Veteran 'insulted' by medal blunder (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Veteran 'insulted' by medal blunder

Raymond Mahoney Picture Ref: 99855-13VETERANS of the Suez conflict from across the country have been sent the wrong medals after a government bungle.

Swindon pensioner Raymond Mahoney was annoyed when he received the campaign medal of a former comrade who lives 270 miles away.

He told the Adver he feels "insulted and let down" after he was sent the medal of a former soldier from Carlisle and fears his own award may now be lost.

Four months ago the Ministry of Defence told him it was being engraved and would be posted to his home in Freshbrook within three months.

But on Saturday the 73-year-old, who served nine months national service in the Royal Berkshire Regiment, received a silver medal engraved with the name C Lancaster veteran Clive Lancaster from Carlisle in Cumbria.

When he called the former soldier, he was told he had also been sent the wrong medal this time of a veteran in Swansea. The Swansea veteran had in turn been sent the medal of a former Suez soldier in West Sussex.

Mr Mahoney, who is married to 67-year-old Margaret, said: "It's just really insulting. I've been waiting all this time and now I've no idea where the medal is.

"I applied for this in April 2004 and they told me it was being engraved and would be sent out to me.

"No one has got the right medals it's just a mess.

"I would be so proud if I got the medal it's the only one I'll get."

South Swindon MP Anne Snelgrove has written to defence minister Don Touhig demanding urgent action.

She said: "No veteran should have to go through this to receive the honour they so rightfully deserve, and I will be asking the minister how he intends to improve the systems for assessing and despatching medals.

"Suez was 50 years ago and my fear is that if this does not improve, veterans could die before receiving the medal, which is the symbol of the contribution they made to our country."

Mr Touhig yesterday revealed the size of the backlog of Suez medals at the under-pressure MoD medal office in RAF Innsworth, Gloucestershire.

He told Mrs Snelgrove there are 3,794 Suez Canal Zone campaign medals applications waiting to be assessed.

He added that there are a further 8,054 outstanding applications for medals for service in the last Iraq war.

Ms Snelgrove said she knows at least five other Swindon Suez veterans who are caught up in the backlog.

The case of Mr Mahoney, a former builder and baker, follows a campaign waged by the MP on behalf of another Swindon Suez veteran, Jeffrey Williams, from Park North.

Mr Williams was sent his medal but only after the MoD originally claimed he had never served in the Canal Zone.

The Ministry of Defence announced in October 2003 that those who served in the 1951-1954 Egypt Campaign protecting the Suez Canal would be awarded the General Service Medal with a Canal Zone clasp.

To be eligible veterans had to have served for a continuous period of 30 days or more between October 16, 1951 and October 19, 1954.

Alan Baker, vice chairman of Swindon Royal British Legion, is supportive of Mr Mahoney's plight.

"I support the servicemen. Imagine the distress this could cause if ex-soldiers have passed away," he said.

"As a soldier receiving the wrong medal would be bad enough, but just imagine what hurt is must cause when the wrong medal arrives at a home where the winner has died."

Mr Baker takes an active part in the annual poppy appeal in Swindon, and hopes that the MoD will rectify the mistake to those involved.

An MoD spokesman said it was believed 10 veterans were sent the wrong medals and six have so far complained.

He said: "We believe that there have been individuals across the country who at the end of last week were sent the wrong medals.

"The medal office is very apologetic for the error and will put it right straight away. They are trying to get in touch with other people who have not yet been in contact."

He said there was "absolutely no question" that Mr Mahoney would receive his medal along with a written apology.

Forgotten army

VETERANS of the Suez Crisis have been dubbed the 'forgotten army' because of their lack of official recognition for the part they played in the 1951-54 emergency.

The veterans of the conflict in Egypt's canal zone, which preceded the disastrous Suez Crisis of 1956, have previously not been congratulated for the part they played, waiting 50 years to receive their medals. The Ministry of Defence finally announced in October 2003 that those who served in the three-year Egypt Campaign protecting the Suez Canal would be awarded the General Service Medal with a Canal Zone clasp, but only after years of campaigning by the veterans.

But two years after informing the former heroes they would receive their medals, they are still no nearer to gaining the recognition they deserve after this latest bungle.

A turning point

THE Suez Crisis is considered to be the most significant turning point in post-war British foreign policy.

It refers to the British decision to join with France and Israel in a military intervention to attempt to prevent General Nasser from nationalising the Suez Canal in the autumn of 1956.

Nasser was promoting Arab nationalism throughout the Middle East and had become an increasing source of irritation to the British and the French.

The Anglo-French assault upon Egypt, which began on October 31 1956, provoked a furious response from the USA. This triggered a sterling crisis which forced the government to withdraw from the venture.

Mark Hookham