Russian Commemorative Medal (Hansard, 19 January 1994)

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, the Queen has approved a recommendation that the Russian commemorative medal—or to give it its correct title "The Russian 40th Anniversary of Victory Medal"—may now be worn by eligible British recipients. An announcement to this effect was published in the London Gazette on 4th January 1994.

§ Lord Williams of Elvel
My Lords, I am most grateful to the noble Baroness for that Answer, which will come as a source of great satisfaction to those who served with such courage on the Arctic convoys in the Second World War. Will she now be good enough to pay tribute to those Members of this House who campaigned for a period of months on this issue: my noble friends Lord Callaghan of Cardiff and Lord Mason of Barnsley, the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Bramall, the noble Lord, Lord Boyd-Carpenter, and—last, but indeed foremost—the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Lewin, who was the man who really got this matter moving? If the noble Baroness is still in a benign mood, will she try to explain to the House why it took so long for the Government to arrive at a sensible decision?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, I gladly pay tribute to all noble and gallant Lords, and particularly to the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Lewin, for his campaign, which resulted in this satisfactory outcome. The changed circumstances in Russia are what has enabled us, since the medal was first issued, to make this decision. It is a very special circumstance, and I think that it justified exceptional treatment. That is what we have done, and I am most grateful to all noble Lords who pursued this matter, to the great satisfaction of everyone concerned.

§ Lord Boyd-Carpenter
My Lords, is my noble friend aware that all Members of this House will be very glad indeed to see the Government's decision and that most of us recognise that this medal was earned by extremely arduous, and in many cases dangerous, work on the Arctic convoys—in which, I am happy to reflect, a kinsman of mine was involved?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, it is certainly right that we should pay tribute to all those who have fought so long and hard for the freedoms which we sometimes take for granted in this country. 608 There is no doubt that this was a popular, if delayed, decision. It is one with which I am glad the Government could be associated.

§ Lord Kilbracken
My Lords, as one who was surprised to be awarded this medal, after an interval of a mere 40 years—my noble friend Lord Fitt is in the same position—I welcome the noble Baroness's Answer. But could she give me any idea of the kind of occasion on which I might want to wear it?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, the noble Lord poses a teasing question. I am sure that grandchildren ought to know exactly what was done in the name of this country so that children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren will look with pride on such a medal worn by their relative.

§ Lord Lewin
My Lords, will the noble Baroness please accept that the elderly gentlemen who are eligible to wear that medal—they come from the Royal Air Force that was based in North Russia, the members of the Royal Artillery maritime detachments who served in the merchant ships and the men of the Merchant Navy and the Royal Navy—are most grateful to Her Majesty for her gracious permission to wear the medal, though a little sad that it has taken so long for that happy conclusion to be reached? Perhaps I may say to the noble Lord, Lord Kilbracken, that Remembrance Day is a very good occasion on which to wear the medal.

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, I am most grateful to the noble and gallant Lord. The difficulty is that there was a long tradition—I know that the noble and gallant Lord agrees—that only foreign awards approved by the sovereign should be accepted and worn by British citizens. We are all delighted that Her Majesty has seen fit to grant permission to wear the medal. I am sure that it should be worn on Remembrance Day.

§ Lord Mason of Barnsley
My Lords, does the Minister agree that now would be the time, in view of the circumstances, to have a review of the regulations with a view to some amendment? Is she aware that the British in the European Community monitoring mission in the former Yugoslavia have been advised by the Foreign Office not to accept the EC monitoring mission medal? Is she further aware that holders have been advised especially not to wear it? This is a case similar to the one we are now discussing? Is she able to say whether those who served in the former Yugoslavia eventually will be recognised by Her Majesty's Government?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, during my researches into this Question I discovered that it was far more complicated than it seemed at first sight. Certainly there is a difference between a campaign medal, which is issued on the anniversary of a campaign, and a medal issued to recognise service in the campaign itself.
There has also always been a tradition that a British citizen would not wear a foreign medal when his or her services have already been recognised by the award of 609 a British medal for the same campaign. While some review, as happened in this case, might be necessary, I am not prepared to speculate about the future.
The EC monitors' medal is not a campaign or anniversary medal. It is not granted in circumstances similar to those that we have just been discussing in the main Question. In the absence of a relevant national award we felt that British monitors should be given permission to accept that particular special recognition for their service in Bosnia and Croatia.

§ Lord Callaghan of Cardiff
My Lords, is the Minister aware that we are not all as sophisticated as the noble Lord, Lord Kilbracken? I received a letter this morning from one who is entitled to wear the medal. He said—and I believe that he meant it quite sincerely—that he had tears in his eyes when he heard the news. So there is room for a difference of opinion on these matters.
Does the Minister have any information about the number of medals that are available? Is it accurate to say, as I have been informed, that about 2,000 of those people entitled to receive them have not done so and that sufficient medals have not been issued by the Russian authorities? If that is correct, will she approach the Russian Government to see that a proper supply is provided?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, I do not have that information to hand. I shall study what the noble Lord has said and see what can be done if persons who are obviously entitled to that medal have not so far received it.

§ Lord Fitt
My Lords, does the Minister agree that had it not been for the involvement of the Soviet Union in the last war, many thousands of lives would have been lost? The medal in question was given to merchant seamen and others who have been mentioned. As the noble Lord, Lord Kilbracken, said, I was on a ship (a tanker) which was attacked by German submarines and he was on a Royal Air Force plane from an aircraft carrier in the same convoy. We found that out here in the corridors of your Lordships' House.
Referring to the comments of the noble Lord, Lord Callaghan, is the Minister aware that there is great difficulty with regard to the number of medals that have been issued? Does she further agree that, naturally, all the people who were on Russian convoys would want to claim a medal for the services that they gave in those times? I believe that there is great dissatisfaction about the number of medals that have been issued, particularly in regard to merchant seamen. I appeal again, in the words of the noble Lord, Lord Callaghan, for representation to be made to the Russian Embassy or the Russian authorities. Is she further aware that this is only a late invention by Mr. Gorbachev, to make certain that everyone involved in those Russian operations at that time is entitled to a medal that they will wear with pride?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, I believe that that is exactly the meaning of the Answer that I gave to the noble Lord, Lord Callaghan. We also congratulate the noble Lords on all that they did.

§ Lord Mackie of Benshie
My Lords, can the Minister say whether any money goes with the Russian medal? A friend of mine during the war held a high Russian decoration and when he ran out of money in London he would go to the Russian Embassy and collect a considerable sum.

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, I am not sure that that is a question that I can answer.