Medallion Man

Today the end of the war in Europe was commemorated and rightly so. Some commentators have noted that the Soviet contribution to victory was somewhat overlooked. This is reminiscent of Stalin writing Trotsky out of history and photographs. But I’m sure that’s no-one’s intention. As we know history is pliable and will suit whatever the contemporary narrative demands. But one thing (only one?) does annoy me. This is the regular trotting out of our royals to lead the nation’s moment of reflection. Yes, some of them have served in the military, but the King’s time, judging by his medals you might think must have been one long period of mortal combat. He’s got so many medals when he wears them he’s clearly in danger of leaning to one side. So far as I can tell, the whole lot have been awarded for just ‘being there,’ that is in the main for being a royal. Half—five—of his medals relate to the Coronation and his mother’s various jubilees, medals in other words designed to create a colourful chest of wonderment for the credulous. Why does this irritate me? Because those who actually earned their medals are somehow degraded, the whole calculated issuance of medals becomes a cynical charade. I am not against medals per se, but I might add that during the war we are now celebrating the 80th anniversary of the ending of, officers and ’other ranks’ would generally get different grades of medal for acts of bravery. It must have been assumed that officers were imbued with a more noble form of bravery, deserving of crosses as opposed to common or garden medals. Is this just me griping about not getting a medal? After all, my service in the RAF did lead to my supply squadron getting an award for data transmission accuracy (how I courageously mastered the reading of punch tape and the telex machine). I think everyone who served in the forces during the reign of Her. Maj. should get the appropriate medal(s). And perhaps one or two more for accurate marching up and down. Then perhaps King Charles could look us in the eye and say ’Well done!’ and we’d all be very pleased with ourselves.