15 June 2007
We received a petition asking:
"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Recognise the courage and sacrifice of the men of RAF Bomber Command by instituting a Campaign Medal."
Details of Petition:
"Crewing an RAF heavy bomber was the second most dangerous role performed by servicemen on any side during the Second World War. At the end of the war the contraversial ‘area bombing’ policy (which was adopted in 1942 and heavily supported by the Prime Minister and the Government of the day) became something of an embarrassment to the powers that be once its full effectiveness had become known, and the authorities turned their backs on those who had implemented it. To this date, the bomber offensive against Germany is the only recognised campaign never to have been marked by the issue of a medal to those who fought it - men (and women) who were left to feel as though their country was ashamed of them. Many of the surviving veterans are now approaching the ends of their lives, and this petition is to request that their courage and sacrifice be belatedly recognised by the institution of a Bomber Command Campaign medal."
Read the Government’s response
Thank you for taking the time to sign this e-petition requesting that a campaign medal be instituted for those who served in Bomber Command during World War Two.
There is widespread admiration for the major contribution that the crews of Bomber Command made to the Allied victory in World War Two and their commitment in the face of significant losses. The Government acknowledges that a large number of people share your wish to mark this with a medal.
It may be helpful, however, if I explain that there were no medals awarded purely for service in a particular Command during World War Two. Those who completed the minimum qualifying period of service in operational areas were eligible for the 1939-45 Star; those with long service in non-operational areas received the Defence Medal. In addition to the 1939-45 Star and Defence Medal, a series of Campaign stars were created for participants in particularly hazardous campaigns, and many Bomber Command personnel qualified for the much prized Aircrew Europe Star, or, for example, the France and Germany Star.
The creation of medals is the prerogative of the Sovereign. In this, the Sovereign takes advice from the Government of the day, who, in turn, are advised by the inter-departmental, non-political committee on the grant of honours, decorations and medals (known as the HD Committee), on which the Armed Forces are represented. In the case of campaign medals for service during the Second World War, the issue was discussed exhaustively by those in command at the time and by the HD Committee. If they had considered that a Bomber Command Medal, or indeed one for Coastal Command, South East Asia Command etc was appropriate, they had the opportunity to recommend the institution of such medals.
Since the end of World War Two, the HD Committee has maintained a policy that it will not consider the belated institution of awards and medals for service given many years earlier. The reason for this policy is that the present HD Committee cannot put itself in the place of the committee which made the original decision and which would have been able to take account of the views of those in the chain of command, the Government and of other interested parties at the time of that decision.
The HD Committee has made it clear on a number of occasions in response to requests for the institution of belated awards that it will not change this policy. Successive governments have found no reason to overturn this ruling, which is periodically reviewed and has been followed for over fifty years.