Medal (OSM) or a UN/NATO/etc. medal is awarded. (Ref: Megan, My Delphi)
• Accumulated Campaign Service Medal - It has just been announced that service in multinational operations resulting in the award of 'multinational medals' (e.g. UN or NATO) which receive approval for wear may be counted towards the award of the Accumulated Campaign Service Medal (ACSM). This will not be applied retrospectively, only for new operations. It will also not be automatic, each operation will be considered on its merits as to whether it ought to count towards the ACSM. For those not yet familiar with the ACSM, it was instituted in January 1994 and is awarded for aggregated service which has already been marked by conferment of the General Service Medal 1962. This medal is still being awarded for 2 areas of service only, Northern Ireland and Air Operations Iraq. (Ref: Megan, Delphi Forum)
• UK troops denied right to wear Nato campaign medal The Ministry of Defence is to deny British soldiers who have fought in Afghanistan since 2001 the right to wear a Nato campaign medal. A total of 58 have been killed and 148 wounded in action against Taliban insurgents in the most intensive combat since the Korean War. However, the MoD says its troops will not be allowed to wear the alliance medal because the campaign is already covered by a UK Operational Service Medal and would contravene rules drawn up by the civil service Honours and Awards Committee. Canadians, Americans, Dutch and Estonian soldiers fighting by their British comrades' side have already been permitted to wear the medal. The decision also goes against previous permissions for UK service personnel to wear Nato medals for peacekeeping tours in the Balkans. An MoD spokeswoman said yesterday: "We greatly value the work of our armed forces serving on operations in Afghanistan, which is why those serving at least 30 days in theatre receive the Operational Service Medal (Afghanistan). "The honours system in the UK does not allow more than one medal to recognise the same period of service in order to protect the value of the British medal that has been awarded." Brigadier Allan Alstead, a former commander of 51st Highland Brigade and a Malaya veteran, said: "It beggars belief that a group of civil servants who have probably never heard a shot fired in anger can treat serving soldiers and veterans so shabbily. "Perhaps the committee members might benefit from some operational battle experience in Afghanistan or Iraq on the pay of a private soldier. That might make them more sympathetic." theherald.co.uk 4 Jun 07

East Timor Medal

• East Timor Medal - The following item from Navy News of June 2001 concerns this medal and its award to British recipients. Service people of the Australian-led UN force that brought relief from violence to the people of East Timor are to get a medal – but it is not going to be awarded to those who manned the only British ship in the operation, HMS Glasgow.  The ship was not in East Timor waters long enough for her ship’s company to be eligible for the newly struck International Force East Timor (INTERFET) Medal. The qualifying criteria for the medal, drawn up by the Governor General of Australia, include a rule that those eligible must have served for a total of at least 30 days with INTERFET between 16 September 1999 and 10 April 2000. It is understood that the only British Naval Service people who may be eligible for the medal are a very small group of Royal Marines (RM). About 20 RM personnel helped to secure the airport at the East Timor capital Dili for the initial, airborne deployment. The INTERFET Medal has been formally instituted by the Queen as Head of State of Australia. It bears a central design of an outline map of East Timor, over-layered with an outline of the dove of peace with an olive branch, all surrounded by the words ‘International Force East Timor’. It shows a spray of olive leaves at the bottom edge. The reverse bears the words ‘Together As One For Peace in East Timor’. Full details are published in Joint Service Defence Council Instruction 45/01. (Reference: The Journal of The Orders and Medal Research Society, September 2001, Volume 40, Number 3 (252), p. 198, by Michael O’Brien)

Current Campaign Medals

• The Northern Ireland Home Service Medal  - Medal was warranted in DCI GEN 67 of 1997 (DS Sec/4/24:86687MB). Ribbon is quoted as being Irish green with a central light blue centre stripe. As a result, the Ulster Defence Regiment Medal is now redundant 

• Accumulated Campaign Service Medal - It has just been announced that service in multinational operations resulting in the award of 'multinational medals' (e.g. UN or NATO) which receive approval for wear may be counted towards the award of the Accumulated Campaign Service Medal (ACSM). This will not be applied retrospectively, only for new operations. It will also not be automatic, each operation will be considered on its merits as to whether it ought to count towards the ACSM. For those not yet familiar with the ACSM, it was instituted in January 1994 and is awarded for aggregated service which has already been marked by conferment of the General Service Medal 1962. This medal is still being awarded for 2 areas of service only, Northern Ireland and Air Operations Iraq. (Ref: Megan, Delphi Forum)
• Accumulated Campaign Service Medal (Britain's Small Wars)
• Britain to lead ISAF for only three months (Afghanistan) (Jan 02)

• Operational Service Medal
  Afghanistan	Sierra Leone

• Operational Service Medal – A new Operational Service Medal will replace the General Service Medal (1962), for operations after 1 January, 2000 which do not attract a separate campaign medal of their own, and for which no UN/NATO/etc. medal is awarded. At present, the design process is ongoing, with final approval not in the near future. The intention is to have separate ribbons for each theatre. (Ref: Megan, My Delphi) Operational Service Medal (with Sierra Leone ribbon). This is the medal that is supposed to be taking the place of the General Service Medal (GSM), which is still being issued for Air Ops Iraq & Northern Ireland, presumably until stocks are exhausted. The intention is to have differing ribbons for different operational theatres 'a la' NATO & UN. (Image courtesy of Tony Farrell, Cambridge, UK) (Sep 02)

• Operational Service Medal for service in Afghanistan - Command Paper 5939 of October 2003 institutes the Operational Service Medal for service in Afghanistan since 11 September 2001 and complicates matters by adding a clasp AFGHANISTAN to a different ribbon. It will be possible to qualify for this medal by way of service totally in Kenya or Kuwait and various other places around the globe nowhere near Afghanistan. Ref: OMRS Journal Dec 03

• UK civilians honoured for Iraq work More than 50 British civilians have been honoured for their work helping reconstruction efforts in Iraq. The honours list, which awards 41 men and 10 women, recognises work carried out in Iraq since January 2003. Three diplomats received the Companion of the Order of St Michael and Saint George. The prime minister's office confirmed that Dominic Asquith had been made a CMG for the "crucial political role" he played in post-war Iraq as deputy head of the UK mission in Baghdad. Henry Hogger, the former governorate co-ordinator in Basra and Paul Harvey, governorate co-ordinator in Kirkuk were also made CMGs. The Iraqi football team's manager Mark Clarke was awarded an MBE for his work in helping the team to reach the Olympic semi-finals in Athens. Pentonville Prison Governor Gareth Davies was awarded an OBE for work carried out in his former role as director of law and order for southern Iraq. Mandana Hendessi also received an OBE for helping to establish the women's rights group, the Women's Higher Council in Iraq. Others who were honoured in the list include Chief Superintendent Philip Read of West Yorkshire Police, who received an OBE for his work in helping to train the new Iraqi police force. dehavilland.co.uk 4 Dec 04

• Heroes All as Troops Receive Iraq Medals One of Britain’s youngest decorated war heroes today paid tribute to comrades as his squadron received medals for their role in the invasion of Iraq. Trooper Christopher Finney was just 18 when he earned the George Cross for his bravery in the conflict. He stood alongside fellow members of the Household Cavalry’s D-Squadron – the Army‘s most highly decorated sub-unit in Iraq – to receive their campaign medals. Illustrating the scale of the British commitment in Iraq, the general told the troops that 50,000 British servicemen and women had already received the campaign medal. news.scotsman.com 9 Dec 04

• Our lads merit more than just a medal The mum of a North Wales Redcap murdered in Iraq has accused Tony Blair of trying to pacify the families by calling for their deaths to be marked. The prime minister said ways of commemorating the deaths of Lance Corporal Tom Keys and five other Red Caps killed by a mob at a police station should be explored. Last night Tom's mother Sally reacted furiously to his comments and demanded an inquiry into the deaths. Mr Blair said the final decision whether to award bravery medals would lie with army chiefs - not government ministers. The bullet-riddled bodies of the six Red Caps were found on June 24, 2003 at a police station in the southern Iraqi town of Al Majar al Kabir. They were murdered by a mob of Iraqis armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades. The mob stormed the station in retaliation for an early skirmish with Paras which left four Iraqis dead. Lance Cpl Keys died alongside Sgt Simon Hamilton-Jewell, 41; Corporal Russell Aston, 30; Cpl Paul Long, 24; Cpl Simon Miller, 21; Lance Corporal Benjamin Hyde, 23. His father Reg, from Bala, collected an Iraqi Campaign Medal on his son's behalf in September 2004. But the soldier has not been posthumously awarded for his bravery on the day of his death. His family have been told a gallantry medal is unlikely because there were no credible witnesses. icnorthwales.icnetwork.co.uk 20 Apr 06

• Marine Macca scoops medal A Royal Marine from Burnley has been given a medal for his efforts for serving in the front-line with the Royal Marines on Operation Herrick 5, in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan. Corporal James McDonald, 27, known as Macca, is based at Camp Bastion with 42 Commando Royal Marines. The unit is part of 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines, who are commanding operations in the southern Afghanistan Province of Helmand, and are usually based at Bickleigh Barracks in Plymouth Devon. Corporal McDonald is responsible for the liaison between the Danish reconnaissance force and 42 Commando battle group. He is the operational signals link from the field to the joint headquarters back in Camp Bastion. Corporal McDonald was presented with his International Security Assistance Force medal by Major Christian Moegensoen, the Danish commander. He has previously been presented with the Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan for his service in 2001. Corporal McDonald joined the Royal Marines in 1998 as a Royal Marine. He has been in Afghanistan since September 2005 and this is his third tour of duty in Afghanistan. thisislancashire.co.uk 31 Jan 07

