Procedure (not criteria) for the submission of recommendations for awards to the Merchant Navy

Gt. George St., S.W.1.

12th October, 1942.


Dear Sir Robert,

You may like to see the note that the Lord President wrote on your minute -

"I am obliged to Sir Robert Knox for his assistance".

I am sending a copy of your draft as it went to the First Lord with some amendments.

Yours sincerely,

[blank]



Sir Robert Knox, K.C.V.O., D.S.O.

 

PRIVY COUNCIL OFFICE


LORD PRESIDENT.

You may like to know the position about your letter of 9th October to the First Lord, on the subject of Merchant Navy honours. The First Lord did not reply because he was laid up with a chill. His Private Secretary subsequently drafted a note which Mr. Alexander did not like, and when I subsequently enquired when we could expect an answer the Private Secretary said that Mr. Alexander would like to come and see you personally. I have accordingly given him 6 p.m. tomorrow.

J.B.
21/10/42.

 

MINISTRY OF WAR TRANSPORT
BERKELEY SQUARE HOUSE
BERKELY SQUARE
LONDON, W.1.

19th October, 1942.


[Handwritten]: I have informed Mr Keenlyside of the position. WGB, 20/x.


Dear Gorell Barnes,

Honours for Merchant Navy Personnel.

The Lord President showed to Lord Leathers some time ago a copy of his draft minute on the above subject. We subsequently saw a copy of a draft minute by Sir R. Knox to the Lord President, suggesting the line which the latter would take in response to objections from the First Lord. My Minister was in full agreement with the points made by Sir R. Knox.

Has the matter got any further yet? Is the minute to go forward to the Prime Minister?

Yours sincerely,

F.H. Keenlyside.



W.L. Gorell Barnes Esq.

 

The next 3 documents contain the same text as in post 9
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/472567-post9.html
all three copies having been initialed JA and dated 28th October, 1942

 

Sir Richard V.N. HOPKINS.

As you know, I have been asked by the Prime Minister to settle a disagreement between the First Lord and the Minister of War Transport about the procedure to be followed in the submission of recommendations for awards to the Merchant Navy. I am sending herewith a copy of my finding.

I should like to express my appreciation for the help that you and Sir Robert Knox have given me in dealing with this matter

[Initialed]: JA


28th October, 1942.

 

LORD PRESIDENT.

I submit herewith:-

1. A note of your finding on the Merchant Navy Honours dispute, for submission to the First Lord and the Minister of War Transport respectively, and

2. A copy of this note with a covering minute to Sir Richard Hopkins.


[Handwritten]: I will also send a copy to No. 10, with a covering note to the Private Secretary.

J.B.

28th October, 1942.

 

Gt. George St., S.W.1.

28th October, 1942.


Dear Peck,

You wrote to me on 20th September about the dispute between the First Lord and the Minister of War Transport on the procedure to be followed in submitting recommendations for Merchant Navy Honours. The Prime Minister requested the Lord President to handle this question for him. Sir John Anderson has had several conversations with Mr. Alexander and Lord Leathers, and has now issued his finding, a copy of which I enclose.

Yours sincerely,

(Sgd.) J.T.A. BURKE.

 

Hi Bernard
This committee was discussing which level of awards might be given to MN personnel, and who might have to deal with them.

The recommendation procedure for gallantry awards was vetted from the individual's unit, up the chain of command, in order I suppose to maintain a representative standard for each medal.

The discussion for the recent campaign star was a matter for a different ... committee, but I get your point.

Regards