Long Service Medal for Officers
I’m assuming you have other medals as well as those 2? Otherwise you’re being seen off a little. I just recently had 4 full size and 4 miniatures mounted for a bit less than that.
I'm reminded of the quote by Hamish Mahaddie the pathfinder.
He went to Buck House and was wearing the ribbons IIRC of a DSO, DFC and a foreign award and this at the stage of the last unpleasantness before campaign medals were generally in issue. Afterwards, he and others adjourned for some refreshment and he was asked by a lady what the medals were, he was wearing. He claims to have replied: "I've no idea madam, they were on the uniform when I bought it".
As to the cost of medal mounting, one needs to compare the exceptionally smart arrangement of medals 'court mounted' against the scruffy 'loose mounted'. Even a single medal mounted in the former style shows a pride in appearance, whereas the latter (and occasionally seen in the wrong sequence 'cause it was left to 'er in doors to add them to a bar obtained on eBay) suggests a certain disinterest and lack of pride - rant over!
I am well past my three score and ten but still taking the shilling on certain occasions. However, I have no expectation of anything further to be added and so am unlikely to need to spend anything on mounting - mind you, the cost of Brasso's creeping up!!!
Old Duffer
He went to Buck House and was wearing the ribbons IIRC of a DSO, DFC and a foreign award and this at the stage of the last unpleasantness before campaign medals were generally in issue. Afterwards, he and others adjourned for some refreshment and he was asked by a lady what the medals were, he was wearing. He claims to have replied: "I've no idea madam, they were on the uniform when I bought it".
As to the cost of medal mounting, one needs to compare the exceptionally smart arrangement of medals 'court mounted' against the scruffy 'loose mounted'. Even a single medal mounted in the former style shows a pride in appearance, whereas the latter (and occasionally seen in the wrong sequence 'cause it was left to 'er in doors to add them to a bar obtained on eBay) suggests a certain disinterest and lack of pride - rant over!
I am well past my three score and ten but still taking the shilling on certain occasions. However, I have no expectation of anything further to be added and so am unlikely to need to spend anything on mounting - mind you, the cost of Brasso's creeping up!!!
Old Duffer
As an ex-regular officer with 31 years service, I was quite looking forward to being awarded an LS&GCM to bring me into line with my Halton trained father. However, it quickly became apparent that I would not be eligible due to the actual timing period of my service.
However, any disappointment was quickly overcome when having had my regular service declared ineligible for the LS&GCM, I learned I could count three years of that towards my VR long service award and that nice lady who lives at the bottom of Constitution Hill did the rest.
I must say this latest bit of bling has a certain 'snob appeal' about it and it was much admired by an air force 'big cheese' I met t'other day (who didn't know what it was)!
Old Duffer
However, any disappointment was quickly overcome when having had my regular service declared ineligible for the LS&GCM, I learned I could count three years of that towards my VR long service award and that nice lady who lives at the bottom of Constitution Hill did the rest.
I must say this latest bit of bling has a certain 'snob appeal' about it and it was much admired by an air force 'big cheese' I met t'other day (who didn't know what it was)!
Old Duffer
Sorry, yes they are in addition to the 6 I already have.
Going to look like this soon if they keep giving them away!
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I was told by my Sqn Boss that our illustrious Station Commander had marked down my final report to almost zero because he was of the opinion that I was being disloyal to the service by taking my option to leave at my 38/16 point. Definitely no medal for me. He also unecessarily tried to delay my timely departure from the service, which almost cost me the civilian job I had been offered. Meanwhile, he was clearing his own desk to take up a plum overseas posting.
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My last MoD ACR was nailed down by ACAS (Lord Tim) with the telling sentence "... it appears that he will move to civilian life as soon as a job worthy of his perception of his own qualities becomes available." Miaow!!
Re court mounting versus traditional "swing" mounting. There is absolutely no reason why a swing mounted group should look scruffy if it is done properly. This was the standard form of mounting up until recent times. Originally court mounting tended to be restricted to cavalry and other mounted units to prevent damage to the medals as they clashed against each other, and of course as the name implies it was required for court dress.
Personally I prefer to see properly swing mounted groups to court mounting, but I acknowledge that court mounting is now required in a lot of the military - not sure what the rules are in the RAF.
Anyway, I wont be getting my solitary GSM for South Arabia court mounted!
