Wearing relative's medals

Kyt · Dec 17, 2008

I found this interesting - especially the fact that Canadians are not allowed to wear their relative's medals on appropriate occassions. The rule in Britain is that they can be worn on the right breast, or carried (I think)

Military medals span generations | Peter Worthington | Columnists | Comment | Winnipeg Sun

In 1855 the Duke of Newcastle, then Britain's Secretary for War, suggested "a new (military) decoration open to all ranks."

He felt it was neither "right nor politic" that heroic deeds should go unrewarded, and noted: "The value attached by soldiers to a little piece of ribbon is such as to render any danger insignificant and any privation light if it can be attained."

Thus was born the Victoria Cross.

Canada came late to the medals game. Until relatively recently we mostly awarded British medals, but all that has changed. Canada now issues over 100 different medals, most of them service rather than gallantry awards.

Our newest is the Sacrifice Medal, awarded to those killed or wounded in action in Afghanistan (but not for accidental deaths). Nor do those killed or wounded in pre-2001 peacekeeping missions qualify -- though DND is expected to review this eligibility.

Some veterans, such as Cliff Chadderton, chairman of the National Council of Veteran Associations (56 organizations) points out that in past wars a gold wound stripe on the uniform sleeve was all the soldier got. Those killed got nothing.

The question of medals can be divisive -- especially the proposal that soldiers in Afghanistan who serve "outside the wire" should get a medal different from those who serve in (relative) safety.

DECEASED VETERANS

Another issue is what should happen to the medals of a deceased veteran? I received a message the other day from Marilyn Lincoln of Kitchener, wondering if it was illegal to wear her late father's Second World War medals at ceremonies such as Remembrance Day.

She wanted to honour her dad; he was proud of his wartime service.

She consulted Dave Davidson, past-president of the Korean Veterans Association (KVA). Dave told her that in Britain, Australia, New Zealand a close relative of a deceased soldier could wear the medals on the right chest, but in Canada only those who earned the medals had the right to wear them.

This is true, but it's also dumb and dogmatic.

Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) is adamant: "Medals may only be worn by the veteran. It is a criminal offence to wear military medals that someone else has earned."

"I would never break the law," Ms. Lincoln says, but feels it honours both country and soldiers if a relative wears medals on the right chest. She has written the Royal Canadian Legion and seeks input how veterans feel about relatives wearing their medals on commemorative occasions.

"My father left his medals in my care and made it very clear he wanted to be remembered as a soldier, even though he was a fire captain for 30 years with the Toronto Fire Department.," says Ms. Lincoln. "My dad would be very, very proud if this tradition (of wearing medals on the right chest) were passed on from generation to generation."

Davidson is inclined to agree, but VAC and DND are silent.

WEAR THEM

My advice to the indomitable Ms. Lincoln is to go ahead and wear her father's Second World War medals on her right chest next Remembrance Day. It's inconceivable that anyone would object. If they did -- what a story for the media!

It's not widely realized that Canada has become a prolific distributor of medals. Excluding the First World War, the Second World War and Korea, Canada now authorizes well over 100 campaign and other medals. With a year or two of service, a soldier can be entitled to a chest full of medals; many Second World War vets, after six years of war, had only five campaign medals.

Canada should immediately approve close relatives wearing a deceased veteran's medals on the right chest at appropriate occasions. To do otherwise dishonours those who served.
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Wearing relative's medals

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