The families of 8000 British soldiers killed since World War II are to be given a new medal - the Elizabeth Cross.
The silver medal will be in the shape of a cross and a wreath, with the symbols of England (rose), Scotland (thistle), Northern Ireland (shamrock) and Wales (daffodil) emblazoned on the cross's four points.
In the centre of the cross is "EIIR" - Elizabeth II Regina.
It is the first time the name of a reigning monarch, who is Head of the Armed Forces, has been given to a new award since the George Cross in 1940, introduced by King George VI for acts of bravery by civilians and the military.
An accompanying parchment scroll, headed with the Royal Coat of Arms and the Queen's signature, will carry the words: 'This Scroll Commemorates ... who gave his/her life for Queen and country on...'
The simple wording has been chosen on the advice of the previous Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion.
Families of 8,000 British troops killed since WWII to be given new Elizabeth Cross medal
By Daily Mail Reporter
01st July 2009
Daily Mail
The Queen is to recognise the loss suffered by the families of armed forces personnel killed on operations with the award of an honour in her name, it was announced today.
The Elizabeth Cross will be granted to the next-of-kin of servicemen and women who died during operations or were killed as the result of terrorist action since World War II.
They will receive the silver emblem in the shape of a cross and a wreath, as well as a memorial scroll signed by the Queen. The Ministry of Defence estimates that around 8,000 families could be eligible for the award.
It is the first time the name of a reigning monarch has been given to a new award since the George Cross in 1940, introduced by George VI for acts of bravery by civilians and the military.
Honour: Made of silver, the Elizabeth Cross carries symbols of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Enlarge
The families will receive a larger cross which can be worn for more formal occasions and another, smaller one which can be placed on a lapel
It follows a precedent set after the first and second world wars.
Families of those killed in World War I were given a scroll and a memorial plaque, while a scroll was given to families of those who died in World War II and the Korean War.
The scrolls were handed out by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission which covered the period up until January 1st, 1948 however no scrolls were given to cover operations in Palestine from September 1945 to the end of 1947.
This period will now be covered by the Elizabeth Cross and other operations after that date including the Falklands and Northern Ireland, as well as Iraq and Afghanistan.
Relatives of those who died in the Korean conflict will also now be eligible to receive the cross but no scroll as they already have one.
The families will receive a box with a larger cross which can be worn for more formal occasions and another, smaller one which can be placed on a lapel.
Enlarge
Soldiers of the Black Watch deploying in Afghanistan. The decision to honour the families was originally announced by the then Defence Secretary Des Browne last year
The Queen said: 'This seems to me a right and proper way of showing our enduring debt to those who are killed while actively protecting what is most dear to us all'
Announcing the creation of the award in a Commons written statement, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said it was intended to recognise the 'huge debt' the country owed to the families of the dead.
In a radio message to armed forces personnel on the British Forces Broadcasting Service, the Queen said: 'This seems to me a right and proper way of showing our enduring debt to those who are killed while actively protecting what is most dear to us all.
'The solemn dignity which we attach to the names of those who have fallen is deeply engrained in our national character. As a people, we accord this ultimate sacrifice the highest honour and respect.'
The Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, said he believed the Cross would be worn with 'immense pride'.
'It is a reminder not just of the ultimate price their loved ones have paid while safeguarding our security and freedom - it is also a lasting symbol of the nation's recognition of and gratitude for their sacrifice.'
The Cross will be made of hallmarked silver and will carry the rose of England, the Scottish thistle, the Irish shamrock, and the Welsh daffodil. The centre will bear the crowned cypher of the Queen.
Next of kin will receive the silver emblem, as well as a memorial scroll signed by the Queen. The simple wording has been chosen on the advice of the previous Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion
An accompanying parchment scroll, headed with the Royal Coat of Arms and the Queen's signature, will carry the words: 'This Scroll Commemorates ... who gave his/her life for Queen and country on...'
The simple wording has been chosen on the advice of the previous Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion.
While one cross only will be awarded, additional scrolls will be available to parents, spouses, or partners who are not designated next-of-kin.
The decision to honour the families was originally announced by the then Defence Secretary Des Browne last year and consultations on what form it should take have been under way since then.
The idea for the cross came originally from military chiefs of staff who passed it on to the government.
The MoD expects to contact the families of those who have died since 2000 but relatives of service personnel killed before that date will be invited to apply for the award.
It will cover regular and reserve personnel who died on any medal-earning operations or other tasks where there was an 'inherent high risk', or as a result of terrorism. It will also cover those who died subsequently as a result of their injuries.
Families will be able to decide whether they wish to receive the award publicly from a senior figure such a county Lord Lieutenant or a senior military officer, or in private.
British Army Forces operations since 1945
1968 is the only year in the 20th Century, and also the only year since World War II, in which no British soldiers have been killed in action
UK 1945 onwards
India 1945 - 1948
Palestine 1945 - 1948
Malaya 1948 - 1960
Cold War (Europe) 1949 - 1989
Korea 1950 - 1953
Suez Canal zone 1951 - 1954
Kenya 1952 - 1960
Cyprus 1955 - 1959
Aden 1955 - 1967
Radfan 1955 - 1967
Suez 1956
Borneo 1962 - 1966
Vietnam 1962 - 1975
Northern Ireland 1969 onwards
Oman Dhofar 1969 - 1976
The Falklands 1982
The first Gulf War 1991
Bosnia 1992
Kosovo 1999
Sierra Leone 2000
Afghanistan 2001 to date
Iraq 2003 to date
Peace-keeping missions worldwide 1945 to date
SAS actions worldwide 1945 to date
SOURCE: Britains Small Wars
dailymail.co.uk
The silver medal will be in the shape of a cross and a wreath, with the symbols of England (rose), Scotland (thistle), Northern Ireland (shamrock) and Wales (daffodil) emblazoned on the cross's four points.
