COLD WAR VETERANS
Thread Starter
COLD WAR VETERANS
There is very little public recognition of the British Armed Forces, except when they are engaged in operations.
There is now an initiative to get belated recognition for the millions who served and helped to preserve the peace during the Cold War.
Please view the petition via the link below, and sign it if you agree with the cause:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/655361
There is now an initiative to get belated recognition for the millions who served and helped to preserve the peace during the Cold War.
Please view the petition via the link below, and sign it if you agree with the cause:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/655361
Top Answer
1st Feb 2024, 22:19
Where's the laughing emoji when you need it? Medals are awarded for 'Risk and rigour ' not going on the lash in West Germany for a few years.
Where's the laughing emoji when you need it? Medals are awarded for 'Risk and rigour ' not going on the lash in West Germany for a few years.
The following 18 users liked this post by cheekychimp:
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And throughout this whole, challenging period we remained poised, ready to spring into action like coiled sausages, if / whenever we might have been called to do so. To that end we conscientiously stayed in our green flying suits whilst in the bar, quenching parched throats with copious beers . . (albeit only until 19.00) . . surely this dedication to duty should be recognised in some way ? A medal to me seems absolutely fine 
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we conscientiously stayed in our green flying suits whilst in the bar, quenching parched throats with copious beers . . (albeit only until 19.00) . . surely this dedication to duty should be recognised in some way ? A medal to me seems absolutely fine
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I do not think my time spent keeping the Warsaw Pact at bay is sufficiently meritorious to deserve a medal, unless it is for services to tax free shopping and my selfless support of the German brewing and wine making industries.
The following 3 users liked this post by Ninthace:
On our small Colonial aircraft carrier during the Cold War, its primary mission was the transportation of our testicles from one cocktail party to the next.
That was reward enough.
That was reward enough.
Last edited by Captain Dart; 2nd Feb 2024 at 21:56.
So where would you place the Nimrod R crews in this? Some of their now unclassified missions were definitely on the risky side. Baltic, east of the North Cape etc. Or the handful of Canberra crews who did solo recce flights into USSR? Or the WIWOLs on QRA trips into the Iceland Faroes gap with an unreliable jet, no real navaids and a fuel gauge that was calibrated between not enough and pitiful?
I doubt if the families, friends, and colleagues of the hundreds of UK mil aircrew killed whilst in training, or on exercise between 1947-1991would consider the Cold War as a hoot and a roar, or just all beer and skittles!!!
I agree with my late father. He got GSMs for Cyprus and Aden. Anything else in his 28 year career was just work. After he retired from the RAF he never identified himself as a veteran - he got on with his life.
The following 6 users liked this post by radar101:
If you feel that these losses are a direct result of the Cold War, then perhaps there is a case for them to receive a medal. It is not an argument for everyone who was in the armed forces during that period to receive a medal.
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Ninthace, I didn’t say that, or even allude to it!
All that I was pointing out, however clumsily, was that for some the Cold War was not all about simply getting p*ssed at the NAAFI bop, as some of the earlier respondents seemed to imply!
All that I was pointing out, however clumsily, was that for some the Cold War was not all about simply getting p*ssed at the NAAFI bop, as some of the earlier respondents seemed to imply!
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However, 15 of my 40 years were overseas and they were harder work and more rewarding than UK.
Winning the Cold War was reward enough, even though the victory was squandered.
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So where would you place the Nimrod R crews in this? Some of their now unclassified missions were definitely on the risky side. Baltic, east of the North Cape etc. Or the handful of Canberra crews who did solo recce flights into USSR? Or the WIWOLs on QRA trips into the Iceland Faroes gap with an unreliable jet, no real navaids and a fuel gauge that was calibrated between not enough and pitiful?
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The following is with the provisio, I can't see it happening given the number of suggestions from within parliament for additional medals eg for Op Relentless. Look how feet have been dragged over the 'Wider Service Medal' which Ben Wallace says he signed off months before he stepped down as SoS.
I notice the originator of the petition states
One thing missing from the petition is a sensible minimum service criterion (with exceptions for those who died or whose service was terminated early due to injury in the line of duty).
The outlook is very UK/Commonwealth, I am thinking of the US Recruiting service and training service ribbons, Professional development Ribbons, Service and training awards etc.True my father's generation joked USN personnel came out of basic training with the Head Cleaning Medal.
There are exceptions to the risk and rigour criteria (which applies to campaign medals), medals are awarded for other reasons, without diminishing the status of campaign medals or gallantry awards.
Do those above who deride the idea, but would be eligible think, LSGCMs should not be awarded?
Thanks to Her Late Majesty's longevity plenty of Jubilee medals are to be seen. As is the King's Coronation Medal.
One shouldn't forget the Soviet Union was happy to send material supplies to the Provos as war by proxy. (Yes, I know GSM NI)
Anyway thanks to those of you who put in a real shift in the Cold War we are still all entitled to express our differing opinions.
I notice the originator of the petition states
provision of the medal itself should be at cost - it should not be provided free of charge.
The outlook is very UK/Commonwealth, I am thinking of the US Recruiting service and training service ribbons, Professional development Ribbons, Service and training awards etc.True my father's generation joked USN personnel came out of basic training with the Head Cleaning Medal.
There are exceptions to the risk and rigour criteria (which applies to campaign medals), medals are awarded for other reasons, without diminishing the status of campaign medals or gallantry awards.
Do those above who deride the idea, but would be eligible think, LSGCMs should not be awarded?
Thanks to Her Late Majesty's longevity plenty of Jubilee medals are to be seen. As is the King's Coronation Medal.
One shouldn't forget the Soviet Union was happy to send material supplies to the Provos as war by proxy. (Yes, I know GSM NI)
Anyway thanks to those of you who put in a real shift in the Cold War we are still all entitled to express our differing opinions.
Last edited by SLXOwft; 2nd Feb 2024 at 10:16. Reason: missing letters
The qualifying criteria for this proposed medal haven't been specified. They need to be, if this is going to be taken at all seriously.
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As a veteran of Egg Banjo's I feel the need to say bring it on.. The Egg Banjo's that is.. although we did suffer incoming fire in Roermond when some of the locals set off fireworks in our general direction..