Just got my South Atlantic medal only took 34 years. Qualifying time has moved to end of October 1982.

I have to laugh.
Any stories from anybody as to how their medals ( e.g.G.S.M.) were actually presented? :)

The former transport base in Wiltshire was pretty good in presenting gongs for confrontations and colonial punch ups the Station supported. The First in Last out action was normally in a Tac C130. Other than that GSMs, their bars, NATO medals and Her Maj's jubilees were normally signed for in the Adj's office.

I got a letter with a personalised subscript from ACAS for my efforts in GW1 :)

Ken, is that more of your "devils advocacy" or, don't you realise that Ministers have their paperwork staffed and prioritised as they see fit?:rolleyes:
BTW, you wont have to claim one, even if you do qualify, and you can write in to point out how you don't think retired Officers with long service should be getting a medal, if that is your view? :hmm:

OAP

I received the bar to my LS & GC through the post to my home address along with a letter thanking me for my loyal service as if I had retired. At the time I was serving as an Ops Officer in the Big Tent in Oman having been Commissioned as a Warrant Officer in 2002. Right Hand Left Hand

Contrasting presentations. 1968, sitting in a St Athan classroom on my fitters course, the door opens and the FS chucks a package to me - my GSM Malay Peninsular. Many years later I received a fulsome apology from AVM Squire on the late presentation of a bar to my LSGC and my 'Warrant'.

Onceapilot suggested in post 199 that anyone keen to see the LS Medal made official for retired officers should write to the Defence Secretary, etc.

Well, I did just that in June 2015, addressing my three letters to the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, and the Secretary of State for Defence. The texts were essentially similar, but an example (to my local MP) included:

As a courtesy, I should like you to know that I have written to the Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP, Secretary of State for Defence, on my understanding that the new Long Service Medal he announced on the 26th of March 2015 may not be awarded retrospectively to those who have served a minimum of 15 years in the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom.

Writing this letter is not about qualifying for another medal, but for deserving just one medal from a Nation that I hope is grateful for the long service in the Armed Forces that many of us have delivered in former years. My letter to the Secretary of State is an attempt to suggest how it might profit the Government to look with sympathy upon addressing what could otherwise become a potentially anomalous situation.

I do hope that you will do whatever you can to support my plea that those of us who served our Monarch in earlier years may at last obtain recognition of that service, even though administering that award may be spread over several months in order to reduce the impact on what I acknowledge are extremely tight budgets."

All three letters were then forwarded to the Minister of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Earl Howe PC, who sent a reply in which he explained that the LSM was intended to be a medal for the modern era, "which reflects the commitment we expect from the Armed Forces today. There are no plans to make it a retrospective award."

I replied with a statement rather than a further question, acknowledging that, "The UK Government was to be applauded for addressing the anomalous situation that has existed hitherto in which Armed Forces personnel of all ranks who have served qualifying periods in the Volunteer Reserves, Cadet Forces, Royal Observer Corps and other part-time units have been able to claim long service medals whereas within the Regular Army, Navy and Air Force such recognition has been denied to those who have held the Queen's Commission without prior service in a non-commissioned capacity. The new LSM will be a visible and tangible indication of the Government's regard for the professionalism, courage and contribution over extended periods by those who serve and have served in the Regular Armed Forces, and as such will be highly regarded.

To this end, it cannot be right that contributions made by former commissioned officers who have provided long service in the Regular Armed Forces during Her Majesty's reign could be held as less deserving of merit and recognition than those who today have served for 15 and more years. If retrospective application of the new LSM is not prescribed, comparisons such as this will be made, and many who have served faithfully for long periods in earlier years will feel that their service counted for little and, despite the rhetoric, is not in fact highly regarded. With the greatest respect, I would be most grateful if you were to convey these sentiments to the officials who are currently working on the criteria for the award."

The reason why I put pen to paper on this issue is that I would cherish medallic recognition for having served for more than 15 years as a Regular Service officer throughout the 1960s and 70s (20 years actually), and retired without a medal. Why does it matter to me? At one level, because I was proud to serve in the Royal Air Force and would like to be able to display that pride at events such as the annual Remembrance Service. At another level, because at this Service, in a packed congregation in my local church, there are maybe only two or three persons wearing medals: two of us wearing those earned by our fathers in the two World Wars, and one a GSM he earned in Cyprus. I fear that unless more medals can be seen, our new generations will increasingly lose touch with the symbolism that serves to bring home the service and commitment of the Armed Forces whose physical presence is increasingly less evident amongst rural populations: "Lest we forget".

Many of those of you who have read thus far may already have earned a medal, possibly the Queen's Gold and/or Diamond Jubilee medals (which inter alia required at least 5 years' service), so might not have the same perspective on this matter as those of us who have none. I was serving during the Queen's Silver Jubilee and, like many around me, was pleased to learn that a medal was to be struck, to be awarded to the Armed Forces, but hugely disappointed when it became apparent that this was limited to only a very small minority.