• Fury as dead soldier's war medals stolen The mother of a Lothians soldier who was killed in Iraq spoke of her anger today after a thief sneaked into her home and stole her late son’s war medals. Sapper Robert Thomson died in the southern city of Basra in January last year in what was described by Ministry of Defence officials as a "tragic" engineering accident. The 22-year-old, from Whitburn, West Lothian, was posthumously honoured for his work in one of the most dangerous areas of Iraq during the second Gulf War with the 35 Engineer Regiment. But a thief slipped into mum Margaret Thomson’s home in Gardener Crescent, Whitburn, and snatched the medals. Mrs Thomson said she has been left devastated at the theft. The thieves targeted Mrs Thomson’s home while she was upstairs, sneaked inside and lifted her handbag from a downstairs room. The handbag contained the Iraq campaign medal, a set of wings presented by the RAF and a prayer written for the family by a padre, or military chaplain. A necklace with the initial "M" which was a present to Mrs Thomson from soldiers who had served with her son was also stolen. Mrs Thomson said she carried the medals and other gifts with her everywhere she went. She has now offered a reward of £200 for information which will lead to them being returned. news.scotsman.com 11 Feb 05

• Iraq medals for 60 RAF personnel Servicemen and women from RAF Marham in Norfolk were awarded badges of honour for service in the last Iraq war. The medals were presented to 60 members of 31 Squadron for their service in Operation Telic in 2003. The combat bombing force was already patrolling the no-fly zone of southern Iraq when the war began. 31 Squadron was the core of what became the combat air wing at Ali Al Salem in Kuwait and provided the lion's share of the ground crew and the air crew. bbc.co.uk 3 Dec 04

• Anger at medal refusal for men fighting Taliban The Ministry of Defence is refusing to award medals for service in the war-torn Helmand province despite scores of British soldiers being killed and hundreds seriously injured during the most intensive fighting for 50 years. Thousands of men who have risked their lives in the brutal conditions of southern Afghanistan have been told they will not receive any recognition to show that they have served Britain fighting the Taliban in Helmand province. Military commanders have repeatedly raised the issue, warning it risks undermining morale among those involved in repeated skirmishes with the enemy. One senior officer said the MoD's decision was a 'mockery of the courage' shown by men in the fighting that has so far killed 69 British soldiers. The latest casualty from the 1st Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment was shot last Friday in a dawn fire-fight with Taliban fighters near their notorious stronghold of Jusyalay, close to the southern frontline in the upper Helmand valley. He was named yesterday as 27-year-old Private Tony Rawson. His death will strengthen calls for soldiers who have fought the Taliban, in often ferocious fighting, to be recognised for their endeavours. However, the MoD has stipulated that any soldier who served in the benign peacekeeping exercises in Afghanistan in 2002 would not qualify for another medal in recognition of the intensity of current operations, explaining they will not stray from their one medal per theatre rule. However, sources say a new medal was prepared for later tours of Iraq as the conflict changed. The one medal per theatre rule stipulates that a soldier who has previously served in a country and received a medal for service there cannot receive two from the same country, even if the nature of operations changes dramatically as it has in Afghanistan. The decision means that the troops sent to Afghanistan for peacekeeping duties in 2002 - Operation Fingal - are not eligible for official recognition of the dangers and risks during months spent fighting the Taliban in Helmand now for Operation Herrick A military source said: 'This time around it is completely different. Far from peacekeeping in Kabul with a beret we are getting mortared every day in trenches. Their efforts - and the danger they have operated within - have to be recognised.' Their interpretation of the rules means that more than half of the 650-strong 1st Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment will not be recognised for fighting in which the regiment has suffered five dead and 68 injured. By contrast the regiment lost one man in an accident during their 2002 tour to Afghanistan. Other regiments to be affected include 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment, which has endured some of the most bitter fighting, and 42 Commando Royal Marines. Commanders say that the MoD should experience the conditions for themselves. One said: 'In the military we are judged on our decorations, we wear our CV on our chest. Helmand has seen the hardest fighting any person serving can ever remember.' Most other countries allow their troops to wear two or three medals. guardian.co.uk 12 Aug 07
• Dannatt backs special Afghan honour The head of the Army gave his support to The Daily Telegraph's campaign for a special honour to be awarded to troops fighting in the toughest part of Afghanistan. Despite reluctance in the Ministry of Defence to recognise the battles being fought in Helmand province, Gen Sir Richard Dannatt said there was a very strong case for a clasp being added to the Afghanistan campaign medal. This now seems assured after the Chief of the General Staff, speaking in Afghanistan yesterday, said: "I'm going to argue the case, it's my belief there should be a clasp on the Afghanistan Medal that says Southern Afghanistan. "I think that would be proper recognition of the very difficult circumstances and the fighting that's going on here, a small thing but it is being valued, a way for a grateful nation to say thank you." Gen Dannatt said fighting in the area was "of a greater intensity than that which had gone on elsewhere in Afghanistan in recent years". The MoD had originally said the Operational Service Medal was sufficient despite soldiers who had been on the peacekeeping mission in 2002 receiving the same medal for fighting in Helmand this year. Gen Dannatt's decision is also an embarrassment for Gen Sir Timothy Granville-Chapman, the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, who last week indicated there would be no new bar added to the OSM. But with Gen Dannatt's backing, the clasp is likely to be approved quickly. Whitehall officials said last week that Des Browne, the defence secretary, would "not stand in the way" if military commanders wanted the award. "Having a bar to the campaign medal will go a little way to tell the stories that they have gone through," said an officer with 12 Mechanised Brigade, the main force in Helmand. "The general public just don't seem to know about the sacrifices being made out here." The words "Southern Afghanistan" will be used on the clasp rather than "Helmand" because a British reserve force, the Royal Welsh, and other troops are based in the southern Kandahar province where they are used to support troops across the region. A YouGov poll for the Telegraph has shown that 74 per cent of the population was in favour of troops having the clasp. Politicians, serving soldiers, veterans and charities all joined the Telegraph's campaign for a bar to be added to the Afghanistan OSM. Liam Fox, the shadow defence secretary, said the current medal "did not recognise the significance or sacrifices" made by troops in Helmand. "The Conservative Party calls on the Government to respond positively to the Telegraph's campaign for a Helmand clasp." The Royal British Legion has also backed the move. telegraph.co.uk 20 Aug 07
• Gordon Brown ready to back frontline honour Gordon Brown is ready to back a special honour for soldiers killed or injured "in the service of our country", he has signalled. The Prime Minister said he had been touched by the case of Capt David Hicks, 26, who died last month in Afghanistan after refusing to be evacuated or given morphine so he could lead his troops. Mr Brown said he was sympathetic to the idea of creating an award to recognise those killed or injured in battle as a result of acts of great bravery. Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the Army, has already given his support to The Daily Telegraph's campaign for a special honour to be awarded to troops fighting in southern Afghanistan, saying that there was a very strong case for a clasp being added to the campaign medal for the country. Since then, other officers have argued that a similar arrangement should be made for troops in Iraq, where 41 have been killed and well over 800 needed hospital treatment this year. Mr Brown told a Downing Street press conference: "I'm very sympathetic to looking at how we can recognise those people who have given special service to our country in Iraq, Afghanistan and other parts of the world.'' telegraph.co.uk 5 Sep 07
• Gordon Brown Signals Honours for UK Heroes New medals and honours are to be awarded to British troops and civilians who display outstanding courage, Gordon Brown has signalled. In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, the Prime Minister applauded the "great bravery" of British military forces serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and the people on the front line of defences against terrorist attacks at home. His comments suggest that those hailed for heroism in helping thwart the attempted terror strikes in London and Glasgow in June will be recognised in the New Year Honours list. They include John Smeaton, the baggage handler who rushed to help a policeman grappling with a suspected suicide car bomber at Glasgow airport, and the as-yet-unnamed bomb-disposal experts who disabled a car bomb by hand in Haymarket, central London. Mr Brown said: "I think you'll find that the country wants to acknowledge the bravery of people faced with a potential terrorist incident." He also urged military chiefs to come up with a firm recommendation for a special medal to honour British troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. One proposal, launched in Parliament by Kevan Jones, the Labour MP for North Durham, is for a British version of the American "Purple Heart" award for those killed or injured in action. The Prime Minister singled out for praise David Hicks, the 26-year-old captain from 1st Bn The Royal Anglian Regiment, who was fatally wounded in southern Afghanistan's Helmand Province in August. Mr Brown said of Capt Hicks, who refused morphine after being wounded in an attack on his base in order to remain in charge of his troops: "I'm sure he will be honoured at some time for his incredible courage and sacrifice." Asked about calls for a special medal to recognise bravery shown by those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Prime Minister replied: "We have got to take the recommendations of our military as to what they feel is the best way forward. But I think that everything that we do will be to honour the memory of those who have made big sacrifices." telegraph.co.uk 4 Nov 07
• Prince Harry awarded campaign medal Prince Harry will be presented with a campaign medal for his service in Afghanistan by his aunt the Princess Royal. The 23-year-old will be among around 160 fellow Household Cavalry troops attending a ceremony in Windsor on May 5 to be honoured for their role fighting the Taliban. Prince Harry secretly flew to Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan in mid-December to work as a Forward Air Controller. But his planned four-month tour was cut short after 10 weeks when a news blackout, agreed to prevent his comrades being put at extra risk, broke down at the end of February. Having served well over the required minimum of four weeks in theatre he is entitled to the Afghanistan Medal awarded to British forces who have taken part in Britain's Operation Herrick mission to the country. The Prince, who has recently been promoted from Second Lieutenant (or Cornet) to Lieutenant, will be able to wear the decoration alongside his Golden Jubilee Medal, a gift from the Queen marking her 50-year reign in 2002. He is the first member of the Royal Family to see active service in a war zone since his uncle Prince Andrew flew helicopters in the Falklands War 26 years ago. The Princess will present the medals in her capacity as Colonel of the Blues and Royals, part of the Household Cavalry. ukpress.google.com 28 Apr 08
• Top brass split on Helmand medal Senior officers are putting up "severe resistance" to plans for a special honour for troops in southern Afghanistan. They fear the award, to be given to soldiers in Helmand, where fighting is at its most intense, will devalue the bravery of troops serving in other parts of the country. All those serving in Afghanistan get an Operational Service Medal under current rules, but many soldiers believe those in Helmand should be issued with a special "southern Afghanistan" clasp.  Defence chiefs are split over the issue, with several senior officers claiming that the proposal is "dead in the water". General Sir Timothy Granville-Chapman, one of the most senior officers in the Army and a vice-chief of the defence staff, is understood to hold the view that troops who serve in Helmand should not be singled out with a special award unless they commit acts of bravery. One senior officer said: "There is resistance to this proposal at the highest level."  Another senior source added: "The issue over the Helmand clasp is still being debated and yes, there is resistance to it because we don't want to end up like the American military, where troops seemingly get a medal for anything. "The question is, where will it stop? Many senior officers believe that the current system is adequate."  telegraph.co.uk 9 Dec 07

