- Author
- Letter Writer
- Subjects
- History - general, History - post WWII
- Tags
- RAN Ships
- None noted.
- Publication
- September 2005 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
You may not be aware that some time ago the British Government approved the award of the above medal to naval personnel who served in the Suez Canal Zone in 1951-2, when the Egyptian employees of the Canal went on strike and the Royal Navy and Army went in and ran the Canal, in the face of some hostility. (This event should not be confused with the Suez War of 1956). Having been made aware of this by a term mate of mine (with whom I was a Midshipman in HMS Liverpool), I applied for and recently received this medal. (Other NHSA members may also qualify – qualifying service is understood to be 28 days in the Canal Zone from 19 Nov 51 until early 1952).
The medal is somewhat unique in that, whilst it was earned in the reign of King George VI, it has the Queen’s head on it. I thought I was doing well in 1996 when I received the Australian Service Medal 1945-1975 clasp FESR, for service in HMAS Warramunga, some 41 years after the event, but to get one 54 years later takes some beating!
CMDR Peter Poland RN Retd