I think that as the months pass, there could be more than a few voices (hopefully some VSOs) asking the Government to think again about retrospective granting of the LSM to retired Regular Service officers - maybe only to those who qualify and wish to receive it (for quite possibly many won't be interested). Now in my mid 70s, I would like to think that one day, the LSM/LS&GCM will be awarded to all regular Service officers who satisfy amended qualification criteria.

This Poppy Day I will be at Waterloo Station collecting for the RBL, and wearing - with pride - my late father's impressive collection of WWII medals.

BB, I don't understand some of the sour grapes though that has been posted on the subject of medals? There are certainly different points of view but, I feel that the real issues are that, medals are issued appropriately and as fairly as can be done.:) I do not have any truck with arguments that, cost or difficulty should limit simple awards where merit has been recognised. However, if the official choice was presented of being recognised but having to pay for the actual medal, I would go for that, rather than see thousands of Veterans not get that recognition of Service AT ALL! :mad:
Cheers

OAP

Nugget90
Yes, a very good move by you, IMO.:D
The response that implies the medal is "for today" is fatuous. A Long Service medal by definition reflects past Service!:mad: What a load of bolleaux from them!

OAP

Well done, Nugget90. I suspect that nothing will come from your efforts - but thanks for trying :ok:

"which reflects the commitment we expect from the Armed Forces today ..."

What a pathetic response! Do we assume then that in the past the same level of commitment was not required? I repeat, I wont be getting one in any event, as I only did 12 years, but I see no reason why longer serving fellow officers from earlier years shouldn't get one.

The way letters sent to Ministers work, they are looked at by the Ministers office, the part of the department that deals with the issue is asked to produce a reply, and its then approved and sent by the Ministers office.

Sending 3 letters doesnt mean 3 responses, it just means that one desk officer will get stiffed 3 times. Writing to a Minister doesnt do very much beyond ensuring you get a formal letter back, written by a usually highly overworked officer or civil servant rather than by the Minister in question.

I might try dropping a line to my MP, the former Lord Chancehellor. Now he's on the Back Benches, he might have some time on his hands. And at least he known me personally.

And at least he known me personally. - MPN11

:ooh::eek:

Jack

Apologies for the typo ... "knows me". I was very active in local politics before I emigrated, which was a week or so after we put the Gove in Government ;)

I hope that clarifies matters?

MPN,`Lord Chancehellor`....? too much `pop` perhaps?

Down with the demon drink, say I :confused:

Dear Nugget 90,

Well written. I hope that someone takes up the cause and that you do get your medal. You deserve it just as much as anyone.

BB

MPN11
Yes, do write. Sometimes, I suspect, just getting the ear of the right, or enough, people can tip the balance. Beyond that, I think the case for backdating the award on merit is sound! :D Cheers

OAP

Try this one:

got my first - GSM with NI clasp - in the bow wave of medals when it was first announced - 1972 maybe, but qualification backdated to 1969. I was actually at Aldergrove when they arrived; specifically in the gents behind the Det buildings. Enter my Flt Cdr (aka wyvern) who stands in adjacent facility.

Flt Cdr: Hey Teeters - I've got a f***in' medal for you.
Fg Off Teeters: Thanks Boss
Flt Cdr: And here it is!

Produces white cardboard medal box from his pocket and hands it over. Fortunately no handshake ensued as other hand was busy ................:O

having read some of the 'prenentation' tales, there's no doubt about it. Unless it's a really good one, it comes in the post/SHQ/Gents. No wonder we lag behind the Americans in festooning ourselves with ribbons/medals/badges/patches ... we don't have enough time to award all that stuff.

I recall getting off an aircraft at Washington Dulles with a bunch of Annapolis Cadets ... they already had 3 ribbons.

But ... I digress :(

But nobody does modesty like us Brits!

It is strange, but I had to sign, in SHQ or the admin office, for most of mine.:hmm:

OAP

I didn't even get that, our SAC admin clerk handed it to me while passing in the corridor when he was bringing the mail down to the crew room. Little white box again with a little envelope in it.

Let's face it, every man and his dog had one at Odious and if they had any formal presentation it would have been a full time job for someone. The bugger was when I left to RAFG where medals were rare, all that meant was GSM stood for Give Some Marching as it guaranteed a place on any Sqn parade :(

..

Yup!, taken out of a drawer by an admin clerk at Aldergove and pushed over the desk seven months into a four month roulement.
But ( most of us) weren't there for the medals......

