Cold War service medal

Princess_Jane

I hope this is the right forum, apologies if not.

My dad served with the Royal Observer Corp for many years until it was disbanded in 1996.

On Sun he was due to be awarded a service medal which I believe was for service during the Cold War,

Today he received a letter from the Veterans' Association saying it has changed its policy and he isn't eligible.

Dad is not a fella to say owt or complain but you can tell he is totally gutted.

He always wanted to be in the RAF but was told his eyesight was too poor, so the ROC was his way of doing his bit I guess, even though I'm sure it is a million miles away from what some servicemen went through,

I wonder if there is any way of appealing this decision....?

redpete

Sorry, can't help but I did find it funny that someone with poor eyesight could serve in the Royal Observer Corps.

Princess_Jane

redpete wrote: »

Sorry, can't help but I did find it funny that someone with poor eyesight could serve in the Royal Observer Corps.

Aww bless 'im, thickest glasses ever..I think it was enough for studying radar at close quarters but not for navigating fighter jets through the skies.

the_rottweiler

Your poor dad, I dont know for certain but its very short notice for them to move the goalposts, could you contact them direct and ask for an explanation why he is no longer eligible.
Maybe contact the royal british legion for help.
If not, I would be tempted to get the local paper involved

ICATQ

Try the RBL and ask your MP to ask a question in the House.

The treatment of Vets is an emotive and topical subject at the moment to you might get some form of response.

Errata

There are gongs being given to ex service men at the moment, our MP gives them out at regular 'ceremonies' so he can get his picture in the local paper. Good PR for him
These medals aren't being awarded for the Cold War, as no such war took place. Cold War is a phrase used by the media to describe the then frosty relations between the USSR and the western block of countries.

The OP's dad may be eligible for this

What is the Veterans Badge and is there a Veterans Medal?

The Veterans Badge is a lapel badge for UK Armed Forces Veterans who enlisted in HM Armed Forces between 3 September 1945 and 31 December 1994. There is no qualifying length of Service. The badge is issued by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency. More details can be found on their website or by calling 0800 169 2277. There is no official medal called the ‘Veterans Medal’.

bosnia

I sympathise. my dad spent time as a National Serviceman but received no official recognition of his service. I got around this by buying him the commemorative medals - The National Service Medal and The Medal For National Service. Not ideal but at least dad could go on veterans parades knowing that his service had been recognised. I now wear them on my right hand side of my blazer so that the memory of his service is kept alive now that he has gone.

There is a commemorative Cold War Medal that you can purchase for your dad (and he would probably qualify for a few other commemorative medals as well). A UK search engine would locate it and show suppliers. Failing that a RBL or other Veterans group should be able to supply a list of suppliers.

Hope this helps!

tocsin

Princess,

If your dad served for 12 years, he should be eligible for the ROC Medal (an official long service medal).

I can confirm that the issue of the Veteran's Badge (with rare exceptions) has been disallowed for the ROC, despite much effort by the ROC Association (see https://www.rocassoc.org.uk ).

There are several commemorative medals that can be purchased, but I should add the caveat that some of the "old and bold" don't like them very much...

All the best to your dad (I'm ex-ROC, current RAuxAF) - and my username may bring back some memories for him!

Princess_Jane

Thanks everyone,

Luckily I am the local paper - well, same newspaper group.

Mam is writing to our MP AFAIK

I think it's the fact he was let down at the last minute which got to him.

We might club together and get him the medal.

weanie

Good luck. Enlisting at a 'too young age', my father served during the war on the Atlantic convoys and at the time, they were considered to be heroic.Certainly the dangers and hardships were particualrly severe with enormous losses of ships and men. He wore a white beret on Rememberence Days and was haunted by horrors of the times all his life.
It was always a huge disappointment to him that the British gov. refused to honour these men properly - evn though the Russians always held them in honour as heroes and provided the medals for these men that our Gov refused to do. Dad was always proud of the support the Duke of Edinburgh gave to them by speaking out about this.
Good luck.

Princess_Jane

Just spoken to my dad and got some clarification.

The letter saying he had been awarded the medal came from out local council after my mam filled a form in it was dishing out.

He still hasn't had a letter from the veterans !!!. clarifying matters but was called by the council and told, whoops, he wasn't entitled to the service medal..well badge to be exact.

I've tried the VA press office but no answer so going to try again Mon, plus the council press office to find out why it appears to have agreed to award the badge without checking with the VA first.