The award comprises two pinned sterling silver emblems, one full size for formal remembrance events and a miniature version for less formal events. The reverse of the cross will be engraved with the name of the person in whose memory it is granted. The emblems will be accompanied by a memorial scroll.

 
Had I realised what a Sisyphean task I had undertaken. I might not have embarked upon this journey! However, the success in tracking down relatives who may be the rightful recipient and sharing the pleasure that they express when they realise what it means, is worth all the effort.

I have received confirmation that the four soldiers who died on operations in Bosnia whilst serving with the RGBW on peacekeeping duties are eligible and help would be appreciated in tracking down their Next of Kin (NOK) for the following individuals:

Private Phillip Armstrong RGBW Died: 12/09/1994 in Bosnia

Private Martin Dowdell RGBW Died: 12/09/1994 in Bosnia
Private Benjamin Hinton RGBW Died: 09/09/1994 in Bosnia
Private Christopher Turner RGBW Died: 12/09/1994 in Bosnia

If you are able to help please ask a member of their family to e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Thank you.

Having re-read the Association's February newsletter, I was struck by the words from the family of Pte Jones on receipt of the Elizabeth Cross for his ultimate sacrifice at the Battle of Imjin, with the Gloucestershire Regiment.
Dear Steph,

The Elizabeth Cross Presentation was wonderful. My family was amazed by the professionalism, consideration shown to us, and the respect given to the memory of my late uncle Pte DGE Jones. At moments during the ceremony, the kind words expressed by those leading the presentation were overwhelming.

It was of great foresight that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in 2009 instituted the Elizabeth Cross.

The emblem has given us much comfort.

We have successfully tracked down, and application forms have been submitted to the MOD Medals Office for:

Cpl Joseph Leahy - DERR
SSgt Barry Foster - DERR
Pte Michael Swanick - DERR
LCpl Kevin Pullin - DERR
Maj Richard Allen - RGBW
LCpl Craddock - RGBW
We now wait to hear whether the individual is eligible to receive the award. Assuming that they are this means that we have tracked down every soldier who served in the DERR and whose NOK have not received the award, so far.

It is hoped that if we are successful some of them may wish to attend the Rifles, Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum in Salisbury to receive the Elizabeth Cross in a formal award ceremony (more details will follow).
 
Elizabeth Cross - How are we doing?

You will recall that I submitted a Freedom of Information Request (FOI) to the MOD and received a list of all those individuals who served with:GLOSTERS (174 names)
R BERKS (43 names)
WILTS (37 names)
DERR (44 names)
RGBW (10 names)
WESSEX (25 names)

I submitted a further FOI to the MOD Medals Office in Imjin Barracks, requesting confirmation of who is eligible for the award and to whom it has been issued. Unfortunately the amount of time required to research the information falls outside the scope of the FOI and after several very useful telephone calls with the head of the Medal Office, we have a way forward.

I thought it useful to share some of the points he has written to me:
 
'We have been working on an alternative method to allow potential next of kin to see if the circumstances of their Service relative’s death meet the criteria of the Elizabeth Cross and whether it has been awarded already. This work is a long-term project that is still under development, but it is my hope that it will be publicly accessible via an enhanced Armed Forces Roll of Honour available via GOV.UK'. 
 
'Although we are in agreement around the process to undertake prospective checks on potential Elizabeth Cross entitlements for those listed Service personnel, I must also stress that there are some potential pitfalls in being able to provide responses. In some instances, we will be unable to provide confirmation. These relate to Service personnel who have fallen between 1948 to December 1963, whereby their Service records have been transferred to The National Archives. As MOD no longer holds this information, we are not in a position to validate with 100% accuracy that the circumstances of their deaths would attract the Elizabeth Cross under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)'. 

I still hope that we will ensure eligible NOK receive the Elizabeth Cross in recognition of their family member's supreme sacrifice whilst serving the Nation. It might just take longer than anticipated.
 
