HC Deb 08 March 1949 vol 462 c99W
5. Mr. Platts-Mills

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that ex-Staff Sergeant Robert Bennett, M.M., Grenadier Guards, of 355 Meadow Lane, Oxford, at present on release leave from the Army, has been awarded the Greek Military Cross; that the citation affirms that this British non-commissioned officer has been serving with the Greek Commandos for over three years past and that he has helped with the training of Greek raiding forces and participated in tasks which they undertook; and whether he will give an assurance that no other British Service personnel have been or will be so employed in Greece.

Mr. Shinwell

I understand that, as stated by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Mile End (Mr. Piratin) on 2nd March, a Greek Corps Commander made an unauthorised award of the Greek Military Cross to this noncommissioned officer. This amounts to an unofficial memento only, as all Greek awards are subject to confirmation by Royal decree, and this award has not been so confirmed.

The non-commissioned officer served as an instructor with a British liaison unit attached to a Greek Corps from April, 1947, until he left Greece in January, 1949. He did not personally engage in operations. The mission is in Greece at the request of the Greek Government, to give assistance in training the Greek National Army. No member of the mission has been or will be authorised to take an active part in operations.