The Op Corporate gong was posted to the families of survivors in pieces.. like those freebies you got in a packet of cornflakes which had to be hand assembled. Thank god, things have moved on. Some families will not want to attend a ceremony but for some, the postal service might be the best way and I'm sure it won't be done in a cackhanded manner. In reality, units will probably undertake the task, with COs and or mates being involved and the medal handed over at a private celebration of the deceased's life.

No, it wouldn't make the grief go away but over the years, it might help - how many 'victims' of the past 30 years or so have already slipped from memory? There is still much to be done to help these families but this is a step in the right direction. Out of respect for those who are no longer here, we should look on this for what it represents to them and their memory.. and not what it might cynically mean to us. After all, we could apply the same thinking in principle to a survivor's pension - if that were introduced now, would it be branded as a 'pay off' and an admission of legal liability?

Out of respect for those who are no longer here, we should look on this for what it represents to them and their memory..

Well said.

This is a suprise and one received in a plethora of emotions. there are so many feelings and thoughts and i am ashamed to say..questons swimming around my mind. what i will say is that it is good that there is recognition of the loss the families endure ( and colleagues too). However, there is one thing that should not be done...recorded delivery! that is one insult too far for my family.

NB Mr Fish, I appreciate the point that you are trying to make, but there really is no price that can be put on the lives of those lost.

You are quite right about the source of the bronze mngd. A chap I know in the medal manufacturing trade recently visited Hancocks, the London jewellers who have have been making the VC since its inauguration. He was privileged to to be shown the plates of bronze kept in their strongroom from which they strike the crosses as required.

Agreed chappie, you could make it from 24 ct gold inset with diamonds and it still wouldn't represent 1% of a life's worth. What's important is it's a symbol, and I am prepared to believe it's a well-intentioned one.

Me too, but what took so bloody long? The soldiers in Aden died over forty years ago. None of what is happening now is original thought of the British Government, they would have happily ignored it, as they have for so long. The credit is due to those service organisations that have raised the issue and the quite impossible to ignore fact that in the region of 170 British servicemen have been killed in recent years.

I still think this is wrong

This sums all that is wrong in it.

"The Elizabeth Cross will be awarded to the families of those killed".

Awarded for what?? Having had a family member that got killed ?

It would have been better to been in my opinion to read something like

"The Elizabeth Cross will be postumously awarded to those killed in action whilst serving their Country and is presented to families and relatives from a grateful nation".

For want of a similar example, the way the USA presents the flag off the coffin to the next of kin from a grateful Nation..

Or something similar...... Just as well one was not coming my way as I would be returned with a note on it's future use and how to insert it.

Sorry but it rankles :mad:

Isn't that as 'pointless'? I don't mean to offend, but if one is killed for simply doing one's job, then could it not be argued that to be awarded it postumously is equally as 'pointless' as a family being awarded something for that family member being killed? This way, the sacrifice and pain of the family is recognised at the death of a loved one, as well as the sacrifice itself.

But aren't we getting into the semantics of the thing and missing what this is all about? Wood/trees etc.

Mrs Sidewayspeak is my long-term partner of many years, not my wife. How comforting for her that she will get a trinket if I die, rather than my pension that I have spent 20 years earning...

:mad::mad::mad:

Better marry her sharpish, then, if it bothers you that much.

If someone in the Government had put as much thought into acquiring military equipment that is fit for purpose in the first place, as they had riding the public's emotional bandwagon, there might not be as many "winners" getting this new award in the first place.

This award has been named by HM the Queen, after herself. Thus it goes to the very core of what separates the UK Armed Forces from most of our allies and all of our potential enemies. She is the Commander in Chief, not a politician. When feelings run as high as they do over our losses in Iraq and Afghanistan and indeed in all the other campaigns such as Aden and Suez, that difference is all important. No doubt the dear leader has seen the political opportunities here and it is after all just a piece of metal, so if President Broon was behind this it would rightly be seen for what it was, a cheap trinket. Thank goodness it is the Queen who is behind it, and hence her nation. There is true awareness and recognition among the population of the duty done by our Armed Forces on our behalf, and the dreadful cost that can entail . I honestly believe that this award tries to reflect that. I hope that those fated to receive it see it that way themselves in the midst of their grief.

Well put, Chugalug2.

If she's not your NOK, then she won't get the 'trinket' either

Medals
 

There is something not quite right about your NOK or most loved receiving a medal for your life. It is a recognition but the Queen, while being the Commander in Chief, doesn't send you in the first place. A handwritten heartfelt letter from the Prime Minister might be somewhat better - I believe Baroness Thatcher did exactly that in the Falklands War - GB has not as much as I know. But, each to their own I suppose and there will never be total agreement on this one. What will be key is how the recipients receive it. I have 4 medals and not one of them was presented to me officialy. I collected them all from admin the last one only last year so lets hope this is done better!

The First World War death plaque I referred to earlier was accompanied by a facsimile letter from the King expressing his condolences on behalf of the nation. As there were over a million of these issued, he could hardly have signed them all personally. Casualties are bad enough at the moment, but not so many as would prevent HM from signing such a letter personally. Maybe someone high enough up the food chain could put it to her.

With reference to SPHL's post #6

"This award is given to those who died on a Non Medal Earning Operational Task where death has been caused by the inherent high risk of the Task."

Does this mean, for example, that SAR Crewmen who sacrifice their lives in peacetime attempting to rescue people in the course of their duties will no longer be considered for Gallantry Awards?

Errr...yes she does. Its her train set and Gordon goes to see her each Tuesday to ask permission to play with it. If she didn't want to deploy her troops then she is well within her rights to question her Governments decision to deploy.


I have to agree with most of the forum with regards to Mrs Sidewaysspeak....... mate...if it bothers you that much then marry her....T'otherwise stop whinging

Cazatou - No fear of SAR crews' gallantry not being recognised. Since 1918 the Air Force Cross and (up to 1992) the Air Force Medal have been awarded for acts of gallantry in a non-operational context, and I am sure this will continue to be the case. There's also the more recent Queen's Gallantry Medal.

But then I'm sure you knew that really ;)

Tankertrashnav

WE both know that - but does the "Great Leader". It might, after all, be considered a "cost cutting" measure.

Incidentally, what odds do you think we could get on the Royal Regiment of Scotland being re-named "The Gordon Highlanders"? :hmm:

Or The Brown Watch? ;)