Miscellaneous Information on Campaign Medals

• Nineteenth and Twentieth Century British and Indian Armies and their Soldiers (Fred Larimore)
• British Medals (Sydney B. Vernon)

• Battle of Waterloo (BBC - Historical information and other resources)

Artic and Antarctic Medals 

• Antarctic Medal with two Bars (BBC Antiques Road Show) Antarctic Explorer Killed (Dr David Wynn-Williams, who took part in 10 Antarctic expeditions. He was leader of the British Antarctic Survey's astro-biology project and was awarded the Polar Medal in 1980 for his outstanding contribution to polar science) (Apr 02) Fight continues to win medal for Scots polar hero Supporters of Dr William Speirs Bruce, who led the successful Scottish National Antarctic Expedition, pledged to redouble their efforts to secure a coveted Polar Medal to commemorate the centenary of the groundbreaking mission. (Nov 02) Medal fight for family of Shackleton's snubbed Scot Henry "Chippy" McNish was one of 28 crew who accompanied Shackleton on board the Endurance on the South Pole expedition of 1914-16, a journey that became a battle to stay alive when the ship was wrecked on the ice floes. After the ship went down, the crew trekked to the coast and Shackleton and five men, including Mr McNish, made an epic 800-mile journey from Antarctica to South Georgia in an open lifeboat to get help. However, back in England, when Shackleton drew up a list of recipients for the prestigious Polar Medal, the highest honour bestowed on such explorers, Mr McNish’s name was missing. It emerged yesterday that the reason was Shackleton could not forgive the Scot for usurping his authority, according to Jonathan Shackleton, the explorer’s cousin. The confrontation happened before the lifeboat journey, when Mr McNish challenged Shackleton over pay. Mr McNish was one of only four crew denied the medal, a cause of dismay to his family and experts in the field. "We will continue to lobby for help from official sources to win him the medal even 86 years on. It’s his entitlement." (Dec 02) Don't leave our Polar Hero out in the cold A forgotten polar hero is being commemorated 100 years after his first Antarctic venture. And campaigners hope to have Scot William Spiers Bruce awarded the highest honour for polar explorers, the Polar Medal. Bruce, who was born in London to Scots parents and brought up north of the Border, led the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition which sailed out of Troon in Ayrshire on November 2, 1902, and returned in the summer of 1904. More (Jan 03) Explorer's historic home up for sale The historic childhood home of a legendary Antarctic explorer has been put up for sale for from more than £3million. Captain Lawrence Oates entered the history books for the immortal phrase, "I am just going outside and may be sometime", uttered before he walked to his death in a blizzard, hoping to save his comrades on Scott's disastrous South Pole expedition in 1912. Capt Oates, with this simple phrase, later found recorded in Scott's diary, performed one of the most famous acts of gallantry in the history of mankind. eadt.co.uk 4 Oct 04 War veteran to stand against Hoon An 85-year-old ex-Navy Commander is to stand against the defence secretary in the general election to boost his medal campaign for World War II sailors. Eddie Grenfell has travelled from his Portsmouth home to Geoff Hoon's Ashfield constituency to compete for his Nottinghamshire seat on 5 May. As an independent, Mr Grenfell hopes to highlight the Arctic Medal Campaign for those who served in the Arctic Convoys. news.bbc.co.uk 18 Apr 05 Welsh professor awarded the Polar Medal, like Scott A professor of glaciology at Swansea University is to receive the Polar Medal from the Queen, for outstanding achievement and service to the United Kingdom in the field of polar research. Professor Tavi Murray, 42, is believed to be only the 8th woman to be honoured with the medal, which was established in 1857. Her award is for both Arctic and Antarctic research, which makes it doubly unusual. And she joins a distinguished list of around 4,000 recipients, which includes Antarctic explorers Captain Robert Falcon Scott and Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton. Prof Murray, who is engaged in three research projects, which regularly take her on field work in the Arctic, Antarctic, and the European Alps, will receive the medal at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in early 2007. Prof Murray, who is originally from Oxford but who now lives in Mumbles, is based in the department of geography, in the university's school of the environment and society. icwales.icnetwork.co.uk 23 Dec 06

Commemorative Medals

The battle for the Silver Jubilee Medal  Secret government papers just released to the National Archives reveal how a Whitehall row blew up during the 1976 economic crisis when the then Labour government suggested ditching a very special one-off medal in an attempt to save money. According to the papers, the Cabinet considered consigning the traditional jubilee medal to the history books - an award historically given to honour key stages of the monarch's reign. In the Cabinet minutes placed in the National Archives, documents show the sub-committee recommended ditching the silver jubilee medal. But behind the plain language the Ministry of Defence was not happy.  So what happened? Well, Wilson shortly after resigned and the matter passed to Jim Callaghan. On Jubilee Day in 1977, much of Britain came together for tens of thousands of street parties, fondly remembered by many of those who were there. The following morning, some 30,000 members of the armed forces, civilian services and other upstanding figures heard a small package plop onto their doormats. It was the Silver Jubilee Medal. news.bbc.co.uk 29 Dec 06

The Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal    The Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal is being issued to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of The Queen's Accession on 6 February 2002. Those eligible to receive the medal are: * serving members of the Armed Forces and Royal Fleet Auxiliary who completed 5 years' service on 6 February 2002; * serving members of the '999' emergency services who completed 5 years' service on 6 February 2002; * holders of the Victoria Cross or George Cross. Detailed information on the eligibility criteria for each individual service Official Golden Jubilee Web Site - The year 2002 will mark the 50th anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen's Accession to the Throne. This will be an occasion both to look back at the role that The Queen has played in the affairs of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth over the last 50 years and to look forwards. (Mar 02)

Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, 2002

• Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal 2002 - Images of this new medal have finally appeared. The Reverse of the Medal. (Images courtesy of Megan Robertson)

• Ex-Mayor to Oversee Queen’s Golden Jubilee 

• Golden Jubilee Medal – According to an article in The Sunday Times on 22 October, 2000, a total of 200,000 medals have been marked for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002. The medals will be cast from bronze or brass and awarded to members of the armed forces and emergency services, together with public servants, including teachers. All members of the armed forces who have served a certain period – either five or 10 years – will receive the honour. Only 30,000 medals were cast to mark the Silver Jubilee in 1977, with 9,000 going to the military and the remainder to public servants. The latest proposal for Jubilee Medals followed behind-the-scenes pressure from the armed forces, according to Whitehall sources. “We understood the Queen had no strong feelings on the matter,” said a minister involved in the planning. “Then the forces got to her, made their pitch and the palace’s position changed.  

• Golden Jubilee Medal - In the April 2001 issue of 'Soldier' magazine (house journal of the British Army), it is reported that 65,000 medals will be issued to the regular army on the occasion of HM The Queen's Golden Jubilee. A further 20,000 medals will be available for non-regulars (TA and the like). HM The Queen has requested that the medal be issued to members of the armed forces serving on the actual day of her Jubilee, 6 February 2002. The qualifying period is that you have completed 5 years' service on that date. The medal, which will be issued unnamed, is to be struck in gilt with a new portrait of The Queen. It is believed the ribbon will be in red, white and blue but this has not been confirmed. The first official day for the wearing of the medal will be the 'national day of thanksgiving' on 4 June 2002; but the medal may be worn once issued. (Ref: My Delphi - Megan)

• Golden Jubilee Medal – A total of 156,000 unnamed Golden Jubilee Medals will be issued to various British Armed Forces personnel to celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. The Regular Army will account for 65,000 of these medals. Basic qualification is 5 years service prior to 6 February, 2002 (and still a serving member at that date). The official date for wearing the medals will be 4 June 2002, although medals may be worn once issued after 7 February, 2002. It is believed that Cadet Organizations and the Home Service Battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment, are drafting their own criteria for medal eligibility. The medal will be struck in guilt and bear a new effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. The proposal of a red, white and blue ribbon is still yet to be confirmed. (Ref: Mike Smith)
• Home Secretary Announces Golden Jubilee Medal (Feb 01)

• Jubilee Day Babies get Medals - Little Joshua Williamson and Moafjj Miah will have reminders of their Royal connections when they grow up. They were both born on June 4, the date of the Queen's Golden Jubilee anniversary. To celebrate the happy coincidence West Sussex County Council gave the babies specially minted medals. (Sep 02)

• Golden Jubilee Medal - I am trying to find out how the Golden Jubilee 2002 Medal celebrating HM Queen Elizabeth II's golden jubilee will be awarded to police forces around the Commonwealth. So far I know: 

  • UK - all police officers in post with 5 years' service on 6 February 2002 will get it.

