THE eight-year long drive for a Bomber Command (BC) campaign medal was overtaken on April 30, 2012 when Prime Minister David Cameron decided to appoint Sir John Holmes as chairman of a military medals review panel to make recommendations about World War Two campaign medals.

This resulted in the rather disappointing award of a BC clasp to BC aircrew only, but a full Arctic Star medal for the convoys seamen (of which we also approved) as announced on December 19 last year.

The BC clasp award to aircrew only was not well received by BC personnel but that of the Arctic Star was welcomed.

Questions are still being asked in both Houses of Parliament about applications for, and delays in, receipt of these medals by MPs and Lords on behalf of survivors, widows and next of kin of the Arctic convoys and Bomber Command.

Now I can quote (Lords’ Hansard Update, July 22) that all outstanding applications received so far from surviving veterans for the Arctic Star medal and Bomber Command clasp will be processed by the end of the summer 2013.

The assessment of applications received from widows will begin thereafter, followed by those from next of kin.

However, applications from surviving veterans subsequently received will always be afforded priority over other cases.

I hope this information may help if anyone is doubtful about applying for, or in obtaining, the BC clasp or the Arctic Star.

I have yet to receive my own clasp and I believe that others and myself consider that the observed reluctance to make a clasp application may be that we consider the clasp award to be inappropriate and that a full campaign medal award should have been made as requested by our old Commander-in-Chief Arthur Harris.

WG CDR A J WRIGHT DFC RAF (Ret)
71 Gibson Close
Abingdon