[quote="BlackBuckOne"]If a National Defence Medal were to come in the same form as that Christmas Tree decoration they call the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, then you can shove it. The QGJM is without doubt the worst medal which has ever been issued to British and Commonwealth troops, it's utter crap and was an insult to issue such a trashy gong.

They showed they can get it right with the 1977 Jubilee, which is silver and in my opinion is one of the nicest Coronation and Jubilee medals issued since Victoria's 1887 and 1897 Jubilee medals.

However, I remember what a farce the issue of 1977 Jubilee was.

In the RAF the Group Captain Station Commander got one, as did the Wing Commanders down. If lucky the Station Warrant Officer got one or the senior NCO in the unit, then if any others were left an Airman, if lucky, may have got one.

In my unit in BAOR, the same happened, the CO, Adjt, RSM, Chief Clerk got theirs and ONE siggy. We should have ALL got it. however, water under the bridge. I can see why people are arguing about a National Medal; before GW1 and Herrick, I served with soldiers who served for many years and never got a medal. Just as good guys as those who went on to get Op medals elsewhere. Some did 22, and got loads of red rings on their 2's, and did not even get their undetected crime medal. Sad for them on parades these days unless they 'walt' it with the mickey mouse medals circulation. Perhaps they do deserve some recognition for their time and effort in trying to drink Germany dry !!!

Originally Posted by lilywhite

That is why they call it a BRITISH army of the Rhine medal

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Great point, except Canadian Forces had a brigade in BAOR.

Originally Posted by hackle

Originally Posted by lilywhite

That is why they call it a BRITISH army of the Rhine medal

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Great point, except Canadian Forces had a brigade in BAOR.

Or "Germany" as they knew it!!

PW

Originally Posted by paywog

Originally Posted by hackle

Originally Posted by lilywhite

That is why they call it a BRITISH army of the Rhine medal

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Great point, except Canadian Forces had a brigade in BAOR.

Or "Germany" as they knew it!!

PW

Probably, but I believe that a strong Canadian bde came within the BAOR orbat when stationed in the Iserlohn/Soest area, with for example Canadian medical and nursing staff integrated into British Military Hospitals (remember them?), until towards the end of the 60s the Canadian commitment was reduced and moved south to Lahr in the US zone. Long time ago now, I agree.

The Canadians did indeed have a very fine presence around the Hemer, Werl, Soest, Iserlohn area in the 1950s and early 60s.
The old memory is not what it was but I believe they had tanks, artillery and infantry plus the usual support arms, signals,medics, eme etc.

I think they were an all volunteer Army, whereas at that time we had an enormous National Service profile. They tended to be men in their twenties while most of us were in our teens. They had a BD style uniform similar to ours but made of a superior quality material, plus they had those dinky pre-shrunk berets while we....well, you all know what we had, shrink proof monstrosities that hung down to our right shoulders.

They were better paid and fed and seemed to have good quality equipment. We used some of their radio gear if I remember rightly.

Their MPs were men to be feared and if they entered an 'out of bounds' bar, it was a case of every man for himself and the devil take the hindmost.
Our monkeys were generally spotty faced 18 year old National Servicemen with their token Lance jack tape whom one could generally easily out run.

I spent three weeks in BMH Iserlohn in a ward containing several Canadians, following a truck crash, and they were full of fun and mischief. Later in life I spent quite a bit of time in Canada....great people and country

Back on thread. I think that you are wasting your time attempting to get the British government to change their minds on a National Defence Medal.
They don't really give a feck about you when you are in, they care even less about you once you are out the door. The Veterans Badge is about your full whack I reckon. Take up a hobby and good luck.

Well there wouldn't be a Canadian medal for service in BAOR as this stands for British Army on the Rhine, try looking for Germany post May 1945.

On the information for the SSM, it states that it is for service under NATO since 1951, should really be 1949 when NATO came into being.

Lilywhite

Basso,
you reminded me of the time we had the Canadians stationed with us at Pirbright for the coronation, we, as boy soldiers would spit and polish their boots and got handsomely paid for the effort, their Canadian Whiskey was pretty good also!!

Lilywhite

Not just the Aussies, this Year will see the Kiwis NZDFM, They take ANZAC day very seriously down under and really look after their vets (I'm told)

http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/public-docume...dals/about.htm

Why not do what some ex service personnel do. Wait until you leave the forces then log onto Ebay and buy as many medals as you want, then the next time you go to a remembrance parade wear them all and look the DB's, NOT!!!!. If you think I'm joking then go to the OLD AND BOLD site on ARRSE and take a look for yourselves. I HATE WALTS.

Originally Posted by dumbstruck

Why not do what some ex service personnel do. Wait until you leave the forces then log onto Ebay and buy as many medals as you want, then the next time you go to a remembrance parade wear them all and look the DB's, NOT!!!!. If you think I'm joking then go to the OLD AND BOLD site on ARRSE and take a look for yourselves. I HATE WALTS.

Maybe you do hate Walts, but many of the old and bold have done their bit and it might have been standing on a goon tower overlooking Berlin in the 60's a wee bit more hairy I would think than Cyprus during Gulf War 1, and who got a medal, gosh the storeman in Akrotiri? I am personally not bothered, but for some it is a big deal, so a wee bit of respect, and that is perhaps what they are looking for ,and if that means a blazer with bling on it so be it!! We know what we did, and they know that if Gordie was PM in the 70's and 80's we might be covered in UN medals etc, perhaps we might have got a Soltau and Sennelager GSM with a bar for the strip! :D