Local MP Welcomes Elizabeth Cross Medal Announcement

Defence Secretary, Bob Ainsworth MP has announced that the Queen has given her name to the Elizabeth Cross - a medal which will be granted to the next of kin of armed forces personnel killed on operations or as a result of terrorism.  This medal will be made available to the families of those who died in conflicts dating back to 1948 - including the Korean War, the Falklands Conflict, operations in Northern Ireland and, of course, the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Making the announcement, Mr Ainsworth said, " We owe so much to those who have died to protect our country and our way of life.  The Elizabeth Cross was recommended by the military chiefs to Her Majesty to recognise the huge debt this country owes to the families those brave individuals have left behind."

Motherwell and Wishaw MP Frank Roy said " I welcome this - and I would encourage the families of all servicemen in our area who have died in services since 1948 to apply for the Elizabeth Cross - and write to the Ministry of Defence Medal Office, Building 250, Imjin Barracks, Gloucester, GL3 1HW."

The local MP continued " As well as this, members of the armed forces who in the period since 1948 , have given their lives while serving their country should be commemorated locally - I am contacting North Lanarkshire Council asking them to take the initiative to inscribe the of every serviceman or woman for whom an Elizabeth Cross is  issued on our local war memorials."

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