Anzac 2015

[happy daze john in oz]

The Victoria Cross is awarded for valor on the field of battle. Many of the badges worn are nothing more than campain medals and I am sure many a serviceman would not be too bothered if they did not recieve them. they went to serve the country, not win a medal now given out like lollies in some sections of the services now.

[j.sabourn]

The Victoria Cross..... Founded by Queen Victoria in 1856, at the request of Prince Albert, for utmost gallantry in the face of the enemy. It is the highest British Decoration and supreme among the medals of the world. First presented at an Investiture in Hyde Park on 26th June 1857 to Charles Lucas R.N. a 20 year old Irishman for his action in throwing a life bomb overboard from his ship HMS Hecla while under fire from Russian guns during the Crimean war. The bomb exploded as it entered the water, his action saving both ship and crew from certain destruction.
The Victorian Cross has been awarded less than 1400 times (1991)since then and exceptionally only 3 times have bars been awarded for adittional acts of gallantry. Wing Commander ( later group captain) Leonard Cheshire received the Victoria Cross for outstanding bravery while serving in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve during the second world war. William Sidney( later Viscount De L,Isle) was awarded the Victoria Cross for leading a dangerous attack at the Anzio beachhead in 1944. Viscount De L.Isleis unique in holding the highest British decoration for bravery, and being a member of the Order of the Garter, the senior Order in chivalry. In 1982 Lt. Col.H. Jones and Sgt, I.J.Mckay of the parachute regiment, were posthumously awarded th Victoria Cross for acts of galantry in the Falklands war. John S.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Many of the badges worn are nothing more than campaign medals .

I'm sure you didn't mean it to sound derogatory, but not everyone can be a hero and probably there are thousands of unsung heroes out there who never got individual recognition for acts of bravery, both seen and unseen. All those involved in any campaign deserve recognition by a medal or a ribbon for undergoing the experience and privitations and dangers of any campaign, including the men of the MN where-in the galley boy served under the same circumstances of getting torpedoed as the captain. I do hope that they wear their medals/badges/ribbons with pride, they earned them, albeit some more than others

[j.sabourn]

The only way to get a medal or award is by someone putting you up for it. If a platoon of soldiers is wiped out there is no one to put anyone forward. I remember one of my Uncles telling me the regiment he was with were going to be awarded with x numbers of medals and different sections had to draw lots to see who was going to get them. Even in medal awards it is not all open and above board. As Ivan says there were many unsung heroes unfortuanetly they were the dead ones, so we reconize them all as the real heroes. JS

[Captain Kong]

About four years ago I was drinking with an Australian SAS man that I knew.
We were talking of medals and decorations etc. and that we got the Australian General Service Medal when we had to take the Georgic to Butterworth to discharge the amunition and logistics, No Australian troops with us we left them in Penang,
Penang was not a combat area, Butterworth was, The Australian Prime Mimister would not allow any Australian troops to go into the combat zone until after the General Elections a few months later in case body bags ruined his chance of re-election. So we had to do it.
So we got the GSM and the MN Badge.
He told me always wear the badge with Pride, because people forget there have been wars and casualties. It reminds them.
So when I go to Sainsburys for my weekly shop, I wear the badge as it winds up all the mu slims there are more of them there than of us.
So that is why I wear it.
Cheers
Brian
.
THE REPORT
. The 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (with their families, too), arrived in Malaya in October 1955, their troopship MV Georgic being escorted into Penang by HMA Ships Arunta and Warramunga. The Battalion, which served with distinction and success in the field, was not committed to anti-terrorist patrols on the mainland until January 1956. This was a political decision as the Prime Minister had called for an election in December 1955, and casualties would have been electorally unpopular. The coalition won with a majority of 28 seats. That political decision was criticised by the British military command, Malayan politicians and the Australian Press. Like the Air Force, Army personnel became entitled to the full range of campaign awards and repatriation benefits twenty-four hours after arrival in Penang.

As reported by Lieutenant Colonel Neil Smith in his book "Mostly Unsung" the 2nd Battalion's tasks included, beside jungle operations, many ceremonial duties and guards of honour for important personages, including HRH the Duke of Gloucester and Field Marshal Sir Gerald Templar. These could probably be equated to "Flag Waving" although they lack the diplomatic dimension associated with ships' representation and operations.

In comparison to the Army and Air Force entitlements, the Navy's recognition at the time was negligible. Treasury agreed that naval personnel should only receive an "exchange" allowance. That is, their naval pay, in the hand, was made in sterling currency. This was an administrative convenience to facilitate the integration of RAN ships with the Royal Navy and this practice had been followed since the early 1930's.

[Lou Barron]

Sorry Les if I got the wrong impression about wearing of the medals . I know that the wearing of medals is getting overwhelming they give medals out for just about every thing .Even the bigwigs have a chest full its a wonder the don't fall over and it does seem to take the value away of the people who deserve them

[j.sabourn]

Probably why there now seems to be a lot more campaign ribbons around is because there has been more campaigns, the ones I know about and there are probably more are The Persian Gulf, Timor, The Solomons, Afghanastan, Australia does not have a huge defense force and like other countries relies a lot on Reservists, it was one of these that won a VC not too long back. There is 4 Campaign ribbons that I know of and as most of our armed forces have visited these areas are entitled to wear, they dont have to be front line troops. There are probably more for other areas that I have not followed up with. JS

[happy daze john in oz]

Oops deleted as thought it went up twice ):
Speaking of medals I concur as to see some with almost double figures is a bit much if US well OK they do but....
I am not one who feels that children should be allowed to march on ANZAC day with the relatives medals. I think it is a sop + turning the ceremony into something it is not a day for children to dress up.
Must be just an old grouch.

CHildren along with other family members are allowed to wear the medals of parents, grand- parents etc, I have marched wearing the medals of my grandfather a ships egineer torpedoed in WW1. But if the younger generation acn learn something from wearing medals at the Anzac, or any other march, then I see nothing wrong in that.

[Les Woodard]

So long as they are worn on the correct side can see no problem with that especially as the ranks are thinning every year. That to me is a good sign as well. Have been lots on incidence's here of some old geezers marching with a full array of medals only to be found out that they had purchased them from the pawn brokers or elsewhere. What a wonderful day it will be when there are no participants in the march other than those respecting their passing. I know it sounds crass but think about it and it does not.

[Peter F Chard]

I have read figures that there were 5 to 6 times the number of troops at these landings from the UK than from Australia and New Zealand. Also the troops were landed from row boats - those sailors who rowed the boats made the journey between ship and shore many times and yet we hear nothing about their gallantry. Regards Peter in NZ.