George F wrote:
"MALAY EMERGENCY & BORNEO CONFRONTATION 1948 to 1966"
Total deaths: 13,733
"NORTHERN IRELAND EMERGENCY 1968 to 1998"
Total deaths: 3978
George, are you referring to the MoD/FCO/HD Committee assertion that the risk and rigour test in Malaysia should be applied to deny not only a British medal to the majority of those who served in Malaya Borneo, but also the PJM itself?
Yet British medals have been awared throughout the 30 years of the Northern Ireland troubles and one is still being awarded despite the 'ceasefire' of the last couple of years?
Are British medals awarded on political as well as risk and rigour criteria??? I hope not. But I have a sneaking suspicion that they are. Look at the Russian medal that was rejected for 5 years before being awarded when the UK decided that Russia was politcially correct. And the Malta medal, also previously denied, but awarded in the year the Queen went to Malta.
This argument is not one you and I, or any of the PJMers, would want to pursue. It's an unacceptable argument that has been raised not by us but by the MoD/FCO and HD Committee when trying to justify their shameful and anomalous recommendation. They should never have done that. Medals should not be issued on a body count basis.
We remember all those who have served in Northern Ireland, many our own ex-comrades in arms, and we are aware of the sacrifices they have made serving their country.
You live in Northern Ireland (in a deeply troubled part of Belfast) and have done so throughout the troubles. I understand that you are not making a judgement. Because we are not into body counts and in any case the PJM is all about the successful and primarily peaceful strategy we employed in Malaysia to beat terror and agression. That policy was all about avoiding bloodshed whenever possible and working with the gracious Malaysian people to beat a determined and dangerous enemy that was backed by both China and Russia at the same time!
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BarryF, who fought for the Right to Wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia