More Medals/Bar!
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More Medals/Bar!
Please excuse the link to 'another website' ...
Medals Review final report - More Medals! | Army Rumour Service
It also seems to suggest that the award of the LS&GC be 'harmonised' ... to include officers?
Medals Review final report - More Medals! | Army Rumour Service
In short Sir John Holmes recommended 4 new awards or changes to criteria for existing awards:
South Atlantic
The qualifying period for the award of the South Atlantic Medal without the Rosette will be extended from 12 July to 21 October 1982
Cyprus 1955-59
Those who participated in the suppression of acts of terrorism in Cyprus between 1 April 1955 and 24 December 1959 should qualify for the General Service Medal 1918 – 62 with clasp “CYPRUS” if they served for 90 days or more
Cyprus 1963-64
Those servicemen who served in Cyprus during the period 21 December 1963 to 26 March 1964 will be awarded the General Service Medal with clasp “CYPRUS 1963-64”.
Berlin Airlift
The General Service Medal 1918 - 62 with clasp “BERLIN AIRLIFT” should be awarded for at least one day’s service to all aircrew, RAF and civilian, who took part in the Berlin Airlift operation from 25 June 1948 to 6 October 1949 inclusive.
South Atlantic
The qualifying period for the award of the South Atlantic Medal without the Rosette will be extended from 12 July to 21 October 1982
Cyprus 1955-59
Those who participated in the suppression of acts of terrorism in Cyprus between 1 April 1955 and 24 December 1959 should qualify for the General Service Medal 1918 – 62 with clasp “CYPRUS” if they served for 90 days or more
Cyprus 1963-64
Those servicemen who served in Cyprus during the period 21 December 1963 to 26 March 1964 will be awarded the General Service Medal with clasp “CYPRUS 1963-64”.
Berlin Airlift
The General Service Medal 1918 - 62 with clasp “BERLIN AIRLIFT” should be awarded for at least one day’s service to all aircrew, RAF and civilian, who took part in the Berlin Airlift operation from 25 June 1948 to 6 October 1949 inclusive.
Last edited by MPN11; 31st Jul 2014 at 07:50. Reason: Dammit, that should have been "Bars"
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Good grief
What constitutes "good conduct" for an officer (for issue of the LS&GC award)? Not getting caught, imbibing only fruit juice at happy hour, actually reading GASOs and the FOB when signing...so much restraint required...so much high spirits to be missed (aka vandalism when applied to ORs)
Mister B
What constitutes "good conduct" for an officer (for issue of the LS&GC award)? Not getting caught, imbibing only fruit juice at happy hour, actually reading GASOs and the FOB when signing...so much restraint required...so much high spirits to be missed (aka vandalism when applied to ORs)
Mister B
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An officer's Good Conduct is implicit, and Long Service isn't exactly meritorious. There's a world of difference between Terms of Service and expectations for officers/ORs. I still wouldn't mind having one, though 
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@ Basil ... Get some in!! 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Se..._Conduct_Medal
Hmm ... Formal Letter from Phil Lag**on and Banned from the Bar. Damn!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Se..._Conduct_Medal
Since 1947 RAF Officers could be awarded this medal if 12 or more of the 15 years of his or her service have been in the ranks and provided that the other requirements for the award of the medal have been met. An officer shall be eligible for the award of the Clasp if 22 or more of the 30 years of his or her service has been in the ranks and provided that the other requirements have again been met.[5]
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South Atlantic
The qualifying period for the award of the South Atlantic Medal without the Rosette will be extended from 12 July to 21 October 1982
The qualifying period for the award of the South Atlantic Medal without the Rosette will be extended from 12 July to 21 October 1982
I did hear a vicious rumour a few weeks ago that consideration was being given to re-instating the GSM. If correct, and the rumour wasn't actually relating to what's mentioned here, it would seem to make sense given the number of smaller ad hoc operations that might otherwise qualify for some sort of medallic recognition but fall short of a campaign medal.
Personally, I would welcome a slight relaxing of the rules and have always thought we have been somewhat parsimonious in our medals policy. I don't advocate ribbons for this and that, but if people are deploying on a named operation, then why not. I've always enjoyed seeing people in No 1s and 5s with ribbons / medals, it's a sort of visual representation of what they have done as an individual and what the Services have been up to, often out of sight of much of the population. And it often gives rise to some very interesting stories over a beer afterwards. Plus, I've always found the Govt's rules on 'double medalling' to be, shall we say, liberally interpreted when required; after all, you win a medal in the Olympics, why should you also get another medal for just doing your job and for which you have already been rewarded.
