Wearing of medals

[Keith Tindell]

On my local news today there was report of local volunteers re cutting the military regimental badges which are cut into the local chalk down, and refreshing them. The point that interested me was that the ceremony was attended by the Duke of Wessex, who sported approx 4 medals on his chest. Does anyone know what these medals are for?, if I recall correctly he was in the Military, I think police for a short while before he packed it in, I could be wrong on his regiment, but would be interested where he earned these medals. Or maybe they were awarded for taking part in ' it's a knockout ', kt

[Keith Tindell]

Have just learned it was the Royal Marines that he briefly joined, kt

[Hugh]

Keith,
He joined the Royal Marines but left after 4 months. The medals are Jubilee Medals.

Regards
Hugh

[Ivan Cloherty]

Keith,
He joined the Royal Marines but left after 4 months. The medals are Jubilee Medals.

Regards
Hugh

He's banking on a lot of people not knowing that, he should be ashamed, but the real troops will be hiding a snigger

[Les Woodard]

I have the greatest respect for those that are awarded medals. Now for the BUT. What gets me is the amount of medals awarded where it seems that anyone passing the recruitment door is awarded some sort of medal. For me this degrades the whole concept of being awarded a medal from those that have put their lives on the line for country. If I recall correctly many ex servicemen marching just after the big war would be proud of wearing one or two medals that they had been awarded for valour but in todays parades those well deserved medals would be lost amid the vast amount that are awarded today just so that some bloody upstart can also parade with a huge array of medals. Are we turning into tin pot regimes where they go about with a uniform hardly visible because of all the glitter of medals and ribbons plus gold braid. No I have more respect for that old digger marching with a single medal proudly displayed and head held high because he truly gave up a lot to get it.

[j.sabourn]

Les this was brought up in a similar post some time back. I agree with you. I mentioned how could an American officer have about 40 medals on his chest and having served in no conflict whatsoever. The answers were varied, I don't call them medals I call a lot of them service ribbons and good conduct medals, in short many get ribbons for going from A to B. Most 3rd. world countries you see their army dictators also with chestful of ribbons awarded to themselves for nothing in particular. They emulate the west in lots of things. The campaign ribbons and good conduct ribbons I can see the point as informs the observer that the wearer was there and the good conduct medal how many years service they have done. A lot of the others are just there to adorn the wearer. Maybe I am prejudiced as have 3 long service medals, which to bring down to one wear with two clasps on the one medal, which I only wear when justifiable such as on Anzac day and such when people are asked to wear all such regalia. These are mostly worn in miniature form also and to recognize our forebears. I also put up the British Merchant Navy medal which any Merchant Navy seaman can wear and buy from the medals shop, irrespective of the so called legality of wearing such, at least it shows you were a merchant seafarer of the British Merchant Navy and as is not worn on a Queens uniform in my eyes is quite justifiable. I am sure a lot of us could qualify for various war zones we have been in over the years, but to me seems superfluous as the Merchant Service Ribbon should say it all. JWS

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Les.
like you I admire all those old soldiers when the march on Anzac day; and the kids who wear their grandads medals with pride, but when I watch the crowd on the balcony at any Buck house celebration I think there is not one of them entitled to a medal, except maybe Prince Harry, he got his hiding in the wardrobe medal in Afghanistan, and if Prince Charles lives as long as his mother he will need a wheelbarrow to carry all his.
Cheers Des

[j.sabourn]

Des they aren't wearing medals as such but Orders of various ranks in Heraldtry. The highest I believe is the order of the garter. The ones that the Government or leaders of the armed forces advising the monarchy to give out to the plebs being mainly the Orders of the British Empire. These Orders are advanced to the Queen through Downing Street, and if you can remember at one time during his illustrious career as PM T. Bliar was accused of selling to foreign investors to his party funds, another small item which people conveniently forget about. However much a rising star at the time he will be remembered as the instigator of the war in Iraq, plus a few more. To even have the effrontery to give advice on the Brexit, the man must have a skin like a rhinoseris. Cheers JWS

[j.sabourn]

Think I put this on once before..The Honours..The Order of the Garter, The Order of the Thistle, The Order of the Bath, The Order of St. Michael and St. George, The Royal Victorian Order, The Order of the British Empire, The Order of Merit, The Order of the Companions of Honour, Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.), Imperial Service Order, (I.S.O.), The Royal Victorian Chain, The Victoria Cross, The George Cross, The George Medal, Royal Red Cross, Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.), Military Cross ( M.C.), Distinguished Flying Cross (D.F.C.), Air Force Cross (A.F.C.), Military Medal (M.M.), Queens Gallantry Medal ( Q.G.M.), Polar Medal (P.M.), These are most if not all the awards given out at investitures by the Sovereign or her representative. Cheers JWS Picking one out at random the D.S.O. Following the Crimean Campaign and the Indian Mutiny, Queen Victoria instituted the Distinguished Service Order. This Award was designed to reward officers in the armed services for gallantry or for distinguished service in the face of the enemy. Eligibility was extended to the Merchant Navy in 1943. Nomination may only be made for those mentioned in dispatches. As one of our lady members father received such she will probably be aware of this as should be on the citation which came with the medal. Cheers JWS

[Louis the fly]

The Duke of Wessex has a wide variety of uniforms and a collection of medals to adorn them. He bravely won the egg and spoon race putting himself in great danger. He was awarded the good attendance medal for ballet lessons and the living off State Benefits medal, jointly awarded to his wife.