Anti Walting Petition

[skyeman]

http://www.legislation.gov.uk
/ukpga/Vict/57-58/45

[Hussar100]

Originally Posted by skyeman

http://www.legislation.gov.uk
/ukpga/Vict/57-58/45

That's uniform sorted out. Is there anything currently banning the wearing of unearned medals?

[GriffMJ]

A lot of us STABs did our service in a period when the only "real" bling available was NI. Some of us have been in long enough to get a Jubbly or an LS etc..... but otherwise sweet FA (apart from a little pin badge). There was a medal produced to comfort those left out...... but I would feel dirty wearing it.... because I consider it "Walt'ish". If it has not been pinned on your chest then a void must remain in my opinion.

[ebro]

Griff,
The generation before us had loads of medals, the generation after us have loads of medals. We were just fortunate to live in more peaceful times.
Eddie

[Hussar100]

Originally Posted by GriffMJ

A lot of us STABs did our service in a period when the only "real" bling available was NI. Some of us have been in long enough to get a Jubbly or an LS etc..... but otherwise sweet FA (apart from a little pin badge). There was a medal produced to comfort those left out...... but I would feel dirty wearing it.... because I consider it "Walt'ish". If it has not been pinned on your chest then a void must remain in my opinion.

You'll know my feelings on this Griff. There's nowt wrong with being a STAB. Tin isn't what it's about either. It's about belonging to that club which only those who have served belong to. In everything we did from the moment we signed up until we got out of bed this morning we were always aware of those who came before us, the standards we had to uphold and the memory of absent friends we are honour bound to keep. Nobody who hasn't gone through basis will ever know what it means.

Many men have spent 35 years in the forces without seeing a shot fired in anger. They're happy to admit it. It's enough for them to have served. Nobody who is honest will ever claim to be something they weren't.

You know a guy is being straight with you when he tells you he was in the Catering Corps or Reme or spent x amount of years on the tank park. You don't get this with Walts though - they've always been in the thick of the action with the Paras or SAS or some secret unit which nobody else knows about. You like I will have heard all the bragging from guys who were at the bar seeking attention. Did you ever hear anybody Walting about being a cook?

Walts don't understand the value of camaraderie you see, all they want is a share of the glory they feel certain units get. Attention seeking twats that they are.

If I met you in a bar somewhere and we got talking about the army we'd finish up sharing stories about things which happened off duty - funny stories about mundane things on exercise. Because that's what it's all about - the fun and that's what Walts will never get their heads around.

[Hussar100]

Originally Posted by ebro

Griff,
The generation before us had loads of medals, the generation after us have loads of medals. We were just fortunate to live in more peaceful times.
Eddie

My mammy has more medals than me.

[GriffMJ]

The closest I got to "action" was rounding up IIs on the Last British Border Patrol in HK in the mid 90s..... two weeks of being mosquito fodder and feeling sorry for the poor Sods we were sending back to the PLA for their ritual beatings Battle taxi was the Wessex into OPs on mountains in the West NT..... great fun! No medals..... just memories, that'll do.

[Hussar100]

Originally Posted by GriffMJ

The closest I got to "action" was rounding up IIs on the Last British Border Patrol in HK in the mid 90s..... two weeks of being mosquito fodder and feeling sorry for the poor Sods we were sending back to the PLA for their ritual beatings Battle taxi was the Wessex into OPs on mountains in the West NT..... great fun! No medals..... just memories, that'll do.

That's what I mean. The experience is worth more than any awards. You notice I never mention my VC?

[yorkstone]

Sadly British legion promote bling medals via the company award productions I think they are called we have probably all had there catalog at some time.

what is needed is a ban on all bling and an introduction of A National Defence medal as Australia & New Zealand has already done.

though the MP's here have decided that we in the UK do not deserve this honour.
The fact that H M The Queen has seen fit to sanction the National Defence in these two country's.

We deserve nothing better than equality this award would negate the feeling that bling needs to be worn to prove we served.

Sincerely

Stephen

[Nozzer]

Originally Posted by yorkstone

We deserve nothing better than equality this award would negate the feeling that bling needs to be worn to prove we served.

I believe that is why the "Armed Forces Veteran Lapel Badge" was sanctioned.

Unfortunately, these badges can be purchased quite easily..... I believe that there are even fakes......

Anyone know what the criteria is to qualify for this badge is?

[GriffMJ]

Originally Posted by Nozzer

I believe that is why the "Armed Forces Veteran Lapel Badge" was sanctioned.

Unfortunately, these badges can be purchased quite easily..... I believe that there are even fakes......

Anyone know what the criteria is to qualify for this badge is?

eBay £3....and your a Veteran

Basically..... if its to be done right it should be dished out to your service number with a min' service period 3-5 years (meeting the required days and Bounty in the case of us STABs). I am pretty sure that would keep the retention levels up as well, especially if bars were dished out for 5 year stints from basic. The mutiples would achieve that age sucking LS then.

[yorkstone]

Griff
It has already been done properly in Australia and New Zealand the later also has bars.

It is not rocket science and would resolve the bling issue

However it would require veterans agency's policy being changed to official medals only to be worn.

Regards

Stephen

[Nozzer]

Originally Posted by GriffMJ

eBay £3....and your a Veteran

Basically..... if its to be done right it should be dished out to your service number with a min' service period 3-5 years (meeting the required days and Bounty in the case of us STABs). I am pretty sure that would keep the retention levels up as well, especially if bars were dished out for 5 year stints from basic. The mutiples would achieve that age sucking LS then.

There is no minimum service time. As long as you have been issued with an official number you get the badge.

[ebro]

Quote by Nozzer; Anyone know what the criteria is to qualify for this badge is?

Criteria
All those who have served in HM Armed Forces, including Volunteer and Regular Reserves
Exceptions
Veterans who served in Armed Forces of other Countries and those who served alongside HM Armed Forces are not eligible (e.g. Canadian Navy or Royal Australian Air Force).

Hope this helps,
Eddie

[Phil2M]

My dad claims to have been the following:

A RCT sniper, Bren Gun specialist and tank transport driver and, of all things, an amphibious vehicle instructor. He claims that he lost his medals, badge etc. He was, ha ha, based in shoeburyness and served in NI. He also claimed, once, that he was in the RCCoS and wore the early patten cap badge (circa ww1).

Whilst he was a probationer in the police, he claims to have been awarded a bravery medal, which, you will be surprised to read, hes lost. He was kicked out of the force shortly after his probation ended.

He also claims he was an army cadet, truth is he was a cub scout.

Hes also forgotten his service number, the name of his CO, which mark bren he was issued .....the list goes on.

The problem is that people believe him about it all because he claims ill health caused his memory loss etc. I am ashamed of his lies. The ones about his 'army life' are just the tip of the iceberg. Its all about both reaping the attention of admirers and trying to cover for a genuinely wasted and insignificant life.

I find it embarrassing, shameful and sad.