Updated: 19 May, 2006
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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 |
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Britain Basutoland Roll of Honour 1851 - 1881 Compiled by MAJOR G. TYLDEN, ED The South African Military History Society |
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Lots of excellent background information Andrew C Jackson |
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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. |
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India General Service Medal 1854 “Persia”Joachim M. Waibel |
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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. |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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. |
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Kevin Asplin provides researchers with valuable information on Boer War Unit and medal rolls, and:
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Queen Victoria's Sudan Medal (1896-7) - Awarded for the reconquest of the Sudan (Image) (Ref: Sudan.net) (Aug 02)
How to trace an ancestor (Who served in the Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902)
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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 |
Armed Services: Campaign Medals, and other Service Medals (Public Records Office)
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(PBS.org) |
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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
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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Naval
Honours Awards for services in Russia
Newspaper cutting - extracts from "The Times" of London, c 1919) 12 Oct 04 |
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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 |
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Lots of great
information on researching medals of British soldiers of WWI
(Ref: www.1914-1918.net)
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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? |
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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. |
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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)
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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 |
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British Merchant Navy at War 1939-1945 - Medals
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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. |
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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 |
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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
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
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
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South Atlantic Medal (1982) South Atlantic Medal (Raymond J W Morrell) South Atlantic Medal (Britain's Small Wars)
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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. |
Persian Gulf War Medals (Ed Emering) (Mar 02)
Broken Links - Posted for information purposes only:
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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
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
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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
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
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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 |
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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 |
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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
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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 |
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
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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.
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)
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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)
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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
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Operational Service Medal |
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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
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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 |
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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 |
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Miscellaneous Information on Campaign Medals
Battle of Waterloo (BBC - Historical information and other resources)
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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
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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: 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.
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)
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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.
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)
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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)
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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)
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
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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
Gloucester Regiment Tercentenary Medal (1994)
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Long
Service and Good Conduct Medals
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) 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 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 05
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)
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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
Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea
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RNLI
Medals Awarded To Ramsgate
List of
recipients Apr 03
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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
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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
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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
Broken Links - Posted for information purposes only:
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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)
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)
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
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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
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
Society for the Protection of Life from Fire
Blaze rescue hero policeman receives bravery award The bravery of a North Wales policeman who rescued two people from blazing buildings has been recognised. PC Jamie Doores, 31, received an award from the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire after he risked his life to save two others. icNorthWales, UK - 2 Jun 2003
Hero grandad to get award A grandad is to receive a bravery award for rescuing a mum and toddler from a burning car which exploded. Alan Forrester, from Aberystwyth, cut two year-old Cameron free and then dragged unconscious mum Gillian Silcox to safety after seeing her car crash into a tree on the A44 near Aberystwyth last October. The vehicle exploded moments after he rescued the two from Ferwig, Cardigan. The 58-year-old car body repairer will receive the bronze award from the Society of the Protection of Life from Fire on September 3 in Newtown. icnorthwales.icnetwork.co.uk 26 Aug 05
Lifesaving
Awards Research Society
Lifesaving Awards Research Society (LSARS) - For anyone interested in Lifesaving Awards, membership in this Society is a must. The website includes:
Sea Cadet Gallantry Medal
Joining the parade Sea Cadets and Marine Cadets from Waltham Forest participated in a Trafalgar Square parade to commemorate the 199th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar and the death of Admiral Lord Nelson. Following the parade, Vice Admiral Sir Jonathan Tod presented the rare Sea Cadet Gallantry Medal to Tom Thorpe. who, in December 2003, as a Petty Officer Cadet aged 17 in the Eastborne Sea Cadet Unit, displayed great bravery in an attempt to save the life of a man who had doused himself in petrol and set himself alight. walthamforestguardian.co.uk 4 Nov 04
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