  • Canada - in discussion.
    Australia - undecided.

  • New Zealand - does not intend to award the Golden Jubilee Medal at all.
  • Bermuda - I think as UK - they certainly intend to award it on the same terms as the UK to members of the Bermuda Regiment.

  Does anyone know what's happening elsewhere, or correct me if any of the above is wrong? (Ref: My Delphi - Megan C. Robertson) (Feb 02)

• Golden honour Two paramedics have been presented with medals to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee. The medals are being given to all emergency services staff who have five years or more service. Two employees from each of Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service's stations received the medals from chairman Paul Leopold at a ceremony at the Bank House Hotel, Bransford, near Worcester. Paramedics Wayne Carrier and Sue Shepherd were chosen to receive the first medals on behalf of Kidderminster Ambulance Station. (Feb 03)

• Heroes denied Queen’s Medal (Tessa Jowell, the culture secretary, has angered the Ministry of Defence by refusing to extend the Queen's golden jubilee medals to the holders of the Victoria Cross and George Cross. But Ms Jowell, in a volte face yesterday, bowed to pressure from the home secretary, David Blunkett, and agreed that police and other emergency services should be given the award) (Dec 01)

• Firefighters' Fury at Prescott's Rule on Jubilee Medals Firefighters in Devon have described a decision by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to withhold Queen's Golden Jubilee medals from them as a "disgrace". Exeter Express, UK - 18 Apr 2003

• Queen's Jubilee Medal for voluntary work with Naval Reserve More than 30 years of voluntary service, first in the Royal Naval Reserve and more recently with HM Coastguard, have been recognised in the award of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal to Musselburgh businessman Alister Eadie. East Lothian Courier, UK - 30 May 2003

• Medals are all relative Four Redcar relatives with more than 100 years' lifeboat service between them are among the proud recipients of Queen's Golden Jubilee Medals. Charles Cocks, his sons Dave and Graeme and son-in-law Tony Wheater, are among 20 members of Redcar Lifeboat to receive the medals, officially presented this month as part of the celebrations to mark last year's Golden Jubilee. Middlesborough Evening Gazette, UK Apr 03

• Firefighters' fury at medal hold-up Firefighters in Coventry battling for better pay have accused the government of withholding honours they have earned. City firemen have claimed the government is not handing out Queen's Golden Jubilee Medals because of the pay dispute. Coventry News, UK - 9 May 2003

• Queen to honour community heroes Unsung heroes in voluntary and community groups from Northern Ireland are being honoured by the Queen today in recognition of their outstanding contribution to their local communities. They are among 200 groups from across the UK receiving special Queen's Golden Jubilee awards for their efforts. icNorthern Ireland, UK - 2 Jun 2003

• Honours for Ulster in Jubilee Awards Three retired men who fit security devices to the homes of the elderly are among a number of Ulster people to be recognised in the Queen's Golden Jubilee Awards. Bill Morrow, Wilson Baxter and Hugh Trainor of Voluntary Service Belfast were among those to receive an award yesterday for their outstanding contributions to their communities. icNorthern Ireland, UK - 3 Jun 2003

• Lifeboatmen awarded Jubilee medals When Caister lifeboat station was closed by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) more than 30 years ago, its crew refused to give up. They decided to continue independently, relying on volunteers and public donations to keep the station fully operational. But their heroic efforts had never been formally recognised until yesterday, when the Duke of Edinburgh presented 15 Caister lifeboatmen with Golden Jubilee medals. The 15 members who received the Jubilee medals were: Harry Barker, Dick Thurlow (not present), Paul William, Ivan Jones, Tom Frost, Paul Durrant, Mick Nutt, John Cannell, Nigel Trett, Andrew Hewitt, Paul Garrod, Lee Brown (not present), Aley Low, George Spooner and Mark Seabrook. Norfolk Eastern Daily Press, UK - 31 Jul 2003

• Medal for long-serving Firefighter  A Former firefighter who works at the University of Bath has been awarded a Queen's Jubilee medal in recognition of his long service with Avon Fire Brig ade. David Gosling retired from the service last year after completing 28 years as a retained firefighter in Bath. Bath Chronicle, UK - 1 Aug 2003

• Commemorative Medals (Un-official) (The largest single list of Commemorative Medals in the world – MSM Awards – Dealers list, but extremely valuable to reference purposes)

• Rifle Brigade 200^th Birthday Commemoration Medal – To mark the bi-centenary of the Rifle Brigade on 25 August, 2000 a commemorative medal has been struck by the Regiment, which will be the first of its kind for 200 years. The medal is produced by Spink. This year marks the bi-centenaries of the creation in the British Army of an Experimental Corps of Riflemen, later to be known as The Rifle Brigade, and the introduction of the Rifle to the British Army. The musket – which preceded it – was unlikely to hit a target over fifty paces. This new weapon – made by Ezekiel Baker of London – was accurate up to 300 yards and was the ideal weapon for sharp-shooting. The Experimental Corps of Riflemen was formed to exploit the potential of the Baker rifle. Dressed in green, the riflemen were trained to operate in pairs, skirmishing ahead of the main body of advancing troops, using their ingenuity, stealth, camouflage and concealment to get within range of unsuspecting enemy. The success of these tactics was soon demonstrated in the Peninsular War, causing the opposing armies to think twice before massing troops in open ground, although it was still decades before the destructive clash of artillery and cavalry against infantry squares was to become wholly an event of the past. (Reference: The Journal of the Orders and Medal Research Society, Winter 2000, Volume 39, Number 4, Page 277)

• Gloucester Regiment Tercentenary Medal (1994)

Coronation Medals

• Coronation (Stephen Stratford)

Long Service and Good Conduct Medals

• LS and GC (Stephen Stratford)

• The Volunteer Reserves Service Medal - The group illustrated is that awarded to 23966158 WO2 R. Colin Andrews, RLC. The Medal and Clasp were awarded in 2001 (L.G. 22 May 2001, pages 6094-95). The Clasp is similar to that on the Efficiency Decoration, but is not gilded; it is dated on the reverse with year of award (as is the T.D./E.D.) (Reference: The Journal of The Orders and Medal Research Society, September 2001, Volume 40, Number 3 (252), p. 186)

• Royal Fleet Reserve Long Service & Good Conduct Medal – Abolition – Discontinuation of this medal is contained in Defence Council Instruction (DCI) No. 54 of 2000 as follows: Under current Regulations, the Royal Navy is the only Service which awards the LS&GC Medal to ratings who complete 15 years combined Active and Reserve Service. With no comparable medal in the Army or RAF, and in order to ensure an equable treatment of reservists in all three Services, the Joint Service review of Honours and Awards Committee recommended that the RFR LS&GC Medal should be discontinued with effect from 1 April 2000. This recommendation has been approved by the Secretary of State. However, to ensure no individual with an existing entitlement is disadvantaged, the following will apply:

  • Those leaving on or before 31 March 2000 will still be able to claim the RFR LS&GC Medal after 15 years combined Regular and RFR Service. Thereafter there will be no entitlement to the RFR LS&GC medal

  • Those already undertaking RFR time will continue to be eligible to qualify for the medal up to and including 31 March 2003. Thereafter there will be no entitlement to the RFR LS&GC Medal. (Reference: The Journal of the Orders and Medal Research Society, Winter 2000, Volume 39, Number 4, Page 258)

• The Royal Naval Reserve Officers Decoration (RD) (The Royal Naval Reserve Service Record of John Wilson)

• Ex-Officer awarded Police Colonial Medal Former policeman Christian Shorter yesterday received the highest award possible for an overseas British law enforcement officer. The Bahrain-based security consultant was presented with the Colonial Police Medal for his work in the Cayman Islands from 1996. The medal is normally reserved for long-serving veterans of the police force, but Mr Shorter received it after just six years in the Cayman Islands. (Oct 02)

• Community officer receives good conduct medal Constable Nik Pringle was one of five officers to receive the award. The medal was initially issued by Royal Warrant in 1951, by His Majesty King George the Sixth, to mark the dedicated work of police officers during the bombing in the Second World War. Officers who have completed 22 years of approved service now receive the award, as a mark of Her Majesty's appreciation, for long and meritorious service. Watford Observer, UK - 21 May 2003
  • Medal awarded to police superintendent Borehanwood Times, UK - 21 May 2003

• Paradmedic Awarded Long Service Medal A Paramedic based at Haltwhistle ambulance station has been recognised for his unstinting service. David Hewitt has been presented with a long service and good conduct medal by the Lord Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear. The award marks 20 years on frontline duties. North-East Ambulance Service chief executive Simon Featherstone said: “This presentation ceremony is one of the occasions when the ambulance service has the opportunity to praise its officers who have shown dedication and commitment during their careers.” hexham-courant.co.uk 11 Mar 05

