The Imperial Honours system is an anachronism from the past. The so called ‘rules’ used by the bureaucrats from Whitehall are so contradictory and obscure in content that few politicians if any understand the garbage put forward by senior civil servants who earn a CBE as part of the course. I am a dual national, who served in the British Army. The Queen of Australia is happy for me to wear my Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal. The Ceremonial secretariat of the Cabinet office and the MOD say that whilst I can wear my medal in Australia I would be discourteous to the Queen of the United Kingdom if I wear my medal in the UK. What rubbish, especially given the London Gazette notice of May 1968 allowing those who are no longer crown servants to accept and wear foreign awards. This notice which has never been rescinded. The gullibility of politicians believing everything that is told them by the Sir Humphreys of this world amazes me.
Hamish Waters
Posted on 15 Mar 2008 3:49 am
The Imperial Honours system is an anachronism from the past. The so called ‘rules’ used by the bureaucrats from Whitehall are so contradictory and obscure in content that few politicians if any understand the garbage put forward by senior civil servants who earn a CBE as part of the course. I am a dual national, who served in the British Army. The Queen of Australia is happy for me to wear my Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal. The Ceremonial secretariat of the Cabinet office and the MOD say that whilst I can wear my medal in Australia I would be discourteous to the Queen of the United Kingdom if I wear my medal in the UK. What rubbish, especially given the London Gazette notice of May 1968 allowing those who are no longer crown servants to accept and wear foreign awards. This notice which has never been rescinded. The gullibility of politicians believing everything that is told them by the Sir Humphreys of this world amazes me.