Army major held over ‘medal fiddle’
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Reminds me of the lamentable giraffe that has become the MBE. With 24 year old females getting MBEs for their achievements in fashion and make-up, one has to question the entire honours and awards system!
A few years back I was proud to recieve the MSM, one of 7 given that year which was about average for the New Years Honours. In 2005 they changed the system and more were given out that year than in the previous 10 years put together...........and that trend has continued. I'm told they have nearly run out of WO's to recieve it so it been awarded futher down the rank structure. I feel the award is so diluted now it has lost it's worth, it certainly has in it's rarity value.
A few years back I was proud to recieve the MSM, one of 7 given that year which was about average for the New Years Honours. In 2005 they changed the system and more were given out that year than in the previous 10 years put together...........and that trend has continued. I'm told they have nearly run out of WO's to recieve it so it been awarded futher down the rank structure. I feel the award is so diluted now it has lost it's worth, it certainly has in it's rarity value.
DSO's for gallantry
Re Pontius' remarks - The DSO certainly used to be awarded for both gallantry and distinguished service on active service. Some DSOs were very well won. I have a friend whose father won the DSO as a Pilot Officer Beaufighter pilot, after pulling his unconscious navigator from their sinking aircraft after being shot down off the Cornish coast.
This practice ceased in 1993 when the CGC was introduced and the DSO is now only awarded for distinguished service, not gallantry. I agree about the all-ranks crosses - my favourite is the Military Cross won by a 19 year old female medic private in Iraq for rescuing a soldier from a burning armoured vehicle - that's one award no-one could quibble about.
No knighthoods for gallantry though please - let's leave the baubles to the bean counters and politicians and recognise gallantry with real medals.
This practice ceased in 1993 when the CGC was introduced and the DSO is now only awarded for distinguished service, not gallantry. I agree about the all-ranks crosses - my favourite is the Military Cross won by a 19 year old female medic private in Iraq for rescuing a soldier from a burning armoured vehicle - that's one award no-one could quibble about.
No knighthoods for gallantry though please - let's leave the baubles to the bean counters and politicians and recognise gallantry with real medals.
This practice ceased in 1993 when the CGC was introduced and the DSO is now only awarded for distinguished service, not gallantry.
Operation Telic: Operational Honours - the DSO
Not sure that some of these would agree, although I do get your point..
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Looking at Timex's link, the rank of the DSO receipients would suggest that they were not actually in the thick of things except for the airmen and the major. Certainly for a Brigadier to be in the thick of it something would have been horribly wrong.
Digressing, from another active thread is this link. Now that is sobering.
John Alan Quinton - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Digressing, from another active thread is this link. Now that is sobering.
John Alan Quinton - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The DSO was usually awarded for outstanding leadership in battle. Thus COs and company commanders were the main recipients, more senior officers in exceptional circumstances. They were all, however, most certainly in harms way.
Don't forget, also, that the MBE/OBEs are divided into military and civilian divisions. In no way, therefore, is a civilian MBE awarded to a footballer comparable to one awarded to someone in the Forces. My father, a doctor, was awarded a military MBE for volunteering to run a cholera isolation unit (you couldn't call it a hospital because there was no medicine or instruments) in the Burmese jungle as a POW of the Japs. He earned his more than I earned my technically more senior effort from GW1.
Don't forget, also, that the MBE/OBEs are divided into military and civilian divisions. In no way, therefore, is a civilian MBE awarded to a footballer comparable to one awarded to someone in the Forces. My father, a doctor, was awarded a military MBE for volunteering to run a cholera isolation unit (you couldn't call it a hospital because there was no medicine or instruments) in the Burmese jungle as a POW of the Japs. He earned his more than I earned my technically more senior effort from GW1.
Medal deemed unlawful as it is too "Christian"
Queen's medal 'unlawful' for being too Christian - Telegraph
Queen's medal 'unlawful' for being too Christian - Telegraph
Medal deemed unlawful as it is too "Christian"
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"The George Medal is too Anglocentric for award to Scots."
How foolish of me; I always thought the George Cross and George Medal were so named because they were instituted by King George VI in 1940.
How foolish of me; I always thought the George Cross and George Medal were so named because they were instituted by King George VI in 1940.