• Firefighters get long service medals Twenty-one firefighters and staff have been presented with The Fire Brigade Long Service & Good Conduct Medal by Her Majesty's Lieutenant for Northamptonshire, Lady Juliet Townsend. Chief Fire Officer Martyn Emberson had recommended each recipient for the award following their completion of 20 years’ service. Fire service personnel receiving the medal included Corby crew managers Alastair Ferguson and Graham Ravenscroft, Corby firefighters Gordon Wallace, Derek McLachlan, Pete McDonald and Dave Scholefield. Also receiving medals were Kettering watch manager Richard Pike, Wellingborough firefighter Joe Dobrowski, Irthlingborough crew manager Mark Knighton, Wellingborough crew manager Andy Garner and Kettering crew manager Dave Billing. northantset.co.uk 18 Feb 08

• Portsmouth diver presented with medal at the bottom of the pool Acting Petty Officer Andy Coulson received the award at the bottom of a Gibraltar swimming pool. He was in the middle of a two-week exercise on the island, which included stints at the military outdoor swimming pool, when he found himself in the midst of the impromptu ceremony.The 34-year-old Scot, who is based at Horsea Island, said: ‘I was not expecting it.  ‘I mentioned it in passing several weeks ago that I thought it would be good to receive my medal underwater rather than on the parade ground, but I didn’t expect anyone to act on it. ‘I’d totally forgotten that I mentioned it, but it’s something that will live with me forever – certainly one of the highlights of my 15-year career in the navy.’ As well as a long service medal, the award recognises PO Coulson’s good conduct over the years as well. His boss, Lieutenant Simon Leightley, the officer in charge Southern Diving Unit 2, said: ‘Andy’s been selected for promotion and will soon embark on his professional qualifying course, so it seemed an appropriate send-off to present his medal “in the office” so to speak. I gave a slightly shorter citation than normal – mostly through bubbles.’ Joining PO Coulson and Lt Leightley underwater for the presentation was Warrant Officer (Diver) Robin Rickard, representing the Southern Diving Group. He joined the navy at 16 as an Air Engineer Mechanic, but transferred to the diving branch 11 years ago. WO Rickard said: ‘I have already had a fulfilling career but am looking forward to continuing my progression.’ bigluetech.net 27 Jun 09

• Woman wants to buy back war medal The niece of a Norfolk soldier believed to have been massacred by the Nazis is hoping to bring his wartime medal back to the county. Pamela Aberdeen knew her uncle, L/Cpl Robert Phillip Battleday, had been killed in the second world war but knew nothing about the circumstances or that he had been awarded a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal - until she read last Friday's EDP. Now Mrs Aberdeen, who lives in King's Lynn, is hoping to buy back the medal to make sure it stays in the family. It currently belongs to a private collector and is being sold today by London auction house Dix Noonan Webb, with a guide price of £250-£300. L/Cpl Battleday was a member of the 2nd Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment. He died aged 38 while on active service with his comrades on May 27, 1940 - one of the most infamous dates in the war's history, when 97 members of the battalion were butchered in cold blood by the notorious Totenkopf (Death's Head) SS unit. It followed a gallant last stand by the remnants of the battalion in Le Paradis, France, and the murder of the wounded survivors became a notorious war crime. L/Cpl Battleday is buried in Mont-Bernanchon churchyard, at Pas de Calais, France. edp24.co.uk 5 Apr 06

  • Family fail to buy back wartime medal The family of a soldier thought to have been killed by the Nazis failed yesterday to buy back his wartime medal. However, the piece will be returning to Norfolk after it was bought for three times its guide price by a local collector. Unfortunately her bid of £400 was not enough to secure the award, which had a guide price of £250-£300, as it eventually sold for £850. Auctioneer David Erskine-Hill said that while the medal was not going back to the family, the fact that it was going back to Norfolk was a "good ending". new.edp24.co.uk 6 Apr 06

Meritorious Service Medal

• Army medal honour for Sikh officer A soldier has been honoured for his success in recruiting ethnic minorities into the Army. Sergeant Major Makand Singh, from Bedworth, has received the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) for his commitment to the recruitment of black and Asian young people from across the West Midlands. The community liaison officer, whose father was the first Sikh to join the Army with a turban and a beard, was presented with the award by General Nicholas Cottam at Birmingham Armed Forces careers office. iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk 24 Jan 05

• High Honours For Hull Royal Navy Officer Chief Petty Officer Ian Cornish, from Hull's Armed Forces Careers Office, received the Meritorious Service Medal. Chief Petty Officer Ian Cornish has been awarded this prestigious medal for his exceptional service career, stretching nearly 32 years. The Queen's Regulations (1975) denote that recipients of the Meritorial service medal (MSM) must have completed a minimum of 27 years' service, been awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and must have performed good, faithful, valuable and meritorious service with conduct judged to be irreproachable. a2mediagroup.com 8 Apr

• Paramedics to get new bravery award A new medal for bravery is being launched to honour ambulance workers, with paramedics who aided victims of the July 7 terror attacks looking set to receive the award. The Queen's Ambulance Service Medal will be unveiled by Health Minister Andy Burnham to mark the 70th anniversary of the 999 service. Staff who helped those caught up in the London bombings are among those who could receive the medal for acts outside the normal call of duty. The medal is the first bravery award for ambulance workers. channel4.com 22 Jun 07
  
• Burnham launches new Queens Medal for Ambulance Services  The Queen's Ambulance Service Medal for ambulance services is intended for all NHS ambulance services within England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. The medal will be awarded to recognise meritorious service. Meritorious service is defined as valuable services characterised by devotion to duty, including prolonged service marked by exceptional ability, merit and exemplary conduct. The following are examples of the type of service that might be recognised: a) a significant contribution to either local or national developments that can be rolled out to other Ambulance Services; b) success in organising NHS Ambulance Services under special difficulties; c) commitment beyond the call of duty when dealing with major, serious or dangerous operational incidents which make exceptional and sustained demands on personnel. Such incidents would include multiple casualties in horrific road accidents, rail, train and plane crashes, terrorist attacks, public disorder and large complex fires involving for example chemicals and explosives; d) special services to Royalty or Heads of State. The first medals are expected to be awarded in 2009. Download the press release (word document). gnn.gov.uk 26 Jun 07

Lifesaving Medals

• Honoured: Bravery award for hero Pc Pc David Sargent and Emanuel Neves are set to be presented with a Royal Humane Society award after risking their lives to save a Portuguese lorry driver whose vehicle crashed into a ditch and caught fire. Pc Sargent (22), an officer in Spalding, and Mr Neves, of Mill Close, Wisbech, lept into action as flames started to engulf the lorry, which was in danger of exploding, after an accident on the A16 on February 6. Pc Sargent said: "When I arrived at the scene the lorry was on its side in a ditch and on fire. I ran down to the cab where I met Mr Neves who had been travelling in a lorry behind and had seen the accident. "He was the first on the scene and had been trying to pull the driver out. When I told him to get back, he said he had nearly got the man out of the cab and so I took over while he stepped back a few paces." With fuel gushing from the vehicle and the threat of an explosion, the men dragged the driver to safety at the top of the ditch. Shortly after they pulled him out the lorry exploded and was engulfed in flames. peterboroughtoday.co.uk 3 Aug 05

Sea Gallantry Medal

• Sea Gallantry Medal - I received the following information from Professor Bernard de Neumann. "The Sea Gallantry Medal", properly known as "The Board of Trade Medal for Saving Life", was instituted in 1854 and predates the Victoria Cross. I quote the following from "Gallantry" by Wilson and McEwen: “There is no record of the numbers issued previous to 1887; the relative papers have been destroyed and the register cannot be traced; it seems to have been no one’s business to preserve for posterity a recital of deeds as noble as any in the annals of our race. No account of the awards is published in the London Gazette. From 1887 to 1921 a list of names, with a bald summary of the occasion for which the medal was awarded, is available and is here reproduced. From January 1922 onwards a full record is available.” The SGM is a level III gallantry award (same level as The Queen's Gallantry Medal). Since the official register prior to 1887 does not seem to exist, I wonder whether it would be possible to collect data from collectors/interested parties on these early awards. There seems to be no other realistic means for the early recipients to be identified and their deeds gathered together. Sea Gallantry Medal - The link will download a Word document provided by Professor Bernard de Neumann who is very much interested in documenting information relating to "The Sea Gallantry Medal", properly known as "The Board of Trade Medal for Saving Life", as there is no record of the numbers issued previous to 1887; the relative papers have been destroyed and the register cannot be traced, and no account of the awards is published in the London Gazette. From 1887 to 1921 a list of names, with a bald summary of the occasion for which the medal was awarded, is available. From January 1922 onwards a full record is available. Those wishing to assist Professor Neumann in his research can contact him at: De.Neumann@btinternet.com (Feb 02)

Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea  

• Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea - For those interested in researching this medal in more detail, the complete set of citations for this medal, awarded for exceptional gallantry at sea during WW2 to Merchant Navy Personnel, is held in the Lloyd's Collection of the Guildhall Library, London, England. Many of the citations were censored before publication during the war, and so a much better idea of the actions can often be obtained by referring to the original papers. (Ref: Professor Bernard de Neumann)

