ARmy Rumour SErvice

Originally Posted by intli

Originally Posted by jockster

I was always told that medal order was from date issued, thats date issued by the Boss, HMQ, not the date the individual was issued it. Thats why the NI medal, 99 times out of 100, should always be first.

Anybody correct me?

The wearing of awards is in the order that the recipient receives them. For example, you could have done Gulf 91 before going to NI, thus you would wear the gulf first, followed by GSM after. I always thought however, that the sovereign took precedence thus Op Telic would go before Bos/Unifcyp as they were UN and not UK. Is that right?

Sorry mate, think I'll have to disagree with you on this one, dress regs clearly states "date of issue of the medal" and not "date issued to the individual". Could be just a play on words, but have had many a high rankin officer state this to me.

Originally Posted by jockster

Originally Posted by intli

Originally Posted by jockster

I was always told that medal order was from date issued, thats date issued by the Boss, HMQ, not the date the individual was issued it. Thats why the NI medal, 99 times out of 100, should always be first.

Anybody correct me?

The wearing of awards is in the order that the recipient receives them. For example, you could have done Gulf 91 before going to NI, thus you would wear the gulf first, followed by GSM after. I always thought however, that the sovereign took precedence thus Op Telic would go before Bos/Unifcyp as they were UN and not UK. Is that right?

Sorry mate, think I'll have to disagree with you on this one, dress regs clearly states "date of issue of the medal" and not "date issued to the individual". Could be just a play on words, but have had many a high rankin officer state this to me.

I'll probably go along with jockster on this - within its medal grouping, the order relates to the date of campaign, rather than the date of receipt. This applies only to British medals - foreign medals (eg UN, EU, NATO) follow the date on which conferred, these medals following all British medals within the appropriate medal group.

At least, that's how I read the words, though I'm sure someone else will read them differently.

Anyone got their medals mounted on Velcro? :D

Having just taken a look at the MOD web site picture library I note the following:

The CDS wears

GSM, NATO, GJM, ACSM, unidentified foreign award.

A close up of a Gurkha's medals shows:

OSM (Afghanistan I think), UNPROFOR, NATO former Yugoslavia, NATO Kosovo, GJM, LS&GC.

Thus I conclude that the UN and NATO awards are worn in order of receipt within the rest of the British campaign medals, which is what I thought all along.

I will speak to my contact in the medal world who will know the definative answer, and also the rational for the policy (he probably helped write it).

Originally Posted by putteesinmyhands

Originally Posted by me n bee

http://www.honours.gov.uk/honours/wear.asp

This will end the discussion as to where what medal is to be worn!

You will note that UN,NATO and EU medals are on par with british medals if sanctioned for wear by HM.

This would have ended the discussion, had you not made the comment about UN, NATO and EU medals being on a par with British medals.

Foreign Orders, Decorations and Medals
The general rule is that non-British insignia should be worn after all British Orders, decorations and medals and in the order of the dates on which they were conferred. When, however, insignia are being worn on occasions specifically connected with the donor country, pride of place should be given to the insignia of that country. Foreign awards may only be worn when The Sovereign's permission has been given.

The UN, NATO and EU Campaign Medals and Stars come at the end of the medal group "Medals for Gallantry and Distinguished Conduct." So, for example, UNFICYP will come after Iraq.

Campaign Medals and Stars including authorised United Nations, European Community/Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation medals (in order of date of campaign for which awarded).

me n bee was totally right. Decs for gallentry, decs conferred by HM, campaign medals (including APPROVED UN/NATO as quote above) then Commemorative (GJ, ACSM, LSGC etc)

Come on fellas it is written down plain as day here:

Medals Guide

No wah!

Damn you barbs,
I saw this thread and thought of you, was just about to put in a link to your original post.

Worm.

Barbs is 100 % correct. I have just spoken to my contact and he immediately quoted the London Gazette of 14 Feb 2003.

He also mentioned that medals policy is an art and not a science and thus anomalies are common. For example for UN missions most British deployments are complete units and thus permission to accept and wear the UN medal is given.

However, if you were on exchange with the French and went off on a UN mission with them as the only Brit, (i.e. no formal British participation) the chances of receiving permission to wear are about nil.

This is what happend to the MFO medal. After the first very Brits had been sent out the question of the medal was raised. It affected less than a dozen people and so the answer was no. However, since then a few hundred have since received it, but once the NO has been issued that it it. The chances of this being reconsidered are about nil.

Interestingly, when I recived mine in 866 it was only the Brits and New Zealanders who did not wear it. Since that time HM The Queen has granted permission for the New Zealanders to wear the MFO medal. So now it is only the Brits who are not allowed to wear it.

Bugger me, well I thought it felt it was a long time ago, ut 866??

Hang on its a typo it should read 1986, I am relevied to know I am ot quite that old.