A Badge and Two Medals

MK comments: All of you will recognize the Union Jack flying here on your right, and some of you guys in our Bunker will recognize, on your left, the Argyll and Sutherland beret badge. This badge was proudly worn on the beret of Robert Doherty during his time in the British army before his transfer, when he got to Korea in April of 1951, to the King's Own Scottish Borderers (as the Argyll and Sutherland was then leaving Korea) for his service in Korea from then until August of 1952, when the King's Own Scottish Borderers also left Korea and went to Hong Kong.

The three photos on this page were sent to me by John Doherty, Robert's son. He tells me that it was only after much coaxing that his father finally sent for the two medals pictured below, which he finally received many years after he had first been entitled to them.

The information (eyesight help too) for the two photos below came not only from John, but also from Reg Kitchener (#41) and from Felix Harrigan, another KOSB who is a good friend of the guys in our bunker.

All in the Bunker will recognize the medal with the blue and white ribbon (on the left in both photos below) as the United Nations Service Medal to which all of us were entitled. The word Korea is on the bar of the obverse side (photo below on the left) and the words FOR SERVICE IN DEFENCE OF THE PRINCIPLES OF THE CHARTER OF THE UNITED NATIONS are on the reverse side (photo below on the right).

Those in the Bunker who served in the British armed forces will recognize the medal with the yellow and blue ribbon (on the right in both photos above) as The Korea Medal which was awarded for: Royal Navy service with 28 days afloat in the operational areas of the Yellow Sea and Sea of Japan, or one or more days of shore duty; Army service of at least one day on the strength of a unit serving in Korea; RAF service of one operational sortie over Korea or Korean waters, 28 days afloat in Korean waters, or one or more days on Korean land.

The obverse side (photo above on the right) has the laureated bust of Queen Elizabeth II facing right surrounded by the legend ELIZABETH II DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REGINA F: D:+ and the reverse side has Hercules, armed with a dagger. His left arm is held out horizontally and holding Hydra, which he is also holding off with his left leg. The word Korea is in the exergue. Colin Demaline (#57) has told me (30 Nov 2001) why the bust of the Queen was "laureled" and not crowned. Queen Elizabeth became Queen on the death of her father, King George VI, in Feb 1952 but was not crowned until Coronation Day, 2 Jun 1953. The Korean Medal was sanctioned and struck between those two dates, i.e. after she became Queen but before she was crowned.

Here is a translation of the obverse legend: ELIZABETH II = the Queen, then and now, of course; DEI = of God; GRA = gratia = by grace; BRITT = Britain; OMN = omnia = all; REGINA = reigning Queen; F = fidea = of the faith; D = defensor = defender; + = and.

Thus, it may be read as Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain the Reigning Queen and Defender of the Faith.

Here is another flame to warm our Bunker. This one is for remembrance of Robert and all his mates who survived the war but have passed on before us.

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