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Post Info TOPIC: Bomber Command Medal Petition


Group Captain

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Bomber Command Medal Petition
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I will try to get this posted once more, as it appears the first time was unsuccessful.
The following is a very brief excerpt from a daily publication from the U.K. which I received Wed. April 16/2008.

Some men found themselves fulfilling roles which tilted the averages dramatically against them. their chances of completing a tour of operations was less than even odds.The word "hero" is a special word which ought to be used sparingly, but if we want to identify authentic "heros", surely those who faced some of the most awful perils in the service of King and Country desrve that title.

In 1945 Bomber Command crews were awarded the Aircrew Europe Star and yet Transport Command and Fighter pilots suffered only a fraction of their casualties by comparison.  "Harris's old lags" as they called themselves WANT a Bomber Command Medal to commemorate those who took on Hitler's Germany when no soldiers could.
 
A motion has been tabled in the House of Commons in the U.K. calling for a medal, this motion now has the support of 125 other M.P.'s. This past week the RAF celebrated its 90th anniversary. It is not too late to make amends to some of its bravest men. (end of quote)

On a personal note. While this may not be as important to some, it would appear from all reports that there is a vast number who are in favour of such a medal should it come to fruition, the sad part is that some of those deserving of this medal having survived the war, are no longer with us to enjoy its sentiment and meaning. I urge ALL who are eligible to sign the petition to do so and get these brave men the recognition they deserve.

Thank you Bill Heron.

-- Edited by William Heron at 23:58, 2008-04-16

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Bill Heron



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Sorry William, but my war ended 63 years ago, and despite all the pride I have in my small participation, there was so much more to life, to be accomplished, than musing over a medal or two.  I see my old Buddies every week, and not a medal is to be seen, save on November 11th or at funerals.

And talking about funerals, your comment on 'some of them' is wrong, as 'many of them' is more appropriate to those who will never see their Bomber Command Medal.  Very soon the word will be 'Most of them'.

The pen is a much more effective way of honouring and remembering those Men who served with RAF Bomber Command.  Remember "We few, we happy few, we band of Brothers, for he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my Brother, be he 'er so vile."  Far more moving than a medal in a drawer.

John

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John A. Neal


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Hi John, I stand corrected on MY choice of wording (many in place of some), however, the fact remains that for many (certainly in the U.K.)  this remains a sore point and an issue of recognition apparently bestowed on some but not all. My opinion is "do it for all or do it for none".  My brother too served with R.C.A.F. and HIS medals were put in a drawer and never seen. This is wrong and since his passing I now have them proudly on display with the other four generations of family military history dating back to the Crimean War and the "Charge of the Light Brigade" As an added note, my father served in the first war and HIS medals were found in a trash bag during a move, thankfully recovered and now displayed. Knowing what he went through during that time at Ypres and Pashcendael he earned them and they should not have ended up in a trash bag. Awards earned in this family did not end up in a drawer and have drawn many comments from visitors to our home, I am proud and happy to share our family's history with those who are interested.  

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Bill Heron



Air Commodore

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Sorry Bill, I did not mean to denigrate anybody's Military background, or suggest that my medals are in a drawer.  Actually, they are in a frame, along with my first set of Sargeant's stripes, my original "O" Wing, and my picture at graduation.  The "B" wing and the Commission came later.

My family does not have the Military background that yours has, so my mind set moved easily into the Military, and then out of it at War's end.  But, it offered me the chance to upgrade my education that I would not have had otherwise.

What the war did give me was the chance to learn to write, and the chance to produce stories on the people who really did earn the medals.  And a profession that has given me more joy than another frame full of medals.

If a medal should be sent, it should be to the Lady on the train, on my way home from Mocton with my discharge, who convinced me of the advantages of a university education.

John

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John A. Neal
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