SOLDIERS' MEDALS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 44, 16 November 1920, Page 7

SOLDIERS' MEDALS

ILLUMINATED CERTIFICAES. . Tho issuo of medals and illuminated -certificates of servico for the N.Z.E.F. is being pushed on with all possible speed by the Defence Department,' and to date practically all 1011-15 Stars have gone out, while 25,000 certificates have been issued. Where there bavo been delays the soldiers themselves nro said to be wholly responsible by reason of tho fact that they have failed to notify their change of address or have not returned to the Department the B.R. 388 (draft of service particulars) sent to them. These forms showing the medals earned, the. period of service, and theatres of operations, arcj addressed to 6oldiers.iu the following term's:—

"As it is hoped that it may shortly be possible to issue the British war medal and illuminated certificate of service, it is desired to give you an opportunity of agreeing with the information held by this office concerning yourself, and which will be contained on the medal and certificate or other documents yet to be issued, as medals and documents once issued can. only be altered at the recipient's expense. Will you please, therefore, check the particulars on the back hereof and return this form complete to me as early as possible after appending your signature in the space provided at tho foot? Do not omit to advise this office of any future change of address."

Addressed and stamped envelopes aro enclosed with the forms, but despite this, forms posted to soldiers early in August havo not been replied to, and as > consequence no medals or certificates 'have been' issued in these cases. Oh the other hand, many ex-members of the N.Z.E.F. have expressed appreciation of the opportunity offered them by the Department to chrck their servico records, nnd have rendered nil tho assistance necessary by promptly returning the forms. There are more than 200,000 medals and 80,000 certificates to issue, and the success of suclu an undertaking demands strict adherence to the system employed, therefore "Diggers" are assured of early attention if the above request is complied with, and only lengthy delay in issues and additional cost to the Department, in leaving it "until to-mor-row." , ~. In his own interests each soldier should • bear in mind that tine form signed bv himself 'becomes the Department's authority to make the issues and that medals and certificates to which he is entitled cannot possibly go out until this authority has reached the Officer-in-Cliap'C War Accounts and Records, Wellington, to whom changes of address should also be