Where to get UK medals whilst overseas...

[FFP]

Anyone wish to give an endorsement (via PM if necessary to avoid the advertising rules;) ) for a supplier of medals, namely minatures for No 5's and ribbons that post to BFPO's ? don't have access to a Stn Tailors at my current location, otherwise I'd take everything there with a blank cheque and let the professionals do it all for me.

If anyone knows of a specialist in the US that can mount medals and make my uniform adhere to dress regs, I'd appreciate a nod in that direction too

(BTW, is it swing mounted or court mounted that the average Flt Lt with OSM for Iraq and Afghanistan would have their medals ?)

[SRENNAPS]

Try this:

Miniature Medals for Dress (http://messkitonline.co.uk/medals_pop.asp)

Don't know anything in the US....Sorry

[zedder]

Worcester Medals:

WorcMedals (http://www.worcmedals.com/dsContentStream.aspx?item=182)

[Pontius Navigator]

I would opt for swing. It is a preference as I think court looks too toy soldierish.

[I've_got a traveller]

Windsor medal mounting service

Lincoln based ex household cavalry tailor.

[email protected]

The best service I've encountered and a lot cheaper than others that are about.

[BEagle]

I see the Worcester website sells medals which were:

Issued to all allied forces who took part in the liberation of Kuwait in 1990-91. The British Forces are not permitted to wear this medal with official awards.

No longer being in the 'British Forces', perhaps I shall add the Liberation of Kuwait medals issued by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to my set?

Always infuriated me that virtually every other country allows these to be worn, but not the UK. Although, of course, we were all issued with the Queens' Golden Jellybean badge for doing nothing.......

[Pontius Navigator]

BEagle,

Whilst I agree with you, the issue of medals applies whether you wear them while serving or not as I am sure you know. However:

Prince Charles asked one veteran who was wearing a maroon ribbon and a hammer and sickle impress whether he had been awarded this for Russian convoys or some such. This was before the Russians awarded a convoy medal and it also looked more like a British medal.

"No Sir," he said. "I got it from Tito . . . for service in Yugoslavia."

PS,

I seem to remember that the ban on foreign medals applies if there is a British medal for the same campaign.

PPS,

The Croix de Guerre seems to be an exception.

Also, in the cabinet war rooms Churchill's medal collection seems extremely eclectic.

[BEagle]

So if you do wear all the medals which you've been presented, what will happen to you - will you end up as raven fodder?

How can such a 'ban' apply to those no longer serving - except on their uniforms if they ever wear them?

The insulting piece of paper which came from Binnsworth with those medals took the biscuit. "Here medal which you mustn't wear....." :rolleyes:

Perhaps a formal letter to the place at the end of the Mall, stating that you consider the unreasonable ban on wearing such medals to be a direct insult to the King of Saudi Arabia and the Emir of Kuwait might get the fag-hags flapping about? Particularly if you add that you are going to write to the King and the Emir, apologising for such an insult??

[teeteringhead]

Oi BEags ... still grumpy at not getting a silver jamboree medal? (me too :ugh:)

When foreign campaign (or equivalent) medals are issued, permish to wear comes via DCI (or whatever they're called now) - no DCI, no permish.

For individual awards (Croix de Guerre, Bronze Star, WKhM) the individual will get (or not) a letter from Buck House saying they can wear it - no letter, no permish.

One of my (legal) foreign medals looks a bit like the Kuwait liberation one - a number of people have told me I can't wear it. Then I point out their error, and add that CDS wears one too! My how we laugh ......

To return to the thread, I endorse Worcester Medals - and they didn't charge me VAT either (they shouldn't if it goes to an overseas BFPO, but some do).

[Pontius Navigator]

So if you do wear all the medals which you've been presented, what will happen to you - will you end up as raven fodder?

No but I believe you could be arrested :)

the unreasonable ban on wearing such medals to be a direct insult

I believe this issue arose with Lt Col Oreste Pinto. He was awarded a decoration by the Free French which he proudly wore with his uniform.

When he went to the office he was hauled in and told to remove it as it was unauthorised. This he did.

When he went to the FF office they were mortified that he was not wearing it. He put it on.

He then pacified both by wearing and removing it as appropriate.

[BEagle]

Yes, the way the paltry 30000 Silver jamboree medals were scattered about at random was pretty unfair, I agree. Did any filter down below Sqn Ldr level?

It was interesting to see how many woolly-pully wearers suddenly decided to wear a Thunderbird jacket instead in 1977!