On the other hand, if I ended up qualifying for an LS&GC, well frankly, I think that would be the end of any credibility associated with it
Personally, I would welcome a slight relaxing of the rules and have always thought we have been somewhat parsimonious in our medals policy. I don't advocate ribbons for this and that, but if people are deploying on a named operation, then why not. I've always enjoyed seeing people in No 1s and 5s with ribbons / medals, it's a sort of visual representation of what they have done as an individual and what the Services have been up to, often out of sight of much of the population. And it often gives rise to some very interesting stories over a beer afterwards. Plus, I've always found the Govt's rules on 'double medalling' to be, shall we say, liberally interpreted when required; after all, you win a medal in the Olympics, why should you also get another medal for just doing your job and for which you have already been rewarded.
On the other hand, if I ended up qualifying for an LS&GC, well frankly, I think that would be the end of any credibility associated with it
Gentleman Aviator
I'd be interested to know why this end date was selected.
.... ooh you cynical b****h Teeters
On a similar vein, it is my understanding that all medals awarded to Commonwealth servicemen (and women) are authorised through a UK Govt dept and ultimately signed off by HM. So, it is with interest that UK serviceman are not recognised for a current det in the Mid East, where the Canadian counterparts are........... Are there any other anomalies that personnel are aware of where UK troops are not recognised v other Commonwealth troops?
Gentleman Aviator
Are there any other anomalies that personnel are aware of where UK troops are not recognised v other Commonwealth troops?
Assuming - like most GSM clasps - its qualification was "geographical", then there must have been a small number of Brits - Embassy staff? - who theoretically qualified.
Over to you TTN
I think I am correct in saying that the 'South Vietnam' clasp to the 1962 GSM was only awarded to Australian troops, for 30 days qualifying service in the theatre between 24 May 62 and 29 May 64. Only 70 were awarded. Subsequent service was recognised by the award of the Vietnam Medal 1964, which was an Australian issue (bearing the Queen's head) , but was also awarded to New Zealand personnel. As well as embassy staff mentioned by teeteringhead I think it is generally believed that UK special forces operated in Vietnam at various times, but certainly none was given either of the aforementioned medals, probably for political reasons.
With regard to the new awards I am particularly interested in the new clasp 'Cyprus' to the 1962 GSM, which brings the total clasps awarded to this medal to 14. Also the 'Berlin Airlift' clasp to the earlier GSM is a very welcome, if somewhat belated award, particularly as the Americans recognised the operation with a separate medal at the time.
With regard to the new awards I am particularly interested in the new clasp 'Cyprus' to the 1962 GSM, which brings the total clasps awarded to this medal to 14. Also the 'Berlin Airlift' clasp to the earlier GSM is a very welcome, if somewhat belated award, particularly as the Americans recognised the operation with a separate medal at the time.
Below the Glidepath - not correcting
I seem to recall the rationale behind Officers not receiving the LSGC is that those without would be conspicuous and foster disrespect from the ranks.
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Originally Posted by Sloppy Link
I seem to recall the rationale behind Officers not receiving the LSGC is that those without would be conspicuous and foster disrespect from the ranks.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Then what about Brixmis? If anyone in Germany should've had a medal . . .
Surprised no one has suggested a QRA medal. Just think, Bomber Command, Fighter Command, RAFG, Strike Command clasps.
I had a look at the full report earlier, all 70 pages of it. Given the nature of the subject, I was rather surprised to read statements that went along the lines of 'this isn't a priority for people at the moment'.
So I had a closer look at who wrote and contributed to said report. Guess what? There appeared to be rather limited input from those at the coal face, for whom the issue of medallic recognition is most relevant. There was, however, an awful lot of input from politicians, career civil servants and VVVSOs who I would feel safe in arguing wouldn't know one end of a modern rifle from another. It does rather make one wonder
So I had a closer look at who wrote and contributed to said report. Guess what? There appeared to be rather limited input from those at the coal face, for whom the issue of medallic recognition is most relevant. There was, however, an awful lot of input from politicians, career civil servants and VVVSOs who I would feel safe in arguing wouldn't know one end of a modern rifle from another. It does rather make one wonder