"The George Medal is too Anglocentric for award to Scots
Can I use this forum to make an offer to any Scot, Welshman or Irishman who has been awarded the George Cross or the George Medal and is offended by the name or the design - I'll take it off your hands willingly and even offer you a nice crisp tenner in return (although it will probably be a Bank of England one)!
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Maybe the Scots would prefer a Right Charlie and the Welsh to take a Leek.
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The sad part is the door has been closed for a long time, on those whose story was understood only after WW2 was over for a long time.
Flt/Lt John Wilson RAAF, a pilot with 77 Sqdn RAF, flying Halifax JD413 was lost over Germany on 1/9/43. Who stayed at the controls, even though mortally wounded, so that his crew could escape. Fortunately two RAF Airmen did escape with no harm, and they too went on to serve their country upon their return from Germany, as senior and brillant policemen.
I after obtaining the full story, when their part remains were recovered in 2005, asked the Australian government to award him the DFC, which would have been fairly correct for his action. No says our government, the statute of time has run out, long gone apparently for anyone from WW2 to have their bravery comemrated. Shame all John Wilsons has to remember his dad, who he never knew, was two UK coins recovered from his fathers pocket.
I suppose he could have them mounted and worn on the right occasions.
The price was paid so long ago, and apparently will not be repaid.
Regards
Col Tigwell
Flt/Lt John Wilson RAAF, a pilot with 77 Sqdn RAF, flying Halifax JD413 was lost over Germany on 1/9/43. Who stayed at the controls, even though mortally wounded, so that his crew could escape. Fortunately two RAF Airmen did escape with no harm, and they too went on to serve their country upon their return from Germany, as senior and brillant policemen.
I after obtaining the full story, when their part remains were recovered in 2005, asked the Australian government to award him the DFC, which would have been fairly correct for his action. No says our government, the statute of time has run out, long gone apparently for anyone from WW2 to have their bravery comemrated. Shame all John Wilsons has to remember his dad, who he never knew, was two UK coins recovered from his fathers pocket.
I suppose he could have them mounted and worn on the right occasions.
The price was paid so long ago, and apparently will not be repaid.
Regards
Col Tigwell
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I've only been following this Thread off and on but now I'm bloody annoyed on 2 fronts;
Graciously awarded by the Christian head of a Christian Country. Nobody is forcing them to accept it, says the atheist (who would gladly acccept it, if I'd earned it).
Do the Ocker socialist classes hate us so much that they would s**t on their own true heroes to make a petty point?
Originally Posted by sitigeltfel
Medal deemed unlawful as it is too "Christian"
Originally Posted by herkman
No says our government, the statute of time has run out, long gone apparently for anyone from WW2 to have their bravery comemrated.
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
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I suspect the Australian government were hiding behind the statute of limitations because had they agreed to the award then they would have been inundated with more claims. Not that there is anything wrong with that, it is just the way civil servants think, "Oh dear, too much work involved, say No".
No, the only 'hate' for the British that I have encountered here in Australia emanates from those of Irish descent, (Keating, for example).
Do the Ocker socialist classes hate us so much that they would s**t on their own true heroes to make a petty point?
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CR2
The 14th rule of the original Warrent for the Victoria Cross made a generous financial provision for the recipient of a VC. Any Junior Officer, Seaman or Soldier receiving the medal would be entitled to a special pension of Ten Pounds per annum. For any additional bar awarded a further Five Pounds per annum would be paid.
The late Captain Charles Hazlitt Upham VC & Bar 20th Battalion(Canterbury Regiment) New Zealand Expeditionary Force was the only person to survive who could have collected "the extra fiver".
Current Pension is £1300 per Annum Tax Free - but watch this space if Gordon finds out!!
The 14th rule of the original Warrent for the Victoria Cross made a generous financial provision for the recipient of a VC. Any Junior Officer, Seaman or Soldier receiving the medal would be entitled to a special pension of Ten Pounds per annum. For any additional bar awarded a further Five Pounds per annum would be paid.
The late Captain Charles Hazlitt Upham VC & Bar 20th Battalion(Canterbury Regiment) New Zealand Expeditionary Force was the only person to survive who could have collected "the extra fiver".
Current Pension is £1300 per Annum Tax Free - but watch this space if Gordon finds out!!
Last edited by cazatou; 10th May 2009 at 08:29.