HC Deb 19 June 1951 vol 489 cc227-8
23. Brigadier Clarke

asked the Secretary of State for War if, in view of the gallantry shown by the Gloucestershire Regiment in Korea, he will consider some special recognition of their services there.

Mr. Strachey

Yes, Sir.

Brigadier Clarke

Does not the Minister realise that every camp-follower in Korea will get the normal United Nations medal? Does he not think that our gallant troops there deserve some special recognition?

Mr. Strachey

The hon. and gallant Gentleman's Question referred to the Gloucestershire Regiment. In that respect we are considering special recognition.

Mr. Vane

When the right hon. Gentleman considers any special recognition, will he remember that the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, together with the Gloucesters, held forward positions in the Brigade area on the day the Gloucesters suffered so many casualties and that, although they were luckier than the Gloucesters, the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers shared the heat and burden of the day?

Mr. Strachey

I appreciate the hon. Member's statement. At first sight everyone was anxious to give special recognition to the Gloucestershire Regiment. There are, of course, other formations that have performed with the utmost gallantry in Korea, and a balance has to be kept.

Lieut.-Commander Braithwaite

How soon will the right hon. Gentleman be able to announce the form that this recognition will take?

Mr. Strachey

We have had a recommendation from the Honours and Awards Committee. The matter has to go before His Majesty before anything can be done. I trust that we shall not have any undue delay.

Brigadier Clarke

In view of the importance of that statement, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that he could have uttered it earlier?