JOHN SHIPBREAKING,
Sir, - It might seem from Christine Newman's report of July 11th,that men who served in the UK's Merchant Navy during the second World War were not entitled to campaign medals in the same way as their comrades in the armed forces. This was not so. They had precisely the same rights and required the same qualifications.
However, it was necessary to apply for them. Not too long ago, I came to realise that one of my employees here who had served in the British Army in France and Germany in 1944-45 must be entitled to at least a couple of campaign medals but, having been demobilised quickly, had never so much as heard of them. At his request I wrote to the British Ministry of Defence and three duly turned up in the post - 30 or 40 years late but still very welcome. - Yours, ATC.,
John Shipbreaking,
Kildare,
Co Leitrim.