MPs Medals Disgrace

[DeepSea]

The Government were approached a number of years ago asking if they would initiate the award of GSM to those in the Merchant service. This was declined on the grounds we served on commercial vessels for profit making companies.

The GSM has been awarded to Merchant Navy personnel on four occasions and it is worth checking to see if any members fall into this category and maybe unaware of the award they are entitled to.

Naval General Service Medal/Palestine Clasp. Service 28 days between 27/9/1945 & 30/6/1948

Naval General Service Medal/Near East Clasp (Suez). Service 1 day or more between 31/10/1956 & 22/12/1956.

Naval General Service Medal/Cyprus Clasp. Service 120 days between 01/4/1955 & 18/4/1959.

Naval General Service Medal/Borneo Clasp. Service 30 days between 24/12/1962 & 11/8/1966

[DeepSea]

Hello Bob,

Afraid there are always many individuals who draws the short straw when it comes to missing out on medals. The South Atalntic medal as you probably know was awarded for thirty days continuous or accumulated service in the South Atlantic commencing between 2nd April and 14th June 1982 and completed no later than 12th July 1982. Brecon & Ledbury did not take up station until early July 1982, so the thirty days could not be accumulated in time before the cut off point.

[stevesherratt]

An old friend sent me this interesting view/clarification:

This is a real non-issue and virtually everything published on the internet and in the press is distorted to the point of being untrue.

The "medals" are issued by a privately-sponsored organisation, the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme, set up in 1988 by a retired Territorial Army officer (Colonel, now Sir Neil Thorne) to encourage MPs to take a practical interest in the workings of the Armed Forces. The scheme is actively supported by Parliament and the Ministry of Defence, which organises courses and visits to units including those in operational theatres.

They do not receive "medals" for visiting a war zone: to qualify for a "medal" an MP must spend 22 days (some reports state 30) in each of 10 years taking part in a variety of courses and schemes, during which time they wear the uniform of the service and carry an appropriate honorary rank and they achieve "promotion" through attending more advanced courses. Several hundred MPs have been involved in the scheme since its inception but apparently only a handful - reportedly between 8 and 10 - have completed the ten years and been awarded the "medal".

The "medal" is actually a badge, to be worn on the right breast so as to be entirely separate from and not to be confused with any form of campaign medal or decoration for valour or service.

Regards,
Tony
My reply:

Many thanks Tony for your reply, but even after reading your explanation/clarification I still feel strongly about the “Badge Scheme” even if it is 22 years old.

I also with the greatest of respect, disagree with your assertion that “virtually everything published on the internet and in the press is distorted to the point of being untrue” you have been able to surf out an alternative view.

You are right to point out (and I paraphrase) “it is only a badge”, however I and many of my MN/RN mates are proud to be entitled to wear a Service Veterans Badge and also I qualify to wear the Merchant Navy Service Veterans Badge.

MPs should get on with the work they are paid to do or more realistically perhaps they should do the work that they fraudulently claim for. I happen to think that my PM serves me and his constituents better by not going into theatres of war – he can ask any squadie in his surgery about the shortages of basic equipment not to mention the larger issues thing like a real shortage of Helicopters.

Finally I still feel strongly about the “Badges” as being inappropriate and that MPs should use specialists to advise them on military matters.

Regards

Steve R770014

[Arthur John Harvey]

Sorry to hear that you think so little of the MN Veterans badge and that you will not wear it; also the remark about the old boy who possible saw sea time in WW11; I too spent five years at sea in that period being involved in many campaigns and I wear my badge with pride if only to remind persons that we lost over 30000 of our brothers at sea. I am sure that many of them would had worn their badge with pride had they
survived

[stevesherratt]

Well said Bob

Steve R770014

[happy daze john in oz]

In my humble opinion this matter goes a lot deeper than just the awarding of a medal. For years until 2000 the Merchant Navy was not officialy recognised for its efforts during the wto world wars. Now at last we have Merchant Navy day when we can commemeorate the efforts of all and in particular those who made the ultimate sacrifice. They recieved no medals yet the M.P. of today is so up himself he think he is entitled to soem sort of special award. For what I ask, for doing his job, no it cannot be for that, for being honest, no not for thta, for doing what th epeople wish, no not for that. So I again ask the question, WHAT FOR???????

[jimmys]

I think people now have such a low opinion of MP's they can do nothing right. I was born during WW2,1942 so I sailed boats in my bath, I am due a medal for that. Where do I apply??
I was reading DeepSeas post #11 and I was down in Sarawak during the Borneo campaign on Blue Flu cargo ships. Half the time as engineers we did not even know where we were, it was just anchor in a hole and discharge into a few barges. The sailors were hand balling the cargo around into pallets and barges with the ships lifting gear. It was all ammo and guns and food in boxes. We were not told what was going on it was a secret war. Lot of ozzies in that one.
I recall the engines were on standby and we could sail as quick as the Mate could pick up. As an engineer I was just glad to get out of it. When you read the post it brings back things I have never thought about in years. I will forget about it again now!!

regards
jimmy