Older, been In Longer?
 

I turned 68 a while ago and discovered t'other day that I'm to get the QDJM as I'm a sort of reservist. It must be true, 'cause my name's on a letter!!

This set me wondering. I joined the regular RAF in 1963 and since then have been in regular or some sort of reserve or volunteer reserve, service ever since.

Apart from the Royals, Marshals of the RAF and a few others of that ilk, are there many others who can beat aged 68 and 49 years in the mob?

If I can get to my 50th year, I intend to order a zimmer frame from stores - painted air force blue of course.

Corporal Punishment

If you get to 50 years of service, how about your own Jubilee medal? :D

What a good idea LJ. However, I think anything which 'smacks' (no pun intended) of a celebration of corporal punishment would not be appreciated by the powers that be.

I must say, however, I wish I could do it all again but this time, knowing what I know now.

Cpl P

I will be getting mine in the coming months and if any of those miffed at not qualifying want to pm me their address it will be in the post the following morning :ok:

Cpl P

Why have you signed on Old Duffer's log in? You wouldn't have 2 seperate accounts would you..:eek::=

LJ

There was a do at Brize recently to celebrate an individual's 50 years of Service.

LJ,

Um err ah - what me Gov!

Fair cop

O-D aka Cpl P

Actually it was to celebrate his first 50 years of commissioned service in uniform - and an excellent do it was too!

His first encounter with Brize had been from AOITS South Cerney in 1961 when he and his colleagues were despatched to protect the USAF from CND protesters who'd arrived by train at Bampton station right next to the base. It had been decided that this was preferable to letting the American guards shoot them...:\

Hi Guys;

Saw out of a window somewhere in Oxfordshire a Wg Cdr with his Golden Jubilee medal on...He'll be looking forward to his new one to stop it being lonely....:D

Later;
MOG:cool:

MOG, now there's a thought. After 20 years of operations and only a QGJM to show one must ask where an individual fit in to our Expeditionary Air Force.

Sadly, I can think of quite a few serving Wing Commanders, Group Captains and Air Commodores who joined at roughly the same time as me who will feel a little less naked now they can wear the QDJM ribbon - although some of them have OBEs for building children's pay parks (I kid thee not!). By comparison, having adopted a less than mainstream career in a niche area, I almost completed my second row, albeit all 'round' medals. Not bad as a 'blunty' if I say so myself. Not that they mean anything outside of the Service...

WUH, ah, but 20-30 years down the line you will be able to wear them in a long bar unlike others that may be forced to wear vanity medals.

And I can already picture the awkward questions in years to come - not so much what did you do in the war grandad, but more along the lines of so just how did you manage to avoid all the wars grandad? Were you the LMF crew?

In 20-30 years time it will be 'Granddad, why do you smell of wee?' along with 'how much can we get for your medals on ebay?'

On the last point, I do find it so sad that families continue to sell, indeed, throw away proper medals from parents/grandparents etc. My Grandfather, who served throughout WWI had just a couple of medals and when his widow died about 40 years ago, my mad aunt grabbed them and pawned then for a couple of dollars. Never to be seen again - the medals, that is. I've tried to track them down as it would be the only tangible thing that the family had to remember Granddad (he died when my father was very young, in the 1920s). We have no photos and his rather grand discharge certificate which was restored and framed and was pride of place in my brother's study - until he died 18 months ago and his second wife decided to add it to the skip.

Although I do not collect military or medals, I have picked up 2 medals in Charity shops and tracked down the service history of the individual. No point handing them back to his descedants - they've clearly got no use for them!

In years to come, anyone who ever wore a military uniform will be in such a minority that they will never need to justify their medals or lack of!

Whenurhappy - Your post is rather contradictory. Your Grandad's medals were sold off against your wishes and you then tried to track them down to no avail.

Why then, when once you discover the history of the medals in your possession do you write off the descendants as "clearly got no use for them!"

