Thank you for correcting the text in this article. Your corrections improve Papers Past searches for everyone. See the latest corrections.

This article contains searchable text which was automatically generated and may contain errors. Join the community and correct any errors you spot to help us improve Papers Past.

Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

WAR HONOURS

CONDITIONS OF DECORATIONS WHEN CAN MEDALS BE WORN? (Bv Ex-Staff Officer in the "Morning Post."). . Tho recent British Array Order authorising the Victory Mcanl to be worn does not close the subject of war decorations. I here aro yet ilirco questions pending' l'irstv. the issue of a general service merla . to which every man or woman called to the colours would have the ritrht. lrrosnoctue of whether they served abroad or not; secondly, tho issue, of battle-clasps or date-clasps with the British War Medal; thirdly, tho issue of a SDccial medal or a special bar to those who havb been "mentioned in dispatches. The issue of this last is donbttiil—there is a nascent sense of weariness over the multiplication of war decorations. The issue of a general medal is ' however, probable. Tho absence of ii would lwive without any medal record the great majority of those who held' tho .bast Coast and outer London trenches, or who wo forcod to keep to their posts in training camps and in Jirms-h (rarnsons, or who wero otherwise keDt at homo for military reasons. It is no doubt true that a certain number _ wancled" to etay at homo after gettin" into_ uniform, itut most of those kept on home service were unwilling to bo kept, nnd were tho victims of military (liscimine. To o.oprive them of all medal record would be an injustice. To extend to them the "fighting medals" would bo resented in somo quarters. Tho wav out will probably bo found in tho issue of a general modal. The Conditions of the Medals. The 1!)U Star (ribbon bears a star) is issued to men who were in the fighting lino in 1914. ' .; B b . The l<ll4 Star (ribbon without a star) is issued to men and women who went nbroao; for direct war sorvico in 1914, but were not in the fighting line. h , 6 ft ,Pot ls ? tar (ribbon tlle 6!ime * s tho 1914 &tar, but not bearing a star) is issued to men and women who went abroad for direct war service up to the end of 1915. The British War Medal is issued to every man or woman who went abr6ad tor direct war service during the course of.-the war. Tho Victory War Medal is issued to men and women who entered a. theatre ot .wiir on the strength of any organised British unit. But there is even more interest to-day in the question of .the wearing than of the 'issue of tho mednls. When should they, can they be worn? Nearly 3,000.000 oiheers and men wero demobilised beforo anyone was entitled to wear the Victorv Medal (though some put up tho ribbon long beforo it was sanctioned); What opportunity will these officers and men have to show that they were-members of the Array of victory? ■ A number of very delicate issues have to bo considered before a reply can be given to this. In tlio first flush of pride in our great military achievement of 1911-18 thoro was, among men and women who had not had the opportunity of ecrvine, a very general feeling that the demobilised or retired officer and soldier should carry- into civil life the ■signals of Lift service. Tho ex-Service man would thus be distinguished at once and, seeing his wound stripes and battle decorations, the general public would remember their debt. This was an admirable- idea; and it had Royal approval. But it encountered a vein of opposition in the stubborn British character. 1 To-day it is not done to any general extent; nnd . tho number who do wear war decorations in civilian clothes is rapidlv dwindling. An -indignant British father, whoso son had won high honours on the battlefield, tells mo that his boy was "chiv. Vn" .in ■ t , " . City when, at his lathers solicitation, ho "put Up" h:s war ri'bbons on his civilian coat. It is safe to say that not; one per cent, of ex-Service men aro wearing war ribbons openly today, though a greater proportion wear them more or less, furtively on their vests,- where they cannot ordinarily be seen. It would require a great change in tho public- mind beforo the wearing of war ribbons on civilian coats became general. I,doubt that the change will over come. If ex-officers were generally to set the example the. men might fd'.low; but exofficers stand out against it almost unanimously. Tot all will agree Hint it would bo a rtity if all visible record of tho Great) War passed away from the streets nnd the meeting-houses of tho people. Thero w in the achievement of 19H-18 a fount of inspiration which should bo drawn upon to refresh na in the years of stni"gf.c ahead. ° Why Not Days of Celebration? Perhaps a compromise arrangement will best suit the British temperament. Would it not bo possible for the King to proclaim two or three days of tho yenv on which it would be compulsory for all serving officers and soldiers to wqar uniform and medals And recommend nil exService men to wear their medals or medal ri'bbons and uniform, if they have it? If,, say, the King's Birthday, Umpire Day, and Armistice.. Day were so proclaimed,'it is probable that the great fluijority would respect the recommendation. The Armies of 1914-18 would nhow out in the streets again, and for three days a year wo would recall the fact that though, thanks to our politicians, we Wero "not a military nation," yet we managed to bear a fu.l share of the burden of tho war.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19191118.2.50

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 46, 18 November 1919, Page 7

Word count
Tapeke kupu
924

WAR HONOURS Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 46, 18 November 1919, Page 7

WAR HONOURS Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 46, 18 November 1919, Page 7

Help

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert