Before You Do Anything Else – Sign This Petition NOW!

The Government’s response

I recieved an email today, directing me to the following linky

“The Government is aware of the widespread admiration for the major contribution that the crews of Bomber Command made to the Allied victory in World War II and their commitment in the face of significant losses. However, the institution of medals quite rightly is not in the gift of politicians. While the Armed Forces can prepare a case that seeks to justify the institution of a new medal, there are many processes through which submissions must first pass and ultimately this would need to be approved by HM The Queen.

The procedures which lead to the institution of a British award have been followed for many years, with only minor changes. The process starts if the Commander in Chief considers that service in that theatre, or under particularly rigorous circumstances, justifies a medal. His recommendation is passed to senior military officers who, if they are in agreement, submit the case for a medal to the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS). If the CDS approves the proposal, the Defence Services Secretary submits the case to the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals, known as the HD Committee, through the Ceremonial Officer at the Cabinet Office. The HD Committee consider the case and, if it agrees it has merit, submits it to The Sovereign for approval. There is no direct Ministerial or political involvement with the Committee.

Since the end of World War II, the HD Committee has maintained a consistent policy that it will not consider the belated institution of awards and medals for service given many years earlier. The reason for this policy is that the present HD Committee cannot put itself in the place of the Committee which made the original decision and which would have been able to take account of the views of all interested parties at the time. A dedicated medal for Bomber Command was considered by the HD Committee of the time and it was decided that the institution of such a medal, or indeed one for Coastal Command, South East Asia Command etc, was not appropriate.

It is true that a decision was taken in 2003 that a medal should be issued retrospectively to veterans who served in the Suez Canal Zone between October 1951 and October 1954. However, this case was unique. Unlike Bomber Command, where there was clear evidence that the HD Committee had considered the case for a dedicated medal, but decided against it, there was no conclusive evidence that the case for a medal for the Canal Zone in the early 1950s had ever been considered by those in command at the time.

Finally, no medals were awarded purely for service in a particular Command during World War II. Those who completed the minimum qualifying period of service in operational areas were eligible for the 1939-45 Star and those with long service in non-operational areas received the Defence Medal. In addition to the 1939-45 Star and Defence Medal, a series of Campaign stars were created for participants in particularly hazardous campaigns, and many Bomber Command personnel qualified for the much prized Aircrew Europe Star or, for example, the France and Germany Star.

We have set out the procedures in some detail because we want to make it clear that there is an exhaustive process for making these decisions that asa far as possible ensures consistency and fairness.

We hope this explains the situation.”

Duly signed.

Although not an official medal, I saw several veterans wearing this commemorative one on Remembrance Day – http://www.awardmedals.com/index.php?cPath=37_28

Ten percent of the net cost of each medal is donated to the Bomber Command Association. I’m considering ordering one in memory of my Uncle, who was lost over France, in 1944.

Dean.

On the thread about the Daily Mail and it’s current give-away of British war films I posted to those eager to dispose of the newspaper itself – “Well yesterday (Monday) you will have missed the “Letters” page with two letters from ex-RAF Bomber Command veterans – Jack Dixon and Stan Hollingsworth”.

Both were writing about the current efforts to have a Bomber Command Medal – both very much in favour of the idea.

Jack Dixon of Pudsey, W.Yorks was a Flight engineer with 626 Squadron – he flew 30 ops but didn’t qualify for the Air Crew Europe Star because he became active AFTER D-Day. His father was in the RFC and his brother, son and daughter all in the RAF. He continued “I often visit the graves in Lincolnshire of some of my Squadron colleagues: I have a chat and tell them they are not forgotten. It would be most satisfying if I could tell them that we have, at last, been recognised with our own medal for doing the job for which they gave their treasured lives”.

Stan Hollingsworth from Farnborough, Hants did 31 ops. He concludes his letter with “A Bomber Command Medal would be nice, but I’m not holding my breath: we were expendable at the time and pariahs afterwards.”

I’m going to intensify my efforts to gather more support for this petition. Write to my MP, the local rag, other Forums… Why don’t you?.

Roger Smith.

Read the governments response that Richard Grey posted. Signed in the optomistic hope that the government of the people will listen to the people of today.

camlobe

Done!

Been there, done that ! Thanks Moggy.

What about one for Coastal Command. Or Fighter Command. Or the ATS. Or for any of the other Commands?

I think you may have misunderstood.

This is not a ‘Command’ medal that is proposed. If it were I’d agree the others would be equally entitled.

