Foreign Award Recommendations
Good morning everyone.
Can anyone tell me why British WW2 commanders made recommendations for Brits to receive foreign awards?
For instance - I have come across British Regimental and Divisional commanders making recommendations for the US Distinguished Service Cross, French Croix de Guerre with Vermillion Star and Dutch Knight of the Order of Oranje Nassau with Swords awards for British troops in 1944.
As an amateur I would have thought respective foreign commanders to make such recommendations to attached Brits but they have all come from British battalion, brigade and Division level and the London Gazette lists the awards.
To me it seems odd that British commanders had the authority to award foreign medals to British soldiers, why not just make recommendations for British awards? Maybe the French and Dutch awards make sense (sort of) whilst fighting in those countries but why the US award? This has me beat!
Has anyone got the answer?
Thanks for reading.
Amy
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