John Cooper wrote:
I just love to have a fight on my hands
This came in yesterday now who believes/disbelieves they are/are not a Crown Servant
Date: Fri, 4 May 2007 07:59:04 +0100 (BST)
From: "JOHN COOPER"
Subject: Re: Pingat Jasa Malaysia
To: Abby.Oshodi@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
Abby.Oshodi@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk wrote:
Dear Mr Cooper
Thank you for your email of 16 April regarding the announcement in the London Gazette of 3May 1968 and your interpretation of that statement to the Pingat Jasa Malaysia.
I must inform you that the conclusion you have drawn from reading this article is incorrect. The announcement, as it states, applies to UK citizens who are not servants of the Crown.
You and your colleagues, who bravely served in Her Majesty's Armed Forces during the Malaya conflict, were doing so as Crown servants. Although you are now retired from this service the definition of Crown servant still applies to this service. Indeed this was re-confirmed following the 1968 London Gazette announcement, in the FCO Regulations concerning Acceptance and Wear (Section A, Paragraph 14) as produced in 1969 namely:
14. Persons who have retired from the service of the Crown remain subject to these Regulations in so far as concerns the acceptance of Orders, decorations or medals offered in respect of services rendered before their retirement.
Therefore the HD Committee's final decision on the Pingat Jasa Malaysia remains applicable to you and your former colleagues. Abby Oshodi
Ceremonial Secretariat
The Cabinet Office computer systems may be monitored and communications carried on them recorded, to secure the effective operation of the system and for other lawful purposes.
The original of this email was scanned for viruses by the Government Secure Intranet Anti-Virus service supplied by Cable&Wireless in partnership with MessageLabs. (CCTM Certificate Number 2006/04/0007.) On leaving the GSi this email was certified virus free.
Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or recorded for legal purposes.
Hi Abby
I am in receipt of your email, I have been waiting for an official reply from HMG over this matter.
For your information I am not a Crown Servant and have not been a Servant of The Crown for many years, I therefore ask you to withdraw that remark.
If you feel that I am a Crown Servant still or since I left The Royal Air Force please inform me of what regulation this refers to and promulgated by whom.
John Cooper
(The holder and legally intitled wearer of The Pingat Jasa Malaysia ref The London Gazette May 3rd 1968)
Exellent reply John,
If veterans with over five years previous service in HM Armed Forces are classed by the Cabinet office to still be in service of the crown, why were are they not intitled to The Queens Golden Jubilee Medal 2003?
Richard Coney [Honours 1 MOD] informed me once he was sick sore and tired having to reply to veterans, with 25 to 30 years service who had left HM Armed Forces only days and weeks before the QGJM was instituted that they were not intitled to the QGJM because they had
CEASED TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE SERVICE OF THE CROWN.
Surely HMG cannot have it both ways can they?