Surely you would be overjoyed if some collector who obtained your Grandad's originals contacted you and offered their return?

Perhaps I should explain - they would have been sent to the charity shop by relatives when Granddad popped his clogs.

My father in law ran a business winding up deceased estates and he lost count of the number of times when medals were found (or similar items) and these were offered to the relatives who either showed no interest ('throw them away or see if Oxfam want them') or expected to make a fortune by selling them, based on grossly inflated Antiques Roadshow estimates. Very few seemed to want them. Sad.

I suppose in the case of the two WWI medals I picked up in Banardo's I should attempt to track down relatives. But I just can't be bothered knowing it was the next of kin who probably decided to get rid of them in the first place.

In the old cold war days you got one ribbon, the GSM, and the various punch ups you were involved in were represented by bars. After 34 years in the teeth arms I have only two ribbons, of which the only campaign medal is the GSM. Quantity of ribbon doesn't necessarily reveal the full career history. And the other one is not a jubilee gong!

... indeed - took me 31 years from first GSM to second bar (although other campaign etc medals were earned - but "only round ones!").

Funny old world - when I joined most stn cdrs seemed to have (at least) a DFC and a few campaign ribbons, if not a DSO - then came the relatively medal free cold war years when there were AOCs with nothing between their wings and their breast pocket button, if they'd managed to avoid MBE/OBE or maybe an AFC for being a display pilot.

And now - most stn cdrs seem to have (at least) a DFC and a few campaign ribbons, if not a DSO .......

plus ça change .....

Edited to add: and for O-D/Cpl P :=, does that now make you "Jubilee Medal and bar"? ;)

Oh TTH,

Fancy rediculing me so publicly :p

Actually, besides the two 'jubilees' there are a couple of others; one with 'bars' and t'other from a foreign power, who seemed grateful for my modest contribution. I've left the various Independence gongs in the cupboard, however.

I've probably posted this story before but the Pathfinder; Hamish Mahaddie went to Buck House to collect a DSO, a DFC and an AFC from the King (all awarded within a 3 month period). He already had the ribbons sewn on and these were in addition to a Czech gallantry award. This was about 1943 and before most of the campaign and war service medals had been specified. After the investiture, Mahaddie and his mates repaired to the nearest hostelry for some refreshment, when he was approached by a lady who asked him what the medals ribbons were. Mahaddie replied: "Madam, I've not the slightest idea, they were on the uniform when I bought it".

O-D

Frankly, I can't be ar*ed to look through all 8 pages and so I apologise if this has already been covered but this:

Diamond Jubilee Medal | Commemorative Queens 2012 Medals for Sale

has to be a bloody joke! Surely?

If they don't want to give it to us retired wallas (and why should they - our need would compound the national debt a thousand-fold given that there are more of us on the outside than on the inside, these days!) then who in their right mind would buy one and when would you wear it?

Is it me or have we become a very shallow nation?

Foldie:E

PS. I'm bloody glad St John's Ambulance can't buy it, I wouldn't want to be thought of of having to share a medal with them (or prison officers; PCSOs; and 999 telephone operators!).

PPS. Bloody country has gone to the dogs!

Where have you been for the last 20 odd years Foldie? Every Remembrance Day Service from the Cenotaph to Lesser Muckbury in the Mire is attended by veterans weighed down with rows of these things, which usually outnumber their "real" medals by a significant factor. When I was in the medal business I did a steady trade with chaps ordering themselves what might be called "vanity" medals. Didn't worry me, I just took their money, if they wanted to dress themselves up as Russian generals that was their affair. I must admit though, I'm starting to feel slightly conspicuous on Remembrance Sunday now with my single GSM!

Incidentally do you think if a SJAB volunteer orders one of these things they are going to send the cheque back? No chance!

Oh Foldie, I forgive you for you know not what you say.

