Medal Office Backlog of Requests

[clive_t]

Evening all

I thought I would share the following with you if you are one of the many who have applied to the MoD Medal Office here in the UK for your ancestor's medals.

Like many on here, having successfully obtained my late father's military record from the Historical Disclosures Unit ( http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/searchi...-father-s.html ), I then thought about trying to find out if he ever claimed his medals or not; and if not, how to go about obtaining them. Well having written to the Medal Office with the relevant details, I duly received a reply and a proper application form in reasonable time. It turns out that my father's medals were indeed never claimed (and therefore there was no charge to be paid), however the rules of kinship are slightly more stringent for the Medal Office than they are for HD. Specifically, the MO rules are that the eldest child is the eligible recipient of a serviceman's medals given that he/she and their spouse are no longer around. In my case, that meant my sister would be eligible to receive them. However, she very kindly signed a waiver that effectively consigned them to me instead (no pressure I assure you!), and in January 2006 I received a letter from the MO advising that my claim would be processed in due course - however, the backlog they were having to deal with meant that they were "currently assessing cases received in July 2004!". Now I'm no mathematician, but even I managed to work out that on that basis, my claim might well take until July 2007 to work it's way to the front of the queue - oh well, "que sera...".

Well by a strange quirk of fate I currently find myself working at of all places Worthy Down - the home of the Armed Forces Personal Administration Agency - which among other things administers the Medal Office! No, it's not what you think - there are no short cuts here that I know of (not that I tried, I hasten to add), but one thing I did see only this week was an article in the internal quarterly 'Newsletter' about "The Medal Office 1 Year On". According to said article, when the MoD Medal Office opened its doors 1 year ago there was a backlog in excess of 50,000 claims. Since then a further 88,000 (including mine!) have been received. However, with the advent of some hi-tech laser engraving kit and some revised working practices have meant that the MO has cleared some 113,000 applications, although the article does not state whether these are all WW2 claims.

So what's the point of this post you might well be asking?... well I was wondering if there was anyone on here who had originally been advised of a possible long wait (like me) but who then has received the ancestor's medals earlier than expected?

Cheers

Clive

[aeroplanegripper]

Hi Clive,
I am in the same situation as yourself (in more ways than one) We are currentley looking for my partners grandads medals at the moment.We are not sure if they were ever issued or claimed, as the family were devestated by John's loss. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/searchi...scots-gds.html
I too wrote to the MOD Medal Office at Innsworth, (telephone calls were never answered or were premantently engaged). I recieved back quite quickly the Certificate of Kinship and Johns daughter, the last surviving eldest member, kindly signed it for me. So the form was sent off at the end of April 06.It is early days but I havent heard anything back yet.Now I am expecting quite a wait, as I too have seen the circular you are on about.
Funny thing is, I work at Worthy Down as well! And every time I pass AFPAA I wonder how the application is going!
We thoroughly enjoyed and were moved by your post on your Dad and I am going through the same process of finding what the Scots Guards have kept on John.
I will of course update with regard to the Medals. Good luck in your quest.
Mark

[Kiwiwriter]

That reminds me of a sign you'd see tacked up on US Army bulletin boards occasionally:

From: Gen. George Washington

To: All personnel

Date: December 24, 1776

All personnel will fall out at midnight to cross the Delaware River and attack the Hessians in Trenton.

The ultimate paperwork backlog!

[Chris Basey]

They must have a lot of applications for First World War medals if they need a hi-tech laser engraving kit!

[plant-pilot]

Originally Posted by Chris Basey

They must have a lot of applications for First World War medals if they need a hi-tech laser engraving kit!

It's not just WW1 or WW2 medals, it's medals for soldiers, sailors and airmen who are earning thier medals today. That's bravery medals, campaign medals, long service medals and other awards.

It has always been an over worked office which has for a long time had a bit of a bad name. It took me over two years to get my Telic Medal and some waited a lot longer. However if clive-t's information is correct and with the help of the lazer engraver, they are on the right track.

In one year from when the new office opened the back log of 50,000 and the new requests of 88,000, there have been 113,000 applications completed, leaving back log of 25,000. If the number of requests stays the same, in another year there will be no more back log and there should be a virtual 'same day service'. Well, in comparison to the past few years anyway.

A pat on the back for the Medal Office and much better for everyone all round.

[52nd Airborne]

Originally Posted by clive_t

So what's the point of this post you might well be asking?... well I was wondering if there was anyone on here who had originally been advised of a possible long wait (like me) but who then has received the ancestor's medals earlier than expected?

Cheers

Clive

Having obtained my grand fathers service record a couple of months ago, I decided to enquire whether he claimed his medal(s) as no one in the family can ever recall seeing them.

It took over a month to get a reply from the Medal Office, and that was only by way of certificate of kinship form, which was filled in and duly dispatched two weeks ago and I have not heard anything since.

As it took over a month to receive a reply to my original letter, I am expecting a long wait.

However when I made enquiries into my grand fathers service record, I was told it could take up to 8 months to do the search, I was very surprised to receive the records in 6 weeks.

52nd Airborne.

[52nd Airborne]

Originally Posted by 52nd Airborne

Having obtained my grand fathers service record a couple of months ago, I decided to enquire whether he claimed his medal(s) as no one in the family can ever recall seeing them.

It took over a month to get a reply from the Medal Office, and that was only by way of certificate of kinship form, which was filled in and duly dispatched two weeks ago and I have not heard anything since.

As it took over a month to receive a reply to my original letter, I am expecting a long wait.
52nd Airborne.

I received in the post today, my Grandfathers medals. It has taken just over 2 months from my original enquiry to actually receiving them.

I'm certainly one happy bunny today!

[JanM]

Absolutely brilliant

[spidge]

Well done.

I bet you and the family are proud to have them at last.

[52nd Airborne]

Originally Posted by spidge

I bet you and the family are proud to have them at last.

That's an understatement! I'm now the proud owner of: 39-45 Star, Africa Star with 1st Army Clasp and the 39-45 War Medal

I'm looking into getting them engraved, not sure whether to mount or frame them.