All personnel who were in paid effective military service with the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and Royal Air Force on 6 February 2002, who had completed 5 calendar years service and were enlisted on or before 7 February 1997 were issued with the Golden, so why can all those who were in paid effective military service with the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and Royal Air Force on 6 February 1977, who had completed 5 calendar years service and were enlisted on or before 7 February 1972 not be issued with the Silver Jellybean badge restrospectively?

Anyway, since they were doled out without any specific award criteria, what's to stop anyone who was serving in 1977 (as above)from buying one on eBay? How could you be considered 'non-entitled'?

I'm sure that the King of Saudi Arabia would be most interested to learn the the UK would arrest anyone wearing a medal he had caused to be presented........

[im from uranus]

Hi all.

Sorry for a slight hijack of the thread. I've lost my GW1 medal and I'm gutted!:{

I'm no longer serving and I've looked hi 'n' low, even a recent house move didn't uncover it.

Where's the best place to get a replacement and will it come with a ribbon and my name / service details on it?

Many thanks, IFU.

[NUFC1892]

Yes, the way the paltry 30000 Silver jamboree medals were scattered about at random was pretty unfair, I agree. Did any filter down below Sqn Ldr level?

Yes, I worked for a Sgt at Abingdon in 82/83 who had one

[taxydual]

In '77 I was a Corporal (RAF). I got one.

I was summoned to the Boss's office, together with a Sqn Ldr, and told that we two had 'won the lottery'.

Cost the pair of us a fortune at the bar.

[BackfromIraq]

Bigbury Mint do some really top quality items at reasonable prices: I've found them very helpful in the past.

Bigbury Mint - Makers of Fine Medals. We manufacture a full range of Military replacement and Commemorative medals. A comprehensive in-house medal design and manufacturing service also available to make beautiful medals for you or your organisation. (http://www.bigburymint.com/)

[Long Drop]

Medals - If it ain't got your name on it, it ain't worth wearing.

[sled dog]

What happened to the old GSM with relevant clasps ?
I now see people with four or five medals, which in my time ( ok, a long time ago:{ ) would have been one GSM with clasps . Do we now follow our transatlantic cousins with separate medals for everthing ?
I still have one of my Grand Fathers WW1 medals.
The other Grand Father is buried near Bethune , since July 1918.......

[Whenurhappy]

The GSM 1962 is 'full up' with clasps and has been replaced by theOperational Service Medal. The last clasp for the GSM was for Northern ireland, and that was awarded up to 1 Apr 08, I believe.

There has been a lot of talk amongst the various threads about 'Commemorative medals' sold by charities or profit-making bodies. If you need to 'big up' for Remembrance Day, so be it -but most people will treat the wearing of 'tin trickets' with disdain.

[parabellum]

If you have lost a medal, or had one stolen, as I did, then you could go to:
www.awardmedals.com (http://www.awardmedals.com)

[teeteringhead]

Interesting point you raise BEags, about retrospective issue of Silver Jamboree gong, or the legality of wearing one "acquired" elsewhere.

ISTR that anyone involved in the parade (of "sleepy Fred" fame) got one, so that accounted for many below sqn ldr (including many tossers who happened to be sqn standard bearers, by sole virtue of being tall, slim and with uniforms that fitted - three strikes against moi there then!).

Biggest problem was that ALL Station and Squadron commanders got them, so of course the average age of recipients was quite high. I think a major factor in the policy was that 1977 was in the middle of the cold war medal famine, where many senior officers had nothing between their wings and their buttons..... and saw a way out ....

[BEagle]

Yes, teeters, my thoughts as well.

Then there were those who would volunteer for 28 days in an Ops bunker in Norn Irm, to get their GSM....:hmm:

[Barksdale Boy]

Pontious, I think you're right that the Croix de Guerre is an exception. My first plotter on 101 wore his alongside his DFC, both awarded before I (his nav radar) was born - rather humbling. He won it flying Liberators over the Hump, though for what he never said. Sadly he died a year ago.

[EESDL]

as no one has mentioned the obvious....I shall not dissappoint and simply say:

"Iraq or Afghanistan would appear to be a good start!"

(already wearing coat):ok::ok:

[Doobs]

IFU

If you have lost issued medals, then write to the Veterans Agency/Medals Office and they should issue a replacement with your service details etc.
The new medal will have a 'C' for copy stamped on it somewhere on the rim. I dont believe there will be a charge but I maybe wrong but at least it will be an authentic medal.

Doobs

[parabellum]

Last I heard there is no way the MoD will issue a replacement medal, with or without a 'C' stamped on it, they may, if you are lucky, direct you to one of the commercial organisations that does produce replacements,
like www.awardmedals.com (http://www.awardmedals.com) (personal experience, my GSM for Aden, clasp Radfan, was stolen, Army Medals Office didn't want to know).