It is a ‘Campaign’ medal or possibly a bar to the Aircrew Europe Star that is being sought, to cover just about the longest campaign of WW2 (Parallel to the Battle of the Atlantic for which a campaign medal does exist)

Moggy

What about one for Coastal Command. Or Fighter Command. Or the ATS. Or for any of the other Commands?

Much as the sentiment is noble, it’s a bit late.

And no veteran I have spoken to wants or needs one.

Duly signed, thanks Moggy for bringing this to our attention.

281 signatures and counting. . . . .

Duly signed. But not hopefull after reading goverments response.

Read the Government’s response
Thank you for taking the time to sign this e-petition requesting that a campaign medal be instituted for those who served in Bomber Command during World War Two.

There is widespread admiration for the major contribution that the crews of Bomber Command made to the Allied victory in World War Two and their commitment in the face of significant losses. The Government acknowledges that a large number of people share your wish to mark this with a medal.

It may be helpful, however, if I explain that there were no medals awarded purely for service in a particular Command during World War Two. Those who completed the minimum qualifying period of service in operational areas were eligible for the 1939-45 Star; those with long service in non-operational areas received the Defence Medal. In addition to the 1939-45 Star and Defence Medal, a series of Campaign stars were created for participants in particularly hazardous campaigns, and many Bomber Command personnel qualified for the much prized Aircrew Europe Star, or, for example, the France and Germany Star.

The creation of medals is the prerogative of the Sovereign. In this, the Sovereign takes advice from the Government of the day, who, in turn, are advised by the inter-departmental, non-political committee on the grant of honours, decorations and medals (known as the HD Committee), on which the Armed Forces are represented. In the case of campaign medals for service during the Second World War, the issue was discussed exhaustively by those in command at the time and by the HD Committee. If they had considered that a Bomber Command Medal, or indeed one for Coastal Command, South East Asia Command etc was appropriate, they had the opportunity to recommend the institution of such medals.

Since the end of World War Two, the HD Committee has maintained a policy that it will not consider the belated institution of awards and medals for service given many years earlier. The reason for this policy is that the present HD Committee cannot put itself in the place of the committee which made the original decision and which would have been able to take account of the views of those in the chain of command, the Government and of other interested parties at the time of that decision.

The HD Committee has made it clear on a number of occasions in response to requests for the institution of belated awards that it will not change this policy. Successive governments have found no reason to overturn this ruling, which is periodically reviewed and has been followed for over fifty years.

http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page11982.asp

Done!

OK, done that

Done and Done. 🙂

Done.

DS

Will be signed as soon as I can sort out my cut and paste link!:D

A very worthy petition, signed it earlier today

Morning all

Sorry bout the rant last night….I was more than a little frustrated.

I know the Canadians are well remembered in Britain and Europe, likely better remembered than at home. Which is why I was upset.

Working in an Aviation Museum I find myself constantly defending Canadian contributions to aviation in an atmosphere dominated by American and British media productions. So I often feel that I am tilting at windmills…which I will continue to do until I get the message across. (You could say I am somewhat stubborn).

That said I appreciate the kind words to Canadians and the words of support.

To that end I have appointments with several MP’s and I am writing the British Embassy.

I have not yet begun to fight!

Tom H

This IS a different, though similar, petition. Not to worry, I’ve signed both now!
Jim

Well done Moggy, duly signed, I notice that there are only 100 signatures so far though.
.

Strange! I signed this a while ago (4-6 weeks at least) and there were, I think, 126 signatures then. Is this another petition?
The Canucks are well-remembered around here (Ripon) with several memorials to them,
Jim

I just attempted to sign the petition on the link included.

I guess Canadians don’t get to sign.

The reason this upsets me is both my father, a Canadian, my father in law, a Canadian were good enough to serve with the RAF in Bomber Command along with many thousands of other Canadians, but I’m not good enough to sign the petition.

My mother, Northern Irish, was also a member of the RAF during the war.

I don’t know if there is a way for Canadians to participate in this effort, but if there is please let me know, Canadians that served with the RAF are just as deserving.

Not meaning to berate any of my British friends, just the system.

Tom H

There may be a way-start a petition to the Canadian government to petition our govt though diplomatic means.

The same goes for forum members of other countries who provide men to Bomber Command-..e. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Checheslovakia & Poland.

After all they all served.

One thing that does bug me about the whole affair is , as well as being all volunteers, the attrition rate for Bomber Command percentage wise was roughly equal to that of losses on the Western front 1914-18, but more importantly losses for bomber crews were higher than both the army & navy throughout WW2