SOLDIERS’ MEDALS

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160812, 20 November 1920, Page 3

SOLDIERS’ MEDALS

ILLUMINATED CERTIFICATES

WELLINGTON, Nov. 19,

The issue of medals and illuminated certificates of service for the N.Z.E.F. is being pushed on with all possible speed by the Defence Department, Wellington, and to date practically all 1914-15 stars have gone out, .while 2500 certificates have been issued. Where there have been delays the Diggers themselves are wholly responsible by reason of the fact that they have failed to notify their change of address or have not returned to the Department the B.E. 38 (draft of service particulars) sent to them. These forms, showing the medals earned, the period of service, and theatres of operations, are addressed to soldiers in the following terms: "As it is hoped that it may shortly by possible' to issue the British War Medal and Illuminated Certificate of Service, it is desired to give you an opportunity of agreeing with the information held by this office yourself, and which will be contained?: on the medal and certificate or other, documents yet to be issued, as medals and documents once issued can only be altered at the recipient’s expense. Will you please, therefore, check the particulars on the back hereof and return this form complete to me as early as possible after appending your signature in the space provided at the foot. Do not omit to advise this office of any future change of address.” Addressed and stamped envelopes are enclosed with the forms, but despite this, forms posted to soldiers early in August have met with a stoney silence, and as a consequence no medals or certificates have been issued in these cases. On the other hand, many ex-members of the N.Z.E.F. have expressed appreciation of the opportunity offered them by the Department to check their service records, and have rendered all the assistance necessary by promptly returning the forms. There are more than 200,000 medals and 80,000 certificates to' issue, and the success of such an undertaking demands strict adherence to the system employed, therefore Diggers are ■assured of early attention if the above request is complied with, and only lengthy delay in issues and additional cost to the Department in leaving it “until to-morrow.” In his own interests each! soldier should bear in mind that the form signed by himself becomes the Department’s authority to make the issues, and that medals and certificates to which he is entitled cannot possibly go out until this authority has reached the Officer in Charge of War Accounts and Records, Wellington, to whom changes of address should also be notified.