During the war in Guernsey the St John's remained a uniformed service with sergeants, corporals etc despite the German occupation. The Germans didn't seem to realise that they were representing King and country even though occupied. To this day the St John's are part of the annual commemoration parade and service at Foulon Cemetery each October. They probably also parade for Remembrance too.

Whatever!!

I must be very very old fashioned then. I would never consider buying let alone wearing a medal that I hadn't been awarded!

By the way, no malintent to those of the support services who earned their stripes during the war; I was thinking more of some of the overweight scruffs that I have seen at sporting events!!!

Foldie:confused:

On the well know auction site

Pretty careless to need a 'replacement' full size when they haven't even been given out yet!!
Apart from the fact they cannot be worn officially till June anyway!:ugh:

As a medal enthusiast I am pleased that those currently serving are sporting such impressive rows of medals. However it is incumbent on them to wear them correctly, particularly when in the public eye.

I shall spare the lady's blushes by not naming her, but the RAF sergeant who was present when The Queen visited Fortum and Masons today was wearing her LS & GC back to front (ie with the monarch's head innermost).

I am sure that HM was too well-mannered to say anything, but you can be damn sure she noticed!

Fortnum&Masons.

Getting your hamper order in early?

AD'

I wish!

Was on BBC TV news

TTS

Not nearly as bad as loose threads on the braid of the uniform.

About 5 posts ago The Wizard said...."they haven't even been given out yet!!
Apart from the fact they cannot be worn officially till June anyway! "


Is that correct - or has nobody told Harry.....

Harry wears Jubilee medal in public - Yahoo!

..or is it a case of one rule for some....?

Nope. Just a good man representing our country and our Queen in a special year. Maybe the Palace is better organized in these matters than anyone else.

Military Aircrew forum? Never seen so many disloyal servants.

I'm afraid I'm going to have to disagree on this one. HRH is in military uniform and is subject to the same rules and regulations as every other person wearing uniform. And the DIN, which sets out the rules and regulations for the wear of this award, clearly states when the ribbon, miniature and full size medals can be worn.

Although representing HM on an official tour, it does shall we say raise 'presentational issues' if he wants to be treated as an ordinary serviceman.

CM,

Whilst I appreciate that tone is often difficult to read in a brief post, I find you presumption as to my level of loyalty, especially as you don't know me, somewhat objectionable.

I offered three possible alternatives as to why Harry was wearing the medal, one of which was that The Wizard simply got his facts wrong....




As a general comment, if ones conditions of service, accommodation, pay, pension, food, etc are continually eroded and degraded, compulsary redundancies are being made, why should it surprise anyone that the level of loyalty being shown by some of the troops should not fall correspondingly?

It's unlikely he would have worn it without approval. After all, how many people would have been involved in preparing his uniforms for the trip, civilian and military as well as having to get his medals remounted for all the different uniforms.

I am sure that I read recently that the medal may be worn as soon as it has been received.


Aaron.

Nope, can't be worn before 5 Jun - direct cut from the DIN (available on Google)

ring ring, ring ring

" Gran, can I wear that medal for your diamond doo dah?"

"Of course H"

Job done.

CM - "Never seen so many disloyal servants." I am increasingly of the opinion that quite a few posters haven't seen a days military service in their lives.

I know for a fact that very very few current serving aircrew look at this tripe.

Bearing in mind he is also wearing the Golden Jubilee medal (which was given out in 2002 when HRH was only 18 and not even in the military) I suspect he has had the rules waived and been given special permission to wear both. There has to be some perks! ;)

Reporting on Prince Harry's official Jubilee duty visit to the Caribbean, the Telegraph mentioned that Her Majesty the Queen had granted special permission for him to wear her Diamond Jubilee Medal before the normal authorised date.

"Granted special permission" from such a source means "is your duty to", DIN or no DIN.

As with the Golden Jubilee Medal which Prince Harry also holds, Her Majesty has the clear prerogative to issue and authorise this medal irrespective of the military administrative system, to commemorate what is, after all chaps, Her Jubilee.