Review of medals (From The Oxford Times)

Review of medals

8:30am Thursday 10th May 2012 in Letters

Sir – You published my previous letter about the award of a Bomber Command Campaign Medal (April 19). Our PM, Rt Hon. David Cameron, MP for Witney, made a statement in the Commons on April 30 as follows: “This Government is fully committed to recognising all that our armed forces do to keep us safe. That’s why this Government has enshrined the Military Covenant in law.

“Today, I am pleased to update the House on the fresh review of the rules governing the award of military campaign medals that Lord Astor announced in the House last October.

“I have appointed Sir John Holmes to carry out this review of the rules and principles governing the award of military campaign medals to ensure that it is fully independent. Sir John is currently director at The Ditchley Foundation and formerly served as the UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator and as Her Majesty’s Ambassador in Paris and Lisbon.

“The review will consider the current medallic recognition situation and examine the guiding principles and current processes. It will make recommendations where appropriate for any change. I have asked Sir John Holmes to report on his review by the summer.

“A copy of the terms of reference has been placed in the Libraries of the House.”

Whether or not this statement was due to my letter having been drawn to his attention, I am pleased to make your readers aware of it here. I do hope that “by the summer” he means May 31 and not August 31.

We need the Queen to make some reference to the award in her speech on June 28 when she unveils the memorial in London. Will David Cameron take note of my comments this time too?

Jim Wright (Wg Cdr DFC RAF retired), Abingdon