§ 33. Sir A. Southbyasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether officers and men of the R.M. who served in the Middle East and are qualified for the Africa Star have received their ribbons; and whether members of the R.M. who served overseas have been issued with the ribbon of the 1939–43 Star if not qualified for the Africa Star.
Mr. AlexanderIt is intended to issue the Africa Star ribbon to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines as soon as the qualifications for the 1939–43 Star have been finally settled. For the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines, the 1939–43 Star takes precedence over the Africa Star, which will therefore not be issued to naval or marine personnel who qualify for the 1939–43 Star. With regard to the second part of the Question, the ribbon of the 1939–43 Star has been issued to Royal Marines qualified under the conditions at present approved.
§ Sir A. SouthbyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of the marines are qualified to wear the Eighth Army distinctive mark on the ribbon of their Africa Stars and that they have not yet received the ribbon of the Star? Is he also aware that there is considerable dissatisfaction in all three Services on the subject of the issue of these ribbons, both of the 1939–43 Star and the Africa Star?
Mr. AlexanderI have already said that they will be issued as soon as the qualifications have been finally settled.
Mr. AlexanderIt is a decision which will be general for the Fighting Services, and not confined to the Admiralty alone.