After GW1, our Saudi and Kuwaiti medals arrived in the crewroom, along with a mean little note from Binnsworth accompanying each stating "Here is your medal - you are not allowed to wear it!" :mad:

Although at the VC10 end-of-an-era thrash, I noticed that a few people had ignored the instruction...:ok:

My Air Ops Iraq was scraped, covered in fluff and dust, from behind a cabinet by the SWO using his pace stick. It had fallen there some weeks before and he had just found it.....:sad:

Duke of Edinburgh receives Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.....:}

For those interested, I received a reply to my letter to Sir Michael Fallon asking for backdating of the LSGC for Officers. The reply blames Sir John Holmes for recommending, to the Cabinet Office, that the "the changes to the LSGC medal should not be made retrospectively".:* Pretty much a stitch-up job then! Having decided that the situation was actually unsatisfactory, they went for a minimum cost option, that doesn't actually repair the damage!:mad: Despite the minimum effect of my letter, I would encourage anyone with a similar opinion about the desultory introduction of this medal to write to Sir Michael and express your opinion, for it is only weight of opinion that might change this unbalanced situation.:ok:

OAP

I've had the same response, along with a number of platitudes about how our service is still valued.

The MOD's response states that the date was not the MOD's decision, but goes on to say that 'Both the Honours and Decorations Committee and the Service Chiefs of Staff agreed that only officers.....'.

'The decision not to apply retrospection in this case and to amend the eligibility criteria was taken by Sir John Holmes and the Committee on the Grants of Honours, Decorations and Medals (HD Committee), following the conclusion of his independent review on Military Medals, and not the MOD. Ministers have agreed that the eligibility requirements for the LS&GC medal which is currently awarded only to other ranks and not to officers should be harmonised. The date of 29 July 2014 was selected to coincide with a Written Ministerial Statement laid in the House of Lords announcing the end of Sir John Holmes review. Both the Honours and Decorations Committee and the Service Chiefs of Staff agreed that only officers in service on that date should be considered eligible for the award.'

The MOD's response contradicts itself! I intend to take it further, I'm just considering the best way. I have got plenty of medals - it's the principle. I suspect it will be a waste of time.

Well done TOWK. You are damn right that it is the principle! Having agreed that the previous position on this medal was prejudiced against Officers, they go and increase the prejudice by only recognising the service of those still serving after the date of the announcment. An utter utter shambles!:mad:

OAP

GSM's - Can't remember. QCVSIA - Flt Cdr told me as "By the way" after thought.

My first "by the way" was at school "you've don't quite well at Maths" that was in the old GCE Pass/Fail days "you got 98% in one 97% in the other"

Or at Nav School, "Do you mind if we knock a couple of marks off so Sgt C, who is going for a commission . . ."

Or "I see you got a Good Show in the Command FS magazine" First I had heard of it. It now has pride of place in the smallest room downstairs.

But I did have very nice letters from two 3*

Guards officer referring to colleague: 'he won a tolerably good VC'

A bit like hearing about my MiD at the end of a bollocking!

Hat on no coffee in Wg Cdrs's office - I'd been LHS (non-handling, non-captain, non-interested) on a night underslung load trip with a new-ish pilot.

He'd not made the hook safe after takeoff, and managed to transmit his downwind call on the release button - so no-one heard the epic R/T call: "C/s downwind ..... oh sh!t....." (well he was Irish.....)

Wg Cdr goes on and on:

"OK Teeters, I know you weren't captain or an instructor on this trip, but you are a more experienced pilot, training captain etc etc etc and you should have been monitoring his checks etc etc etc.........

....... and another thing: you've been Mentioned in Despatches!" :ok:

Listening to the radio today, there was an item about bringing in a law in the UK about stolen valour, and wearing medals you didn't earn. The two round ones I've got have my name and rank etc on the outer rim, and you can always check a potential mittys claims by looking for that. Do the crosses and star medals issued for gallantry have the recipients name stamped on them as well?

They certainly never used to, but the OR equivalent oval medals always were. Thus AFC/DFC were unnamed - AFM/DFM were named (Same for RN/Army awards)

I haven't actually seen a DSC/MC/DFC since they started being awarded to all ranks sometime in the 1990s, but no doubt somebody will be able to say if they are now named - there are plenty floating round Odiham to check, for example!

Having said that, renamed medals are the curse of the medal collecting world and any self respecting ( ! ) Walt can easily get hold of very convincing copies and have them named up in the correct style - certainly good enough to fool the casual observer.

Just been following a Facebook thread about the proposed new law mentioned by Dan Gerous. A lot of predictable "lock em up and throw away the key rubbish" but if the law does come in I sincerely hope they don't start jailing these pathetic individuals - the prisons are overflowing as it is. Fifty hours community service cleaning up all the war memorials in the area might be an appropriate sentence.

TTN - agree, but IMHO 100 hours