John Cooper wrote:
By design Andy, all you had to do was put into a Google Search Engine RC, WALLAH! 
And here is one such "find" from another web site, in regard to the Suez medal.
Letter of information from: Mr R T Coney.
Defence Services Secretary (Secretariat) 1, Ministry of Defence.
Re: The issue of the Suez Canal Zone Medal.
Here is the text of a letter written by Mr R T Coney of the MoD referring to the issue of the Canal Zone Medal and sent to Jock Marrs during October 2003.
It has previously been printed on the Website's Forum page, but due to the amount of enquiries received since then asking for details regarding the issue of the medal, we have decided to reproduce it here as a more permanent source of reference.
Dear Mr Marrs,
As we discussed earlier, the matter of a medal for the Canal Zone has been resolved. You are aware that it has been decided to issue a new campaign medal for service in the Suez Canal Zone during the period 1951-1954 and we have talked about the process on several occasions. Just to remind you of what has happened in recent months, The Queen had agreed to the institution of the medal in principle, but the detailed eligibility criteria had to be drafted and agreed at all levels before the medal could be issued. The Committee on Grants and Honours, Decorations and Medals has the responsibility of submitting the qualifying criteria to The Queen for her final approval. The Government undertook to inform veterans when the process had been completed and the medals were available. As you now know, this work has been completed. The Queen has seen and approved the papers and in accordance with the established procedures, they were laid before Parliament on 23rd October 2003. I would therefore be grateful if you would bring the attached information to the visitors to your website, and your ex-service friends, and encourage any of them who served in the Canal Zone between the dates shown to apply for their medal. The Ministry of Defence is very keen to issue as many medals as possible to eligible individuals in the next few months. The four single Service medal offices representing the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and Royal Air Force, plus the branches which deal with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and civilians, are fully prepared for the influx of applications.
The Army Medal Office, which will receive the largest number of claims and has to stamp the names on all the medals, has established a new Canal Zone section to deal with these applications exclusively. Though it is stating the obvious, the quicker people apply for their medal, the sooner they will receive it. It is hoped that the majority of medals can be issued within the next few months, though it will depend on the response from the veterans and their families.
We understand that the attached instructions are detailed and lengthy, but we would urge you to provide your friends and readers with as much information as possible. As you know, there has been a great deal of controversy associated with the awarding of this medal and the circumstances surrounding its issue. In recent months, the veterans' community and the Press have circulated a great deal of inaccurate information, based on rumour and untruths. This has served only to worry those who were led to believe that the medal could still be a long time in coming. As you can see this is not the case. It is our intention to provide as much information about the qualifying criteria as possible to encourage those people who might qualify for the medal to apply, and in the process answer questions which might arise from those who are still unsure whether they might be eligible.
Yours sincerely, (Signed) R T Coney.
Complete Instructions and Criteria.
THE INSTITUTION OF A NEW MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE SUEZ CANAL ZONE 16TH OCTOBER 1951 TO 19TH OCTOBER 1954.
1) As announced by the Prime Minister on 11th June 2003, the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals has had under consideration the case for recognition of Service in the Suez C anal Zone between 1951 and 1954, with special regard to the hardships and dangers which accompanied duty there.
2) Their recommendations have been duly submitted to The Queen who has graciously approved the award of the Naval General Service Medal, instituted in 1915, and the General Service Medal (Army and Royal Air Force,) instituted in 1918, with clasp 'Canal Zone' for specified service as described below. The qualifying criteria have been published in a Command Paper which has been seen and approved by the Queen and laid before Parliament. Medals can now be issued by the Ministry of defence's medal offices. Applications from veterans and their families are welcomed at the addresses detailed below. All claims will be checked against official records held by the Department to confirm eligibility to the medal, or as instructed by the individual medal office.
3) The following categories of personnel will be eligible for the award of the appropriate General Service Medal with Clasp.
3a) Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army or Royal Air Force personnel and equivalent Reserve Forces based in the Suez Canal Zone (described at Schedule 1)
3b) Civilians who served full time with the Royal Navy, Army or Royal Air Force during the qualifying period provided they wore their approved uniform of their organisation (see Schedule 2)
3c) Military personnel of Commonwealth or Colonial Forces, subject to the approval of their respective governments.
