Appologies if this is elswhere, but here is the latest on the medals well overdue to brave men (most of whom are now sadly deceased). Here is the critera etc so if anyone has relatives who they think may qualify i would urge you to suggest they apply.


Bomber Command Clasp to the 1939-45 Star
A Clasp to the 1939-45 Star is granted to the aircrew of Bomber Command who served for at least sixty days, or completed a tour of operations, on a Bomber Command operational unit and flew at least one operational sortie on a Bomber Command operational unit from the 3rd September, 1939, to the 8th May, 1945, inclusive. The award of the Clasp is to be denoted by a silver rose Emblem when the ribbon alone is worn.

Eligibility is extended to those members of Bomber Command aircrew who did not meet the qualifying criteria due to service being brought to an end by death, wounds or other disability due to service, service marked by a gallantry award or taken as a prisoner of war.

Foreign nationals commissioned or enlisted into British or, the then, Dominion Air Forces (e.g. Royal Canadian Air Force or Royal Australian Air Force) are eligible provided the individuals did not receive a similar award from their own Government.

Eligibility to the Bomber Command Clasp has no effect upon eligibility for World War Two recognition previously awarded and does not suggest automatic eligibility for any further awards.

Arctic Star

The Arctic Star is granted for operational service of any length north of the Arctic Circle (66 degrees, 32’N) from the 3rd September, 1939, to the 8th May, 1945, inclusive. The Arctic Star is intended to commemorate the Arctic Convoys and is designed primarily for the ships of the convoys to North Russia and their Escorts. Eligibility is defined as follows:


  • Navy and Merchant Navy – Naval and Merchant Navy service anywhere at sea north of the Arctic Circle to include, but not limited exclusively to, those ships participating in, and in support of, Convoys to North Russia. Fleet Air Arm Personnel, not qualified by sea service may qualify under the conditions applying to the Royal Air Force.



  • Air Force – Aircrew of the Royal Air Force will be eligible if they landed north of the Arctic Circle or served in the air over this area. Non aircrew on operational service in the area, for example ground crew or those sailing with CAM ships (Catapult Aircraft Merchant Ships), are also eligible.



  • Army – Army personnel serving in His Majesty’s ships or in defensively equipped Merchant ships qualify under the rules applying to the Navy or Merchant Navy. In addition, personnel taking part in land operations north of the Arctic Circle will also be eligible.



  • Civilians serving with the Forces – Members of the few approved categories of civilians who qualify for Campaign Stars will be eligible if, in support of military operations, they meet any of the above qualifying criteria.



  • Foreign nationals commissioned or enlisted into British or, the then, Dominion Forces (e.g. Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Australian Navy) are eligible provided the individuals did not receive a similar award from their own Government.



  • General – Eligibility to the Arctic Star has no effect upon eligibility for World War Two recognition previously awarded and does not suggest automatic eligibility for any further awards.



First Arctic Star medals already in production
05/03/2013
The first Arctic Stars, to be worn by veterans of convoys to Russia during the Second World War, have been produced at the Royal Mint.



Just hours after the government announced that Royal Navy and merchant sailors, airmen and soldiers who survived the 4-year campaign could apply for the medals, the first Arctic Stars went into production at the Royal Mint.
Up to 120,000 veterans, or their next of kin, are believed to be eligible for the star, whose design mirrors similar Second World War campaign medals, such as the Atlantic Star.
The medal recognises service between 1941 and 1945 delivering vital aid to the Soviet Union, running the gauntlet of enemy submarine, air and surface ship attacks.
The campaign cost the lives of around 3,000 sailors and merchant seamen, and over 100 civilian and military ships were lost, with the nadir coming in the summer of 1942 when convoy PQ17 was mauled by the Luftwaffe and 9 U-boats.
Beyond the threat of the enemy, the men endured terrible weather conditions, the darkness of the polar winter and 24-hour daylight at the height of summer. If ships were sunk, sailors perished in minutes in waters barely above freezing.



Given the horrors they faced, Gavin Elliott, Commemorative Coin Head of Production at the Royal Mint, said his colleagues were treating each Arctic Star struck with great care:
"Each medal is individual - it’s important that the quality of the medal is right. Each one is handled with great care and attention.
"We take great pride in what we are doing. We’re very conscious that this is very important to those who will be receiving the medal."
Although nearly 7 decades have passed since the last Second World War campaign medals were produced, Mr Elliott said the manner of striking the bronze awards had not changed. He explained:
"They are made in exactly the same way as the 1939 to 1945 stars. Bronze is our traditional metal and we are producing these new stars in the traditional manner."
It is thought between 200 and 400 sailors, all now in their late 80s at their youngest, survive from the 4-year-long campaign, a mission Churchill acknowledged was ‘the worst journey in the world’. The families of those no longer alive will also be able to apply for the Arctic Star in recognition of their loved ones’ bravery.



Whilst the aim is to recognise those who served on the Arctic Convoys, all who served north of the Arctic Circle during the Second World War are eligible, including members of all 3 Services as well as the Merchant Navy who crewed the ships taking the vital supplies to Russia.
The Arctic Stars are produced by the same team responsible for providing MOD with up to 40,000 medals a year, such as the Afghanistan operational service award - upholding a tradition of campaign medals going back to the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
Applications for the medal can be made via www.veterans-uk.info/arctic_star_index.htm or write to: The Arctic Star, MOD Medal Office, Imjin Barracks, Innsworth, Gloucester, GL3 1HW.
Veterans of Bomber Command will also begin receiving new awards in recognition of their heroic service within the next .

i have removed the pictures as they are copyright.


Cheers

Dave