RNLI Medals

• RNLI Medals Awarded To Ramsgate List of recipients Apr 03

• Sea rescue hero statue honour A group of organisations and individuals, led by the island's county council, are planning to commission the statue to remember the life and work of the late Dic Evans of Moelfre. Mr Evans won the MBE and two coveted RNLI Gold Medals for his heroic sea rescues as coxswain of the Moelfre Lifeboat. Evans received his first medal in 1959 when called out to the Hindlea of Cardiff when it was in distress in a hurricane force wind gusting to 104 miles per hour, and the second medal in 1966 when he lead the rescue of the Greek motor vessel Nafsiporos. BBC News, UK 26 Jul 03

• Brave crews at Eastbourne - Coxswain Mark Sawyer is to receive the RNLI's Silver Medal for Gallantry and Mechanic Daniel Guy will receive the Bronze Medal for Gallantry for their part in saving the lives of the two crew, who were washed off the sinking yacht Paperchase, in appalling conditions on Saturday 20th October 2002. The service took place in darkness, with a wind blowing southeasterly gale force 8 and the waves were 3m high. The yacht had been attempting to enter Sovereign Harbour when it was hit by large waves and both crew were thrown into the water as the yacht began to sink. The crewmembers, a man and a woman were recovered from the water. The male casualty saved by the heroic actions of Mechanic Daniel Guy. The RNLI has also awarded Medal Service Certificates to Crewman Ben Delaunay, Keith Murphy, Mark Osborn, David Riley and Richard Welch. (Feb 03) (Ref: Mark Osborn)

• The Rolls Royce of rescue crafts Holyhead Lifeboat station, established in 1825, and over the last 178 years the station has been awarded 49 of the RNLI's medals for gallantry - four gold, 32 silver and 13 bronze. The first recorded accolade was in 1829, a silver medal to Thomas Hughes, for leading the rescue by ropes of 24 people from two brigs which had smashed onto rocks at Holyhead in a north westerly gale. Six years later the Rev James Williams was the first at the station to get a gold medal after saving the exhausted five man crew of a smack, the Active, which was grounded at Cemaes. The station's biggest medal haul of all came in 1967 when, working with Moelfre Lifeboat, Holyhead's St Cybi lifeboat went to the aid of the Greek motor vessel Nafsiporus that was in touble in high seas 400 yards west of the notorious West Mouse rock. Battered by a hurricane, the crew managed rescue five seamen and earned the crew one gold, two silver and six bronze medals. North Wales 10 Dec 03

• Lifeboat heroine's historic medal Aileen Jones, helmsman on the Porthcawl lifeboat in south Wales, is to be given the RNLI Bronze Medal for Gallantry. She and her crew braved gale force winds, rough seas and three-metre swells for the rescue in August 2004. It is over 100 years since any woman was given an RNLI award, but no female crew member has been honoured before. The last women to receive medals were two civilians - Miss Ellen Blyth and Mrs William Wallace - in 1888 for their part in the rescue of a schooner off the Isle of Man. news.bbc.co.uk 19 May 05

• Bronze Medals for St Mary's Lifeboat Coxwain and Crew Three Isles of Scilly lifeboatmen have been awarded RNLI bronze medals for their part in the rescue in October of a yacht in trouble off the islands. They are Andrew Howells, coxswain of the St Mary's lifeboat The Whiteheads, and crewmen Mark Bromham and Philip Roberts. Cornishman 29 Jan 04

• Why lifeboat crews risk all for others Mark Sawyer's courage earned him an award for gallantry. Volunteering with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for 11 years, he then became a full-time professional coxswain at Eastbourne, looking after 28 crew and 10 shore helpers. A highlight of his career was when he received a silver medal from the RNLI for gallantry in rescuing two stricken sailors who had been thrown overboard as they tried to sail their yacht into Eastbourne harbour one night in October 2002. In the dark, with a swell of 3 metres (9.8 feet), and unable to make radio contact with the yacht, the lifeboat and crew themselves struggled in the conditions. BBC 18 Feb 04

• Lifeboatmen to Be Honoured for Bravery Three lifeboatmen who dramatically rescued an injured yachtsman in raging seas will receive bravery awards. The crew of the St Mary’s lifeboat, based on the Isles of Scilly, battled 50mph winds and ten metre waves to save the sailor last October. Coxswain Andy Howells, 41, Philip Roberts, 37, and Mark Bromham, 25, will receive the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s bronze medal for gallantry. news.scotsman.com 18 May 04

• RNLI salute crews' bravery Crew members from Cleethorpes and Humber RNLI lifeboat stations are to be honoured with awards for bravery in recognition of an exceptional service to a fishing trawler in February 2004. Helmsman Gary Barlow of Cleethorpes lifeboat station is to receive the RNLI Silver Medal for gallantry - the second highest award made by the RNLI, which is given only for exceptional acts of courage and seamanship. The other three volunteer crew members from Cleethorpes - Crewmen Ian Sanderson and Tony Salters and Helmsman Shaun Sonley - will each receive the RNLI Bronze Medal for gallantry, according to a statement from the charity. Coxswain David Steenvoorden of the Humber lifeboat will receive the Thanks of the Institution on Vellum. The awards follow an incident on the afternoon of 26 February 2004 involving the fishing vessel Dollard, with two people on board. The vessel was working in the Humber estuary approaches when her starboard net became entangled in her propeller, rendering her helpless and in danger of running aground. The wind was gusting force 8 and there were heavy snow showers, seriously reducing visibility. In response to a request from Humber Coastguard, the Cleethorpes inshore lifeboat Blue Peter VI and Humber all weather lifeboat Pride of the Humber launched shortly after 4pm and began to search for the stricken vessel. The Humber lifeboat soon located the Dollard and established communications with her skipper; shortly afterwards the Cleethorpes lifeboat arrived at the scene. fishupdate.com14 Jul 04

• A hero recalled This year marks the 200th anniversary of Bridlington's lifeboat, and here we take a look at one of the town's greatest exports and greatest heroes – Henry Freeman. Freeman was born in Bridlington on April 29, 1835 and became the lifeboat coxswain in Whitby – the setting for his heroic act. Having moved to Whitby he had become a member of the lifeboat crew and was first called out in stormy weather on 9 February 1861. As huge seas battered the coastline the lifeboat was launched and saved the crew of three vessels in three successive trips. But a fourth launch to reach the schooner Merchant ended in tragedy when 12 of the lifeboat crew drowned close to Whitby's West Pier and Henry – complete with his new cork lifejacket that had just been introduced by the Board of Trade – was the only survivor. For that cruel baptism on the lifeboat he was awarded the RNLI's silver gallantry medal. For many, that would have signalled the end of a career on the lifeboat but Henry continued to serve for another 40 years. bridlingtontoday.co.uk 12 Jan 04

• Honours for lifeboatmen Honours have been awarded to three Appledore lifeboatmen for their bravery in the rescue of three people from a powerboat striken in dangerous conditions on the Taw/Tor-ridge estuary bar. Helmsman Gary Stanbury, 42, has been awarded the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's Bronze Medal for Gallantry. Crew volunteers Andrew Hallet, 37, and Martin Davis, 23, who were also on board the Appledore station's inflatable inshore lifeboat, receive Medal Service Badges and certificates. The incident happened during the evening of January 22 when the 4.5 metre powerboat Kasam got into difficulties on the bar. It was dark, the tide was falling and the casualty was in shallow water. northdevongazette.co.uk 13 Jul 05

• Bravery Honour of Lifeboat Mother A lifeboat crew member who braved gale force winds to rescue a fishing vessel will be the first woman in more than a century to receive a bravery medal. Aileen Jones, helmsman of the RNLI's Porthcawl lifeboat in south Wales, led a team which saved a skipper and an injured fisherman in August. The 41-year-old mother will receive the institution's gallantry medal. Only 20 such medals have been awarded to women, the last one in 1888. Aileen has been awarded the RNLI's Bronze Medal for Gallantry. news.bbc.co.uk 28 Nov 04

• Hero of the waves RNLI crew members young and old gathered outside the United Reform Church in Banister Street as the funeral procession of former lifeboat coxswain Arthur Wignall wound its way through the streets of the town. In 1955 he was a member of the crew which rescued five stranded people from the yacht Penboch, a rescue which earned one crew member the RNLI bronze medal for gallantry. For his services to the RNLI Mr Wignall was awarded the British Empire Medal in 1987. In the 35 years Mr Wignall served with the Lytham lifeboat it saved 107 lives at sea. blackpooltoday.co.uk 10 Mar 06

• Britain - Lifeboat Medal Muddle A lifeboat bravery medal heading to a Norfolk auction has sailed into stormy waters - and a mystery about its past.Cromer lifeboat supporters want to bring the bronze medal awarded to crewman William Allen in 1917 “back home” to the town's new Henry Blogg museum. But Mr Allen's family was surprised to see a plea for a benefactor to buy it for the local heritage collection - because they gave the medal to the same museum 30 years ago. Granddaughter Shirley Bridge said: “We are really angry. We gave the medal to the museum, so it should not have to buy it back.” There was a flurry of phone calls between Key's auction house at Aylsham, the family and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution as the various parties tried to get to the bottom of how the museum piece had ended up on the open market. Mrs Bridge of Woodside Road, Norwich, said the medal appeared to be have been sold by the late Don Harvey who previously ran the museum. Depending on the outcome of the ongoing investigations, the medal is due goes on sale at Key's Aylsham salesrooms on Thursday April 20, and could fetch more than £500. Other medals with local connections at the sale include two rare groups won by Norfolk men. Private Philip Griston won a Military Medal in April 1918 for carrying an important message back to headquarters when all the other runners had become causalities and the area was under heavy shell fire. He won a further bar to the medal in September for carrying a message to advanced posts over a single plank bridge under heavy sniper and machine gun fire. During the second world war, while living at North Walsham, he was awarded a Defence Medal for his preparations for invasion - which included hiding a radio in his home and learning German through Linguaphone records, which also figure in the sale along with his British War Medal and Victory Medal, in a lot expected to fetch £1200-£1500. A batch of medals won by an Army chaplain who later served at Acle and King's Lynn is expected to make £2500-£3000. The Rev Jacob Blackbourne, who was involved in the Boer War and first world war, was the only Church of England chaplain to win the Africa General Service Medal, with Somaliland and Jibali clasps. He was mentioned in despatches during the retreat at Mons after shunning the use of his horse, which he felt was more needed by others. new.edp24.co.uk 14 Apr 06