3d) persons of foreign nationality properly enlisted or enrolled in any of the qualifying categories described above.
4) Qualifying service for each of these categories will be thirty days or more continuous service in the Suez Canal Zone between 16th October 1951 and 19th October 1954.
5) Service at sea will not count towards the qualifying period. Nor will time spent in the Suez Canal Zone on official visits, inspections etc. by personnel based elsewhere.
6) If qualifying service was brought to an end before the completion of the specified qualification period on account of death, wounding or other disability due to operational service, the reduced period of service will be sufficient qualification for the award of the appropriate General Service Medal with Clasp. The Grant of a British Honour, Decoration or Medal of the status of the British Empire Medal or above, or of a Queens Commendation for Brave Conduct, for Service in the Suez Canal Zone between 16th October 1951 and 19th October 1954 will also qualify the recipient for the appropriate General Service Medal with Clasp.
7) The award of the Medals and Clasps will be made as soon as possible to qualified applicants. Veterans of the Canal Zone, or the next of kin of those who have died, will need to apply in writing to the appropriate medal Office, giving full name, date of birth and service number. The next of kin of those who served will be required to supply supporting documentation. In common with other campaign medals, all applications will be dealt with strictly in the order that they are received. Claims will be acknowledged on receipt, and medals will be issued as quickly as possible.
GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES OF THE SUEZ CANAL ZONE.
NORTHERN BOUNDARY. The Northern Boundary of the Area is the Mediterranean coast at Port Said between 32 degrees 15 minutes E and 32 degrees 20 minutes E.
WESTERN BOUNDARY. This follows the urban boundary of Port Said, then southwards to El-Tina forming a narrow corridor along the western Canal bank. This corridor is approximately one mile wide at most points but incorporates the 'Treaty' and 'Canal' roads and all camps along these routes. The boundary then follows the 'Erskine line' running directly west from El-Tina to the Bar el Baqar Drain and then SW along this Drain and the Drain Diversion to the edge of the cultivated area of the Nile Delta (near Faqus) continuing as far as El Tawila. From there it runs south to El Abbasa between El Qurein and El Isdiya. From El Abbasa the boundary runs south by east to El Ribeiqi then due south to the 30th parallel
SOUTHERN BOUNDARY. The southern boundary runs east along the 30th parallel to the edge of the Gebel Ataqa and along the line of the escarpment to Ras Umm Mughera. It then follows the coastline northward through Ras el Adabya and Suez to Port Taufiq.
EASTERN BOUNDARY. From Port Taufiq the boundary follows the line of the eastern bank of the Canal to the urban boundary of Port Fouad on the Mediterranean coast. This boundary incorporates installations along the east bank including The Marine quarantine station near Port Taufiq and the transit Camp at Port Fouad.
A full list of those civilian units which served in the Suez Canal Zone between 1951 and 1954 is no longer available. The following Bodies may have been involved.
British Forces Broadcasting Services
British Red Cross Society.
Church Army
Church of Scotland Canteen
Combined Services Entertainment
Forces Help Society
Hibbert House
Malcolm Clubs
Mission to Mediterranean Garrisons.
Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes.
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
St John's Ambulance Brigade
Salvation Army.
Soldier's and Airmen's Scripture Readers Association.
Soldiers' Sailors, and Airmen's Families Association
Women's Voluntary Service.
Young Men's Christian Association.
Young Women's Christian Association.
Members of other similar bodies which provided full time service in support of the Armed Forces in the Canal Zone during the relevant period will also be eligible for the medal (provided that they wore the appropriate uniform of the organisation concerned.) They or their next of kin, should submit supporting documentation when they apply for the medal, including evidence of their membership of the organisation and proof of their service in the Canal Zone between the dates specified in the Command Paper and detailed above. Applications should be submitted as appropriate to:-
Civilian Honours Unit,
Room 462, St Giles Court,
1-13 St Giles High Street,
London . WC2H BLD
Royal Fleet Auxiliary Medal Office.
SO3 RFA CS1A
Room F11, Lancelot Building,
PP29, H.M. Naval Base
Portsmouth, Hampshire. PO1 3NH
This ends the information from Richard Coney of the MoD. Please copy these and pass them on to other Canal Zone Vets who do not use a computer.
_________________
Merdeka, Merdeka, Merdeka,
from the HD Committee and its decision.