Personally I prefer to see properly swing mounted groups to court mounting, but I acknowledge that court mounting is now required in a lot of the military - not sure what the rules are in the RAF.
Anyway, I wont be getting my solitary GSM for South Arabia court mounted!
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My great-grandfather's Khedive's Star has a soldered hook on the back, presumably attached to a becket on his uniform, to prevent the monstrously heavy item crashing about unfettered!
I was told by my Sqn Boss that our illustrious Station Commander had marked down my final report to almost zero because he was of the opinion that I was being disloyal to the service by taking my option to leave at my 38/16 point. Definitely no medal for me. He also unecessarily tried to delay my timely departure from the service, which almost cost me the civilian job I had been offered. Meanwhile, he was clearing his own desk to take up a plum overseas posting.
*Other entries are available depending on service.
Re court mounting versus traditional "swing" mounting. There is absolutely no reason why a swing mounted group should look scruffy if it is done properly. This was the standard form of mounting up until recent times. Originally court mounting tended to be restricted to cavalry and other mounted units to prevent damage to the medals as they clashed against each other, and of course as the name implies it was required for court dress.
Personally I prefer to see properly swing mounted groups to court mounting, but I acknowledge that court mounting is now required in a lot of the military - not sure what the rules are in the RAF.
Anyway, I wont be getting my solitary GSM for South Arabia court mounted!
Personally I prefer to see properly swing mounted groups to court mounting, but I acknowledge that court mounting is now required in a lot of the military - not sure what the rules are in the RAF.
Anyway, I wont be getting my solitary GSM for South Arabia court mounted!
So with 13 years Regular RAF commissioned service 1980-1993, and 8 years TA service before that and Towers + 4 years in the 60s I still don't qualify - bah, humbug.....Still, save pinholes in my jacket!
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It's a ruff world out there (71 to 10) - no Silver Jubilee medal; no Diamond Jubilee medal; no LS&GC medal (with ? clasps).
But I remain hopeful, maybe I'll get a Platinum Jubilee medal for services rendered? If not, surely I'll qualify for a RAF Centenary medal (?) - I should have gone for that extension offer?!*
But I remain hopeful, maybe I'll get a Platinum Jubilee medal for services rendered? If not, surely I'll qualify for a RAF Centenary medal (?) - I should have gone for that extension offer?!*
Last edited by Gulf Flyer; 29th Nov 2017 at 15:56. Reason: of - have - of!!
My great-grandfather's Khedive's Star has a soldered hook on the back, presumably attached to a becket on his uniform, to prevent the monstrously heavy item crashing about unfettered!
I may be wrong but I don't think RN/RM ever court mount.
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A work colleague of that time (same rank, same unit, same job) was eligible for redundancy, which he took and left in the same month that I did, in early 1994. He left the RAF a far richer man than I.
Gentleman Aviator
mind you, the cost of Brasso's creeping up!!!
The best thing for cleaning medals is the rubber on the end of a pencil. Pencil gives a good hand-hold and the rubber (eraser for the cousins) is small enough to get into the fiddly bits.
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Wouldn't have made one iota of difference. Regimental entry* (in black, red is a commendation) or higher (Courts Martial) or a recordable civilian offence (drink driving for starters) preclude an award. A bad OJAR etc has no bearing.
*Other entries are available depending on service.
*Other entries are available depending on service.
But it seems that in any case I'm not eligible for any recognition of 18 years service due to the Cold War never happening...
Teeters,
When I mentioned Brazzo, I should have clarified that I had only heard from my man about the cost of the stuff increasing. I was issued with a tin of the stuff on enlistment as Aircraftman 2nd Class in 1963. Within days, bag of anodised buttons appeared (subsequently replaced at private expense by the high domed version) and, thereafter, I found little use for my button stick or the brazzo.
One now uses a cloth impregnated (in the nicest possible way) with some harmless stuff to clean the bling.
O-D
When I mentioned Brazzo, I should have clarified that I had only heard from my man about the cost of the stuff increasing. I was issued with a tin of the stuff on enlistment as Aircraftman 2nd Class in 1963. Within days, bag of anodised buttons appeared (subsequently replaced at private expense by the high domed version) and, thereafter, I found little use for my button stick or the brazzo.
One now uses a cloth impregnated (in the nicest possible way) with some harmless stuff to clean the bling.
O-D