§ 36. Sir J. Lucasasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why ships' personnel who were taken prisoner, as a result of the sinking of H.M. Submarine "Undine," were deemed to be ineligible for the Atlantic Star and for prize money, in view of the precedent already established that a prisoner of war period of captivity counts for qualifying period for a medal.
Mr. DugdaleUnder the terms governing the award of Campaign Stars and Medals, which are the same for all three Services, prisoners of war are covered by the rule that six months' operational service qualifying for the 1939–45 Star must have been completed and service qualifying for one of the other Stars 261W begun before capture, in order to allow time spent in captivity to count towards that Star.
When His Majesty's Submarine "Undine" was sunk on 6th January, 1940, none of the ship's company, all of whom were taken prisoner, had completed the six months' service afloat which would have qualified them for the 1939–45 Star. The time spent as prisoners of war could, not, therefore, count towards the qualifying period for the Atlantic Star although it did count towards the 1939–45 Star.
Under the Regulations in the Royal Proclamation of 4th March, 1949, time spent as a prisoner of war is not qualifying service for the purpose of entitlement to prize money.