Therefore, next steps will now be:
Advising all when the potential for next of kin to see if their relatives are eligible for the EC by checking the Roll of Honour on the Gov.UK website. This may take 12-18 months.
Continuing to submit FOI for smaller numbers of individuals and excluding any prior to 1963.
On receipt of those FOI lists it will be possible to identify those eligible and not awarded.
I will communicate using both the Association’s monthly newsletter, this update letter and Social Media to track down relatives of the identified individuals.
Once I have details I will write to them on behalf of the Association directing them to - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/request-for-the-elizabeth-cross-and-memorial-scroll, I will also direct them to - https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/cultural-collections/medals/collection/elizabeth-cross/about/ for more information.

I will send a copy of the application form, for those uncomfortable with using the Internet.

I will assist them in completing the application to the point it can be submitted to the Medal Office, if required.

I will request that they submit the application, and help with any questions they may have. If I cannot  answer them and pass them to the Medal Office please be aware that they will only answer questions directly with the applicant and not with me.

Once the MOD Medal office have carried out their adjudication they will notify the NOK. They will not notify me.
I, nor any member of the Association, will be able to discuss the case with the Medal Office without a full Power of Attorney.
I will continue to provide generic advice to anyone seeking it.
 
RGBW
I have received confirmation that the following members of the RGBW are entitled to the award and I now urgently request your help in tracking down the NOK for the following individuals, please:

Private Phillip Armstrong RGBW Died: 12/09/1994 in Bosnia
Private Martin Dowdell RGBW Died: 12/09/1994 in Bosnia
Private Benjamin Hinton RGBW Died: 09/09/1994 in Bosnia
Private Christopher Turner RGBW Died: 12/09/1994 in Bosnia
Sadly Corporal Lee Tandy RGBW who Died: 01/09/2002 in Oman is not eligible for the award.
 
If anyone is able to put me in touch with the NOK for any of the above I would be extremely grateful.
 
 
GLOSTERS/R BERKS/WILTSHIRES/WESSEX ETC
I will be revisiting the database and identifying those individuals who have died since 1963 before I submit more FOI requests to ascertain who may be eligible. Once received, I will make a further request to track down their NOK.
 
Summary
I am delighted with our success, so far in tracking down NOK and submitting application forms for families to receive the Elizabeth Cross on behalf of their loved one.

Thank you to all those who have, and will hopefully continue to supply information to help track down the information I need, it is much appreciated.

Please do not hesitate to email, or phone me if you have any questions.
 
Elizabeth Cross - Eligibility Criteria
These criteria have been cut and pasted from the full MOD Policy (JSP 761 - Honours and Awards in the Armed Forces) and a link is included below.

The Elizabeth Cross and Memorial Scroll will be presented to the Next of Kin of UK Armed Forces personnel who have died on operations or as a result of an act of terrorism since 1 January 1948 in national recognition of their loss and sacrifice.  Eligible personnel to be remembered in this way are those who were serving with or former members of:The UK Armed Forces (Regular and Reserve).
The UK Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA)32

The Next of Kin of eligible personnel whose deaths fall into the following categories will qualify.Death from whatever cause whilst serving on a medal earning operation.  Medal earning operations are those in which deployed personnel received a Campaign Medal, General Service Medal or Operational Service Medal which demonstrated the risk and rigour involved.  Operations where a UN, NATO, other international body or other nation’s campaign medal was accepted for wear, in the absence of a UK medal, also qualify.

Death as a result of an act of terrorism where the available evidence suggests that the Service person, whether on or off duty, was targeted because of his or her membership of the UK Armed Forces.

Death on a non-medal earning operational task where the death was caused by the inherent high risk of the operational task

Subsequent and premature death as a result of injury or illness attributed to the circumstances outlined in the paragraphs above.

Death in the circumstances outlined in the paragraphs above, as a result of an incident that occurred after 1 January 1948 or as a result of service in Palestine between 27 September 1945 and 31 December 1947.

Death in circumstances for which a gallantry/bravery award was made. 
 
MOD Policy and further information
The full MOD Policy (JSP 761- Honours and Awards in the Armed Forces - Part 1: Directive) can be found at - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a802607ed915d74e33f8bb2/JSP761_Part1.pdf

The application form can be found at - 
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5b03f35b40f0b6304641fdab/20180521-ElizabethCrossandScrollApplication-O.doc