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Refusal Of A Medal By The Intended Recipient
Colin
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I don't think I have ever heard or read of a recipient themselves refusing an award of a medal, either due to modesty, feeling undeserving, or even the expectation it was going to be for a fellow soldier(s) in the same engagement


Last edited by Colin on Thu Mar 15, 2018 12:33 pm; edited 1 time in total
peterw


Joined: 30 Aug 2005
Posts: 865
Location: UK
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There are various cases of gallantry awards being "negotiated" although not in the context of the Zulu war. Leave it with me and I'll try and find some examples.

Peter
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The Scorer


Joined: 27 Nov 2006
Posts: 338
Location: Newport
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This might not be what you have in mind, but the Victoria Cross was originally able to be awarded following a ballot of eligible people where it was considered that more than one award should be made to a group of soldiers.

There's several instances on record of this happening, but as far as I know, none where the medal was refused by the eventual nominee.
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Phil Read


Joined: 07 Oct 2005
Posts: 38
Location: Epsom, Surrey.
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The notes on Colour Sergeant Bourne on this website suggest that he accepted a DCM plus promotion instead of a VC.
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Alan
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Joined: 30 Aug 2005
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Location: Wales
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AMB


Joined: 07 Oct 2005
Posts: 921
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Not AZW, but T E Lawrence refused several awards. The King was not impressed.

AMB
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Colin
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This is interesting. I didn't know an award could be negotiated or making a deal by the awardee themselves, instead of just superiors on what they considered fitting. Excuse my ignorance, but I can't understand how Bourne might have been awarded a VC, not sure anything he did merited this higher award, beyond the call of duty and all that, and even if he was awarded it, wouldn't a promotion not then be far off anyway, instead of accepting a DCM plus a promotion
AMB


Joined: 07 Oct 2005
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Colin,

In the case of TEL there was no deal - such matters are not the way the operational honours system works, even today - TEL simply declined the awards.

AMB
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Refusal Of A Medal By The Intended Recipient
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