Arctic Convoy Medal and Bomber Command Clasp Issue Imminent

The Guardian is reporting that surviving veterans of the Arctic convoys and Bomber Command will receive new medals or clasps within a fortnight following the government's decision to acknowledge their bravery during WWII.

Up to 250,000 veterans (So many? unless this includes relatives too) will be eligible for the decorations, but those still living or their widows will receive the awards first, the defence minister Mark Francois will announce on Tuesday.  Production of the Arctic Star medal and the Bomber Command clasp will begin this week after the final designs were agreed. The former has been based on the second world war stars, and the clasp is similar to the one given to veterans of the Battle of Britain.

The decision to award the decorations was made last December following a review by the former diplomat Sir John Holmes, who was asked by the prime minister to review the rules on military medals.

The Arctic convoys are credited with having played an important role in buoying Russia as Hitler mounted an invasion. The supplies helped the Red Army to push back against the Nazis, but this effort came at a cost.
More than 3,000 seamen were killed during 78 convoys that delivered 4m tonnes of cargo. Eighty-five merchant ships and 16 Royal Navy vessels were destroyed. It is thought 66,500 men sailed on the convoys, but only 200 are alive today.

Once again good news but too late in the day for the vast majority of Arctic Convoy and Bomer Command veterans. Still I am sure my father will be pleased to have a clasp to his 1939-45 star

WWII Awards better late than never

I missed this before Christmas but the Government is proposing two new awards in respect of WWII service.  The Number 10 website reported on 19 December  that veterans of Bomber Command and the Arctic Convoys will receive specific decorations.

In Parliament today, the Prime Minister welcomed the conclusion of the second part of Sir John Holmes’ review into the rules and principles governing the award of military campaign medals.
As part of his review, which was requested by David Cameron, Sir John Holmes has recommended a new medal for veterans of the Arctic Convoys and a “clasp” for veterans of Bomber Command.
The Prime Minister has agreed that there is a case for the awards.

Veterans of the Arctic Convoy campaigns will get recognition with an Arctic Convoy Star medal. Meanwhile, the aircrew of Bomber Command who played such a vital role in the war will be awarded a Bomber Command clasp.

The Coalition Agreement included a commitment to review the rules surrounding the award of military campaign medals, as part of work to strengthen the military covenant.

The remainder of the second part of Sir John Holmes’ review will report back in the New Year, when the Ministry of Defence will also set out eligibility criteria for the medals and clasps.

I am pleased that those who served on the Arctic Convoys are getting specific recognition. It was one of the worst most dangerous and least regarded activities of WWII. To add insult to injury they were  treated like sit when the arrived in the Soviet Union even though these sailors helped provie the USSR with vital supplies. There are about 200 surviving veterans.

There is a lie that Bomber Command was the only arm of service not to receive its own campaign. WWII camaign medals were for areas of service althouhh the prime recipients of the Atlantic Star was the Royal Navy. Similarly the prime recipients of the Aircrew Europe Star (the medal covered service fro 1940 to D-Day RAF personnel were then became eligible for the France and Germany Star) were Bomber Command personnel.  It is true that eligibility rules meant that far too any crews did not live long enough to earn the decoration having first to earn the 1939-45 Star. The clasp, presumably to be worn on the 1939-45 Star, is the ideal recognition for those who served in Bomber Command and it would put them on the same footing as those who served in teh Battle of Britian - who whee awarded a clasp to the 39-45 Star.

Better late than never I suppose