  • Family joy as RNLI medal returns A lifeboat medal is heading home - after crossing the choppy waters of controversy. The bronze award, given to Cromer crewman William Allen in 1917, was due to go under the hammer later this week - and the local lifeboat station pleaded for a fairy godmother to step in to buy it for the town's new lifeboat museum. But, as reported earlier, Mr Allen's family were amazed and angered - because they gave the medal to the same museum 30 years ago.Yesterday, however the wrangle was resolved when auctioneers Keys stepped in to buy the medal - which could have fetched around £500 - and will donate it to the museum on behalf of the family. The news was welcomed by Mr Allen's granddaughter Shirley Bridge, who said: "It is brilliant that it is heading back home. But it is a shame that any money had to change hands, because the family donated it in the first place." They believe the medal was sold by the late Don Harvey, who took in items at the lifeboat souvenir shop before official museum donation records began. Auction firm partner Phil Barker said the medal had been withdrawn from tomorrow's sale, and Keys had agreed to buy it from the vendors who, he stressed, had bought it in good faith. new.edp24.co.uk 18 Apr 06

• Medals quest for sea hero The great great-nephew of a Gorleston lifeboat hero is keen to gain public support for a campaign to get his relatives medals back in Great Yarmouth for good. David Harris, who lives in Hull, says he wants to get the medals of legendary lifeboatman Sidney Harris on show in Yarmouth's Time and Tide Museum for people to enjoy. The medals, which include five prestigious Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) silver medals and the American Cross Honour medal, were recently sold at auction for about £8,970 to a specialist medal consultant. “The medals belong in Yarmouth and I would like to see them back here. The Time and Tide Museum is the perfect place to exhibit the medals. If a campaign was set up I would be happy to help and give any support I could.” Sidney Harris was coxswain of the lifeboat, Mark Lane, and had an outstanding record of service with the RNLI. He is the only man to have been awarded silver medal five times after a number of heroic rescues which saw him save the lives of more than 60 people. Mr Harris also received the rare American Cross of Honour, after he and fellow crewmen gallantly rescued 32 people from a storm lashed coaster of Yarmouth in 1912. His award was acknowledged by the reigning British monarch and the US President. Mr Harris died in 1928, aged 71. His medals remained in the family but were sold shortly before the second-world-war. They ended up in a private collection in the United States but emerged in June this year at an auction in London where they were bought by Colchester man John Hayward. David said: “I have spoken to the current owner and he is sympathetic to the family's cause and would be prepared to sell them.” greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk 10 Aug 06

• Gallantry medals awarded to women lifesavers Doctor Christine Bradshaw and Perranporth’s RNLI Lifeguard Sophie Grant-Crookston are to receive the RNLI's Bronze Medal for Gallantry. Doctor Bradshaw is the first female doctor to be awarded a medal for gallantry, and one of only a handful of doctors to be honoured by the RNLI. Sophie is the first female lifeguard to be honoured in this way and only the second lifeguard ever to be given an RNLI medal. Christine saved a life after going to the aid of three injured crewmen on the 42,000 tonne tanker, FR8 Venture, in the Pentland Firth off the Scottish coast on 11 November 2006. During the rescue the doctor was winched by helicopter in 10 metre high seas and 60 mile an hour winds. She managed to stabilise a severely injured crewman. Two others suffered fatal injuries after a wave crashed over the tanker throwing all three men across the deck of the ship. Read the full press release. Sophie saved the life of a surfer stranded by notoriously confused seas around the rocks at Droskyn Head, south of Perranporth beach, Cornwall on 22 September 2006. Sophie swam to the surfer putting herself at considerable risk as it was uncertain how the pair could be reached in the prevailing sea conditions. Luckily, Lifeguard Robin Howell was able to reach them in the IRB. Read the full press release. rnli.org.uk 1 mar 07
  
• Doctor hailed a sea heroine

• Gallantry medal for lifeboat man Donald MacLeod, from Barra, was awarded the Royal National Lifeboat Institute bronze. The volunteer coxswain was honoured for his role in escorting a damaged yacht and its crew to safety. The 40-year-old stuck to his duties despite being knocked down by a wave that broke over the lifeboat during the incident west of Uist. news.bbc.co.uk 16 May 07

• Medal for bravery This extremely rare Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society gold medal is one of only 66 ever awarded. It was presented to Andreas Schau, the captain of the German steamship Mannheim from Hamburg, for “the gallant rescue” of 11 crew members of the Liverpool steamship British King, which was in distress in the North Atlantic on March 11, 1906. Captain Schau was also presented with a large silver dish by the British government in recognition of this rescue operation. Ironically, a few years later, we were at war. Bidding starts at 2,000 Euros in a Hermann Historica auction in Munich on April 7-8. liverpooldailypost.co.uk 5 Apr 08

• Bravery Medals after Lifeguards Save Angler The 21-year-old lifeguards have been awarded the RNLI'S Silver Medal for Gallantry - the lifeboat charity that rescues thousands of sea-goers from the coasts of Britain and Ireland. Chris Boundy (Right) and John Dugard (left)  were commended for their "selfless disregard for their own safety in treacherous conditions when there was a clear risk to their lives". They went to the rescue of anger David Nicklin in June last year when he fell into a dangerous area of the sea known as the 'washing machine' at Trebarwith Strand in Cornwall.He was face down in the water and being dashed against the rocks when the lifeguards embarked on their rescue. With their local knowledge, they used the surge of the sea and breaks in the waves to reach Mr Nicklin and then swam him 60m out of the "washing machine", through strong currents and around the rocks to the main beach gully. Finally, with the help of a large wave, they got him to the shore and began resuscitation. The fisherman was airlifted to hospital and three days later was discharged, fit and well. news.sky.com 13 May 09

• Bravery award for rescuing boys A dramatic land, sea and air rescue operation was launched when the boys became trapped by the rising tide on 5 August earlier this year. Anthony Chambers, a mechanic and RNLI crew member, volunteered to swim twice into the cave in almost total darkness and saved the teenagers one at a time. The 50-year old is set to receive the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's bronze medal for gallantry. The rescued boys, 13-year-old Matthew Forsythe and 14-year-old Rhys Sufferin, said they had been afraid they would die in the cave and thanked Mr Chambers for "risking his life" to get them out. Entry into the cave required immense physical and mental effort, especially as he was hindered on both occasions by the additional lifejacket and helmet carried for each boy." He described how Mr Chambers had to swim continuously for half an hour "in surging swells, often colliding the cave walls". Inshore lifeboat helmsman Gerard Bradley who "repeatedly manoeuvred his craft in the rocky sea area at the mouth of the cave, where conditions were turbulent" is to be awarded a "Letter of Thanks" signed by the RNLI's chairman. Portrush inshore lifeboat crew members Karl O'Neill and Jonathon Weston, along with their colleagues on the all-weather lifeboat, William McAuley, David Conley, Gary McLaughlin, Adrian Tohill and Ivan Bell, will each receive RNLI "Medal Service Certificates". bbc.co.uk 5 Nov 09

• Broken Links - Posted for information purposes only:

  • RNLI Bronze Medal awarded to William Farquhar

  • RNLI Gold Medal awarded to Hewitt Clark

Royal Humane Society Medals

• Royal Humane Society Medals Silver Medal Bronze Medal Gold Medal Police Medal

• Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal (Citations and Medal Roll) (LSARS Website)

• Bravery Award for Reporter (Robert Uhlig will be presented with the Royal Humane Society bronze medal for bravery after saving Brian Price, whose heart almost failed during an expedition to Mount Everest) (Jun 02)

• The Royal Humane Society Police Medal - This new medal was awarded to P.C. Wayne Alexander Martin, Bedfordshire Police, for a gallant act of bravery on 16 March 1999 on the A 507 Amphill to Ridgmont Road. This is a new award limited to the police, and one will be awarded each year to the police. The first award was made on 10 May 2001 at the Annual General Court by the Society’s President (H.R.H. Princess Alexandra). (Reference: The Journal of The Orders and Medal Research Society, September 2001, Volume 40, Number 3 (252), p. 189)
• Royal Humane Society Silver Medal (Bravery at Sea) (BBC Antiques Roadshow)

• Royal Human Society Silver Medal Awarded - HORSE RACING: BRAVERY AWARD FOR RAY - Reluctant hero Ray Cochrane, who pulled fellow jockey Frankie Dettori from the burning wreckage of a fatal plane crash, has been honoured for his bravery. Cochrane was presented with a Royal Humane Society silver medal during a special ceremony at St James's Palace, London yesterday. "It's very nice - but really I'm not a hero," he said. "People were in trouble and needed help and I was the only one there to do something." Cochrane was a passenger in a light aircraft which crashed just after take-off at Newmarket on June 1 last year. Despite his own injuries, he dragged Dettori, who had suffered a broken ankle, clear of the wreckage and tried in vain to rescue pilot Patrick Mackey who died in the crash. Ulsterman Cochrane, 43, has since retired from riding after compounding a serious back injury sustained in the crash which also left him with burns and blurred vision in his right eye. During a 25-year career, Cochrane won more than 1500 races, including the English and Irish Derbies, the English, French and Irish 1,000 Guineas. (Ref: Scottish Daily Record via Megan Robertson) (Jan, 2001)

