Falklands surgeon Rick Jolly backs medal fight
By Jeff Pickett 3/03/2008
A hero doctor of the Falklands war who continued to fight for troops when he returned home backed the Mirror medal campaign last night.
Surgeon Captain Rick Jolly, 62, was the only serviceman to be decorated by both sides after the conflict. He was also part of a veterans' group which urged the Government to recognise soldiers with posttraumatic stress disorder.
He believes a medal to recognise troops killed or hurt in Afghanistan and Iraq would be a great morale-booster.
He said: "The principle of an award is a good one although it must be extended to those injured or killed in other conflicts.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2008/03/03/
falklands-surgeon-backs-medal-fight-89520-20338711/
As generals dither, MPs will demand new medal for heroes
EXCLUSIVE
By Bob Roberts And Chris Hughes 26/02/2008
Britain's top military brass will come under ferocious attack today for refusing to award a new medal to the country's most courageous soldiers.
In a historic Parliamentary debate, MPs from all political parties will say the campaign for a new honour to recognise dead and injured servicemen has been held up by the generals for too long.
And they will say it is wrong for the heads of the armed forces to block a new medal for ordinary troops when they are happy to take honours for themselves.
Former military chiefs will also express their disgust at the refusal of today's generals to award the new medal.
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Ex commander of British Armed Forces in Afghanistan, Colonel Richard Kemp says he is disgusted the top brass are out of touch.
"I never thought I would say this, but it is beginning to appear that the politicians are more attuned to the needs of our fighting men and women than are the generals," he told the Mirror, which has long campaigned for the medal.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has backed the idea of a British equivalent to an American Purple Heart which is awarded to all dead and wounded service personnel.
Soldiers across the ranks and politicians of all parties have backed the Mirror's campaign. But Chief of the General Staff Sir Richard Dannatt and his deputy Sir Timothy Granville-Chapman are dithering, claiming a new medal for the wounded would be "divisive" amongst soldiers.
Labour MP Kevan Jones who called for the debate is expected to tell Parliament they should not be receiving their own honours while refusing them for others.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2008/02/26/
as-generals-dither-mps-will-demand-new-medal-for-heroes-89520-20331967/
Hero Victoria Cross Gurkha soldiers back Daily Mirror medal campaign
Number of MPs backing Daily Mirror medal campaign reaches 303
MPs tell PM Gordon Brown 'give soldiers award they deserve'
Soldiers' families demand medals for their fallen heroes
I'm not the only one calling for this,,,,,,,when will we begin a push for this here too?
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