The plot thickens. The muddy waters are getting muddier. (Not really but it does make for a good strapline).
I am still in research mode trying to ascertain precisely what the deal here is. please bear in mind that this is purely to establish entitlement under the new criteria. Everybody who was entitled to the medal (with rosette or without) under the original criteria should have received theirs years ago.
There are 4 definite and discrete groups of people who, if they were in the South Atlantic during the revised qualifying period, should be entitled to the South Atlantic Medal (Without Rosette) under the new criteria. The big difference is where to apply for the medal.
- RFA personell and by that I mean RFA and not RNSTS embarked in RFAs and STUFT Ships
- RNSTS personell embarked in RFAs and STUFT ships.
- Merchant Navy personell embarked in STUFT Ships.
- RFA and RNSTS based in RFA and STUFT Ships in Ascencion.
Confusing init, so bear with me.
Group 1 RFA personell
By that I mean RFA and not RNSTS embarked in RFAs and STUFT Ships, should apply to
RFA PERS
Room 41
West Battery M.P. G1
Whale Island
Portsmouth
Hampshire
PO2 8DX
Please note that RFA PERS will not be able to order any South Atlantic Medals until October 2014.
They should accompany that claim with extracts from their Discharge Book which must include the page detailing the ships they were in and the time they were in them plus the personal details page (Photo, Discharge Book Number, National Insurance Number etc. (That was pages 3 and 4 in my book and was headed “Seaman’s Personal Record”)
Group 2. RNSTS personell embarked in RFAs and STUFT ships.
This group is causing some difficulty at the moment as the RNSTS ceased to exist in 1994 being taken over by being taken over by the Naval Bases and Supply Agency. There will be records but where they are is the nub of the problem. Suffice it to say that, regardless, some form of evidence will be required to justify the claim. I am investigating the options.
Group 3. Merchant Navy personell embarked in STUFT Ships.
According to my reasearches Group3 should address their claims to:-
Registry of Shipping & Seamen
MCA Cardiff
Anchor Court
Keen Road
Cardiff
CF24 5JW
and marked for the attention of Mr Neil Staples.
Claims can also be made by email to seafarers.registry@mcga.gov.uk or by telephone at 02920 448827, again for the attention of Mr Neil Staples.
I have had one report that the Registry of Shipping and Seamen are being a little “coy” on detail so please let me know if you have problems. You will of course have to provide suitable evidence to support your claim and I am assured that extracts from their Discharge Book which must include the page detailing the ships they were in and the time they were in them plus the personal details page (Photo, Discharge Book Number, National Insurance Number etc. (That was pages 3 and 4 in my book and was headed “Seaman’s Personal Record”) should be adequate.
Group 4. RFA RNSTS based in RFA and Merchant Navy in STUFT Ships based Ascencion.
This is the group that, at the moment is proving to be very confusing. Specific ships may be entitled to the SA Medal without Rosette in that they went south of Ascencion before the end of hostilities but did not reach the TEZ until after the end of hostilities. So far as I can ascertain these medals have been issued so there is no claim for the Rosette. This is still under investigation and I will report back in subsequent sitrep.
Finally, and for now, please be aware that submission and processing will not begin until OCTOBER at the earliest and may take some time thereafter. This continues to be a work in progress so watch this site for the sitreps
Any queries, please email me at sa-medal@rfaa.uk