• Honours for river rescuers (Mr Stuart Thompson has been awarded the bronze life-saving medal from the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem and Mr Michael Potter a Royal Humane Society certificate for bravery. (Feb 02)

• Honour for 'Saviour' Fisherman Brave North-east fisherman who saved a schoolgirl from drowning is to be honoured for a second time. Stuart Robertson has already received a Royal Humane Society award for the daring rescue off St Combs, near Fraserburgh. And next week, he will be presented with a Vodaphone Life Savers award at a lavish ceremony in London. The Press and Journal 17 Oct 03
• UK lawyer honored for bravery during Bam earthquake A British lawyer, who spent nine hours digging wounded victims out of the rubble of her hotel after the devastating earthquake in the Iranian historic town of Bam, has received a prestigious bravery award for saving seven lives. Ruth Millington, who was on holiday when she was caught up in the deadly quake that claimed the lives of over 25,000 people, was honored by the Royal Humane Society at a ceremony in London. The award, a testimonial on vellum signed by the society's president, Princess Alexandra, was presented by the Austrian Ambassador Alexander Christiani at his residence. The 35-year-old solicitor from Sheffield, northern England, also received Austria's top Gold Medal on a Red Ribbon honor, because she saved the life of Austrian citizen Hanno Ruesch among other casualties. payvand.com 4 Nov 04

• Atlantic Rower Awarded Medal for Hurricane Heroics An ex-SAS diver who saved the lives of his fellow crew members when a hurricane struck during a transatlantic rowing attempt was rewarded for his heroics. Pete Bray, 48, from Pembrokeshire, was a member of the four-man crew of the Pink Lady, which split in two on August 8, last year during a storm 300 miles from their destination in Falmouth, Cornwall. Mr Bray was awarded a bronze medal in recognition of his bravery by the Royal Humane Society. news.scotsman.com 11 Apr 05

• Medals for two car fire heroes Two Manchester heroes who rescued a trapped driver from a burning car after a freak accident will receive top bravery medals. Company director Kevin Kennedy (right) and Det Con Vincent Thomas Reidsma-Naughton saved Michael Pluples (left), after a gust of wind blew his discarded cigarette end back into his Volkswagen Polo and set fire to a leaking petrol can in the boot. The Royal Humane Society will present Mr Kennedy and Mr Reidsma-Naughton with bronze medals. manchesteronline.co.uk 28 Jun 04

• Honour for lifesaver who braved terror of Everest It was a rescue matched only by the bold and dramatic setting of the world's highest mountain, Everest. Braving Everest's energy-sapping altitudes, freezing winds and precarious drops, Sgt Bill Billingsly (pictured) helped save a man's life on the terrifying slopes. Sgt Billingsly will receive the Royal Humane Society Team Bronze Medal next month, along with Lt Col Arding, Lieutenant Commander David Cummings, Lieutenant Jake Wilkinson, Sgt Gary Francis and Corporal Mark Patterson. icliverpool.com 6 Apr 04

• Teacher is given medal after jungle drama A Shropshire school teacher was hailed a hero for risking his life in a daring rescue bid to save a woman who plunged 50ft from a cliff in the Andes mountains. Jeremy Hart, 36, was awarded a prestigious Bronze Medal by the Royal Humane Society for his key role in attempting to rescue a French woman who fell into a ravine in the Bolivian jungle. Shropshire Star 28 Nov 03

• Pilot wins life saving medal An adventurer whose helicopter crashed in the Antarctic in a blizzard has been given a life saving award. Colin Bodill, 54, from Nottingham was flying around the globe with his co-pilot Jennifer Murray, 63, from Somerset, when the accident happened. He rescued his unconscious co-pilot in temperatures of -55C despite serious chest and spinal injuries. The Royal Humane Society described the crash as a "nightmare scenario" and said he deserved his bronze medal. BBC 31 Mar 04

• Ambulance Pair Receive Rare Medal Paramedic Tracey Fenton, of North Road, Pevensey Bay, and ambulance technician Ollie Funnell, of Etherton Way, Seaford, are to receive to top life-saving awards by Royal approval. The pair, who are both based at Eastbourne Ambulance Station, have already received an award from the Sussex Ambulance Trust. Now they have both been awarded a rare Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal. The medal has been given to them because of their bravery in dealing with a crash between two cars at Queensway in St Leonards on September 6. Tragically, three people lost their lives in the same accident but Tracey and Ollie were instrumental in saving a woman and her 14-year-old daughter. eastbournetoday.co.uk 6 Dec 04

• Life-Saving Soldier Wins Accolade For Bravery Corporal Chris Campbell, 22, swam a mile in 40 minutes and then ran another two miles in a storm to get help for two colleagues caught in a freak storm off the Co Down coast. Chris had been taking part in a canoeing exercise at Murlough Bay with two Royal Military Police colleagues when the storm struck. Staff Sgt Steve Bain, from Edinburgh, recovered after being picked up by helicopter, but Sgt Allan Stevenson, 36, from Bannockburn, Stirling, later died in hospital. Chris is to be awarded the Royal Humane Society Award for Bravery. newsletter.co.uk 18 Apr 05

• Hero's story resurfaces as medals sold He was the hero of a long-forgotten brickworks accident – a man who plunged into a red-hot kiln to rescue a fellow-worker after a roof collapsed. Now the poignant story of George Henry Smith, from Farcet, near Peterborough, has resurfaced with the sale of his bravery medals. His Albert Medal for Gallantry in Saving Life on Land; Royal Humane Society Stanhope Gold Medal; and another RHS medal fetched £5,295 at an auction at Dix Noonan Webb, in London, after emerging from an anonymous source. Mr Smith (23) suffered severe burns to his hands and feet in the accident at the Woburn Sands Brick Works in Bedfordshire on October 24, 1908, but despite his brave efforts the man he rescued, Charles Griffin, died a few days later. According to a report in the London Gazette, Griffin "was precipitated to the bottom of one of the kilns owing to the roof collapsing and was imprisoned by hot ballast and bricks, the upper part of his body alone being free. Brian Simpkin, valuer for Dix Noonan Webb said Mr Smith's Stanhope Gold Medal combination was unique – the only other five were for services at sea. peterboroughtoday.co.uk 8 Apr 06

• RAF Medic given 7/7 bravery medal An RAF medic who gave emergency medical care to people injured during the July 7, 2005, London bombings has been awarded a medal for bravery. Wing Commander Craig Staniforth, 42, who trains medical staff at RAF Lyneham, was travelling on a tube train approaching Edgware Road when a bomb exploded on the train travelling in the opposite direction. He was presented with the Royal Humane Society bronze medal for bravery. After the explosion just before 9am, he leapt through the window on the devastated carriage and managed to stop a 63-year-old man from slipping into a coma before leading him to safety. "When I got to the carriage it was carnage, there was a huge crater in the floor and bodies everywhere," he recalled. "The man nearest the crater was dead and it was completely dark, full of smoke and dust. There were people all around screaming for help." swindonadvertiser.co.uk 21 Jul 06

• Humane Society Medal for Aldo Alderson David “Aldo” Alderson has received a Humane Society medal from Princess Alexandra.  Mr Alderson received his award for bravery as a result of his actions in Southern Lebanon last year, when he rescued a shepherd while clearing unexploded ordinance and lost his lower leg.  Mine clearing experts, Nabil Hammond from Teir Diba and Damir  Parazdik (also losing a leg) from Bosnia and  Herzegovina were with Mr. Alderson when the accident happened.  The shepherd escaped unharmed. ArmorGroups, a protective security services provider, had employed the men to help clear Southern Lebanon of unexploded ordinance after the Israeli – Hisbolah conflict that left much of the area devastated. The Royal Humane Society was founded in London in 1774, with the bronze medal awarded to people who have put their lives at great risk to save or attempt to save another person. In a company press release, Dave Seaton, ArmorGroups chief executive officer, said: "We are very proud of the awards made to Dave, Damir and Nabil which highlight their selfless action in support of a local farmer. "They and our other mine action employees carry out dangerous and   highly skilled tasks every day to allow local communities to repopulate their homes and restart their economy safely and confidently. We wish them well in their further recovery and look  forward to them returning to work with us soon." Pictured are Damir Parazdik, left, David "Aldo" Alderson, Centre and Nabil Hammond, right. sartma.com 19 May 07

• Paramedics honoured for bravery Jonathan Murray and Tom Pennington of West Midlands Ambulance Service rescued one man and tried to save another at a farm in Herefordshire, in March. The men said they felt honoured to get the Royal Humane Society awards. The paramedics, who were among several people honoured with bronze medals at the ceremony, collected their awards from Princess Alexandra. Also honoured for their bravery were: Clive Delamain, 61, of Cottered, Hertfordshire, who dragged a man from the burning wreckage of an overturned car in May last year. David Bradbury, 63, from Staines, Middlesex, who rescued a man from drowning after the man fell into a weir on the River Thames in February. Mr Bradbury's wife, Naomi, got a certificate of commendation, for helping a teenage boy in a dinghy to get to the riverbank. news.bbc.co.uk 19 Oct 07