HC Deb 14 June 1945 vol 411 c1770
45. Captain Longhurst

asked the Prime Minister to what medal men who have served in Paiforce will be entitled.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Churchill)

Operational service in Iraq between 10th April and 31st May, 1941, and in Persia between 25th and 28th August, 1941, qualifies in itself for the award of the 1939–45 Star. Other service by United Kingdom or Indian Forces in Persia and Iraq between 3rd September, 1939, and 8th May, 1945, counts towards the qualifying period for the Defence Medal, which in this case is one year.

Captain Longhurst

Is it seriously suggested that men who have served in Persia and Iraq through conditions varying from 170 degrees in the sun to conditions where convoys taking aid to Russia have been trapped in the snow and later found dead are qualified for the same award as lady fire watchers in the Ministry of Health at Blackpool?

The Prime Minister

I do not think we had better bring Blackpool into it. This has been most carefully examined since the Question was first put on the Paper, and I am satisfied that it meets the requirements of the situation as justly as possible. I have never pretended that in the full distribution of all these stars and medals over millions of people there will not be hard cases, but I think it is impossible to meet them without raising other hard cases.

Commander Locker-Lampson

Cannot the claims of the M.T.C. be further considered, not now but later?

The Prime Minister

They are all included.