In the centre of the cross is "EIIR" - Elizabeth II Regina.
It is the first time the name of a reigning monarch, who is Head of the Armed Forces, has been given to a new award since the George Cross in 1940, introduced by King George VI for acts of bravery by civilians and the military.
An accompanying parchment scroll, headed with the Royal Coat of Arms and the Queen's signature, will carry the words: 'This Scroll Commemorates ... who gave his/her life for Queen and country on...'
The simple wording has been chosen on the advice of the previous Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion.
Families of 8,000 British troops killed since WWII to be given new Elizabeth Cross medal
By Daily Mail Reporter
01st July 2009
Daily Mail
The Queen is to recognise the loss suffered by the families of armed forces personnel killed on operations with the award of an honour in her name, it was announced today.
The Elizabeth Cross will be granted to the next-of-kin of servicemen and women who died during operations or were killed as the result of terrorist action since World War II.
They will receive the silver emblem in the shape of a cross and a wreath, as well as a memorial scroll signed by the Queen. The Ministry of Defence estimates that around 8,000 families could be eligible for the award.
It is the first time the name of a reigning monarch has been given to a new award since the George Cross in 1940, introduced by George VI for acts of bravery by civilians and the military.
Honour: Made of silver, the Elizabeth Cross carries symbols of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Enlarge
The families will receive a larger cross which can be worn for more formal occasions and another, smaller one which can be placed on a lapel
It follows a precedent set after the first and second world wars.
Families of those killed in World War I were given a scroll and a memorial plaque, while a scroll was given to families of those who died in World War II and the Korean War.
The scrolls were handed out by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission which covered the period up until January 1st, 1948 however no scrolls were given to cover operations in Palestine from September 1945 to the end of 1947.
This period will now be covered by the Elizabeth Cross and other operations after that date including the Falklands and Northern Ireland, as well as Iraq and Afghanistan.
Relatives of those who died in the Korean conflict will also now be eligible to receive the cross but no scroll as they already have one.
The families will receive a box with a larger cross which can be worn for more formal occasions and another, smaller one which can be placed on a lapel.
Enlarge
Soldiers of the Black Watch deploying in Afghanistan. The decision to honour the families was originally announced by the then Defence Secretary Des Browne last year
The Queen said: 'This seems to me a right and proper way of showing our enduring debt to those who are killed while actively protecting what is most dear to us all'
Announcing the creation of the award in a Commons written statement, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said it was intended to recognise the 'huge debt' the country owed to the families of the dead.
In a radio message to armed forces personnel on the British Forces Broadcasting Service, the Queen said: 'This seems to me a right and proper way of showing our enduring debt to those who are killed while actively protecting what is most dear to us all.
'The solemn dignity which we attach to the names of those who have fallen is deeply engrained in our national character. As a people, we accord this ultimate sacrifice the highest honour and respect.'
The Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, said he believed the Cross would be worn with 'immense pride'.
'It is a reminder not just of the ultimate price their loved ones have paid while safeguarding our security and freedom - it is also a lasting symbol of the nation's recognition of and gratitude for their sacrifice.'
The Cross will be made of hallmarked silver and will carry the rose of England, the Scottish thistle, the Irish shamrock, and the Welsh daffodil. The centre will bear the crowned cypher of the Queen.
Next of kin will receive the silver emblem, as well as a memorial scroll signed by the Queen. The simple wording has been chosen on the advice of the previous Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion
An accompanying parchment scroll, headed with the Royal Coat of Arms and the Queen's signature, will carry the words: 'This Scroll Commemorates ... who gave his/her life for Queen and country on...'
The simple wording has been chosen on the advice of the previous Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion.
While one cross only will be awarded, additional scrolls will be available to parents, spouses, or partners who are not designated next-of-kin.
The decision to honour the families was originally announced by the then Defence Secretary Des Browne last year and consultations on what form it should take have been under way since then.
The idea for the cross came originally from military chiefs of staff who passed it on to the government.
The MoD expects to contact the families of those who have died since 2000 but relatives of service personnel killed before that date will be invited to apply for the award.
It will cover regular and reserve personnel who died on any medal-earning operations or other tasks where there was an 'inherent high risk', or as a result of terrorism. It will also cover those who died subsequently as a result of their injuries.
Families will be able to decide whether they wish to receive the award publicly from a senior figure such a county Lord Lieutenant or a senior military officer, or in private.
British Army Forces operations since 1945
1968 is the only year in the 20th Century, and also the only year since World War II, in which no British soldiers have been killed in action
UK 1945 onwards
India 1945 - 1948
Palestine 1945 - 1948
Malaya 1948 - 1960
Cold War (Europe) 1949 - 1989
Korea 1950 - 1953
Suez Canal zone 1951 - 1954
Kenya 1952 - 1960
Cyprus 1955 - 1959
Aden 1955 - 1967
Radfan 1955 - 1967
Suez 1956
Borneo 1962 - 1966
Vietnam 1962 - 1975
Northern Ireland 1969 onwards
Oman Dhofar 1969 - 1976
The Falklands 1982
The first Gulf War 1991
Bosnia 1992
Kosovo 1999
Sierra Leone 2000
Afghanistan 2001 to date
Iraq 2003 to date
Peace-keeping missions worldwide 1945 to date
SAS actions worldwide 1945 to date
SOURCE: Britains Small Wars
dailymail.co.uk
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