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.”
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