Originally Posted by
Melchett01
I know that when it comes to staff work, an efficient staff officer will plagiarise previously successful work, but I have to say what I find really irritating in the case of medals is that almost every piece of work starts with the Churchillian quote on medals casting shadows as well as glittering. It's trite and it strikes me as a having been adopted as the default line to take when its all just too difficult and the criteria is set to ensure the lowest possible cost and effort to recognise service. You just know that any medals policy that starts with that is going to be contentious, vice any policy that they think will fly being rolled out with great fanfare about 'HM being pleased to .... '.
Again, you are correct. There is an unspoken limitation on awards. Commanders soon know that it is useless to try and staff all deserving awards. I have seen whole campaigns where people within my sphere of flying operations never saw any recognition beyond the general "gong". It must be said that few service personnel receive recognition for their skill and bravery. There have been some high awards but, in my experience, the majority of skill and bravery went unrecognised by high command of the RAF.
Just my opinion.
OAP