.. quoted from ARRSE
Medals can be a hot topic here and some folk really need to take a chill pill. We hear about KIA all the time and but we never really hear the stories of the wounded, and god knows how many have been wounded in Iraq, Afghanistan and wars past. The introduction of the Elizabeth Cross was a good thing in my view. It can't bring back the dead but it gives the relatives something, that on rememberance it highlights that they have lost a loved one in War. I saw this today. They have done their Country proud and for some blokes, they may have been out there less than the requirement to qualify for the OSM (Unless it has changed).
Institute a medal for HM Armed Forces wounded in action. - e-petitions
The Americans have had the purple heart for years (not that we want to be like them and have a medal for everything) and other Armies have a similar thing. It has probably been discussed before and put to bed and the reason I think is probably the wounded 'dont want another f**kin medal!' and living with the wounds and the scars of war is bad enough than having a medal to constantly remind them of the time they lost their legs etc.
It struck me that someone could be shipped back with a Blighty one before earning a Campaign medal, which, with all the Jubilee gongs doing the rounds, and commendations for keeping stationary stores all shiny whilst deployed, seems unfair. Surely, one for the few undergoing months of painful rehab wouldn't go amiss?