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Veteran's battle for
medal recognition AN old 'sea dog' is set to go to war again - but this time he is taking on the might of the British Government. For ex-Royal Navy veteran, George Fleming, is up in arms at the Government's decision to ban military veterans from receiving the Malaysian medal. George, who served on the frigate HMS Lincoln in Malaya and Borneo, is well-known for his acclaimed book on west Belfast VC hero, James 'Mick' Magennis. He fought a solo campaign to persuade Belfast City Council to erect a 6ft-high monument to Magennis in the grounds of the City Hall. But this time, George (63) has no shortage of allies in his demand for a U-turn over the Malaysian medal. DUP MP, Jeffrey Donaldson, has tabled a Commons motion, backed by unionist colleagues and Labour MP Andrew MacKinlay, calling on the Government to accept the award on behalf of ex-service personnel. And forces sweetheart, Vera Lynn, and Leslie Thomas, author of Virgin Soldiers, have personally urged Tony Blair to reconsider the snub to military veterans. The medal was awarded last November to all Commonwealth ex-servicemen who saw duty in either the 'Emergency' or the 'Confrontation' in the Far East, between 1957 and 1966. "I received a letter from the MoD informing me I was entitled to the medal for services onboard HMS Lincoln," said Belfast-born George. "But it has to be approved by the Government, because the Malaysian government will not accept applications from individuals. "The Australian and New Zealand governments have both approved the award. But Tony Blair has, so far, rejected it. "I'm not involved in this campaign just for myself, but the Royal Ulster Rifles were among a number of British Army regiments who also served in Borneo and they deserve recognition." The official response from the Government, set out in the House of Lords by Baroness Symons, is that rules on the acceptance and wearing of foreign awards "preclude the acceptance of medals for events in the distant past or more than five years previously". In addition, the rules do not allow for a 'foreign award' to be accepted if a British award has been given for the same service. Said George: "If that is the case, why did HMG allow British servicemen to accept the Kuwait and Saudi Arabia medals on top of the medal awarded by HMG for services in the 1991 Iraq war? "It is time the British Government conceded that its position on this is illogical." Lagan Valley MP, Mr Donaldson said: "I'm only too delighted to highlight this issue. "These men put their lives on the line for their country. Now, we are asking what is holding the Government back from recognising their valiant service to the Crown and the people of Malaysia?" |