Serial No: 140/14 Source: d pers Ops Date
Download 161.56 Kb.
|
- Navigate this page:
- Serial No: 140/14 Source
- TARGET AUDIENCE 2. All personnel of the Regular Army, Army Reserve and Cadets. KEY POINTS
- Point of Contact.
Serial No: 140/14 Source: D Pers Ops Date: 9 October 2014 SIR JOHN HOLMES’ MILITARY MEDALS REVIEW ISSUE 1. Medals and clasps approved by the Government for wear as a result of the recent Military Medal Review. TARGET AUDIENCE 2. All personnel of the Regular Army, Army Reserve and Cadets. KEY POINTS Serving personnel who believe they are eligible must apply for the appropriate award through their units in the first instance. Assessment and issues of the South Atlantic Medal and the Cyprus Clasp to the GSM18-62 will not start until Oct 14. Applications for the Berlin Airlift clasp and Cyprus 1963-64 clasp to the GSM62 will not be accepted until 1 Mar 15 with issues starting in Apr 15. Existing rules on double medalling and risk and rigour have been maintained. BACKGROUND 3. In 2012, the Government asked Sir John Holmes to review the rules, principles and processes for medallic recognition of military campaigns. The review was prompted by a number of long-running campaigns by veterans groups and individuals seeking redress for perceived injustices in medallic recognition. 4. The results of the review were published in Jul 12. Among the recommendations, the Review: Endorsed the need for a 5 years cut-off period after the end of an operation or campaign after which medallic recognition would not be considered, but this should not be elevated into a blanket refusal to reconsider cases which meet certain criteria. Reinforced the rule that allows only one medal to be awarded for the same operational service – the so called “double-medalling” rule. Endorsed the risk and rigour principle, that medals awarded by The Queen are hard earned and awarded sparingly. Further examination was required of the main long-standing controversies to “try to draw a line under them”. 5. The Government accepted all the recommendations and asked Sir John to lead a second stage of work to look at the long-standing controversies. As a consequence, the Government announced in Dec 12 that veterans of the Arctic Convoys were to be awarded an Arctic Convoy Star medal; while the aircrews of Bomber Command would be awarded a Bomber Command clasp to the 1939-45 Star. 6. On 29 July 2014 the Government confirmed that the second stage of Sir John Holmes’ review was complete and again accepted all the recommendations. As a result, the qualifying period for the South Atlantic Medal, without rosette, is to be extended from 12 Jul 1982 to 21 Oct 1982. For those who served in Cyprus between 1 April 1955 and 24 December 1959, the qualifying period for the clasp ‘Cyprus’ to the General Service Medal (GSM) 1918-1962, is to be reduced from 120 days to 90 days; while those who served in Cyprus between 21 December 1963 and 26 March 1964 are to be awarded the GSM62 with the clasp ‘Cyprus 1963-64’ if they served for 90 days or more. The GSM 1918-62 with the clasp ‘Berlin Airlift’ is to be awarded to all aircrew, both military and civilian, with at least one day’s service in the Berlin Airlift operation from 25 June 1948 to 6 October 1949 inclusive. 
Arctic Convoy Star 
“CYPRUS“ Clasp on GSM18-62 
“CYPRUS 1963-64” Clasp on GSM 62 
South Atlantic Medal 
“Bomber Command“ Clasp on the 39-45 Star
7. A number of other claims were considered, but were not deemed suitable for detailed review. No other historic claims for medallic recognition will now be reviewed, unless significant new evidence is produced that suggests that an injustice has been done. 8. Issues of the Arctic Star and Bomber Command clasp are well underway. Although applications for the South Atlantic Medal and the Cyprus Clasp to the GSM18-62 will be accepted by the MOD Medal Office, assessments of eligibility for these two awards will not begin until 1 Oct 14 with issues of the medal and/or clasp starting at the end of Oct 14. Applications for the Berlin Airlift clasp and Cyprus 1963-64 clasp to the GSMs will not be accepted until 1 Mar 15. 9. It is to be noted that issues of these new medals and clasps will not be automatic. Serving personnel who believe they are eligible for any of these awards must apply for them. In the first instance this is to be done through their units. Further details for both serving personnel, veterans and their families are available on the MOD Medal Office website at https://www.gov.uk/the-ministry-of-defence-medal-office. 10. Point of Contact. Requests for additional information or clarification should be directed to Lt Col Kestrel Simson in PS12(Army) on 020721 (9621) 86320 or email: Kestrel.Simson468@mod.uk. Download 161.56 Kb. Share with your friends:
|