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Post by Graham Jones on Jul 1, 2015 20:48:17 GMT
Prompted by a recent email circular from the Association regarding eligibility for a medal for a member who had served at RAF Masirah, I made certain enquiries and responded to the mail. My research also prompted me to wonder whether I qualified for the GSM (Dhofar) for my service at RAF Det Salalah between November 1969 to January 1970 whilst posted to RAF Masirah (April 1969 to May 1970). Having visited the www.gov.uk/medals-campaigns-descriptions-and-eligibility site I established: Until 1962 separate GSMs had been issued to Naval personnel (the Naval GSM 1915) and Army and RAF personnel (the GSM 1918). The GSM 1962 was instituted in 1962 to replace these medals and was awarded to personnel of all services for campaigns and operations that fell short of full scale war. Since its inception, it has been awarded for 13 such campaigns: ‘Borneo’, ‘Radfan’, ‘south Arabia’, ‘Malay Peninsula’, ‘south Vietnam’, ‘Northern Ireland’, ‘Dhofar’, ‘Lebanon’, ‘Mine Clearance Gulf of Suez’, ‘Gulf’, ‘Kuwait’, ‘N. Iraq and S. Turkey’ and ‘Air Operations Iraq’. The qualifying criteria for the GSM Dhofar is 30 days service within the qualifying area (RAF Salalah) between 1/10/1969 and 30/9/1976. I therefore completed the necessary application form found at : www.gov.uk/government/publications/applying-for-medalsto subsequently receive a letter from the MOD Medals Office stating that whilst my tour at RAF Masirah was recorded on my service record, my ‘detachment’ and the time spent at RAF Salalah was not. I have been requested to submit my flying log and any other relevant ‘Official’ military evidence to support my application. As a SAC Telegraphist working in the Commcen (one of two operators at the time) it is impossible to provide the necessary ‘evidence’ as requested. Other than a few photographs taken and an Airmans Mess 1969 Christmas Menu(!), I am struggling to support my application. My question to members is, “Has anyone experienced similar circumstances, and how, if at all they were able to achieve a positive result?” I would appreciate members views or advice. Regards, Graham Jones
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Post by parcview on Jul 8, 2015 17:28:01 GMT
Hi Graham, I was in Salalah (Sept 69 - Oct 70)when you were detached there. Tom Brambly was there at the same time and he didn't apply for his GSM until a couple of years ago. Even though he spent his 13 month tour in Salalah, RAF Records (now fully digitized) had him being posted to Masirah for that period and denied his first application. They would not accept photographs or statements that he was there by people who were there at the same time. Luckily he contracted dysentery and his medical records showed he was in Salalah during his whole tour and therefore was able to prove that fact. He now has his GSM. So my question for you is, have your tried to access your medical records; they may show your detachment to Salalah. I don't know if you remember me; I was the RADAR J/t at the time, so we both worked in the ATC Tower. i would be interested in seeing any of the photos you have from that time. Cheers, Alan Cooper
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Post by Graham Jones on Jul 9, 2015 9:22:50 GMT
Hi Alan, alas, as the years progress, the memory fades. No doubt a photograph will help me. To my current predicament - I don't recall having to visit sick quarters whilst at Salalah (or Masirah) but this might be a long shot. When Tom researched his med records, were they held with his GP, along with his NHS med records, or were those RAF records unique to the service and retained when he was demob? Next question is, how can I access the records held if they still exist? Regards, and thanks for this useful response. I am in the process of transferring Kodak slides to digital and hopefully will 'post' them once completed. Graham
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Post by grahamjones on Jul 30, 2015 14:03:21 GMT
Update; I have now hit the proverbial brick wall as far as MOD Medals Office are concerned. They refuse to acknowledge my service at Salalah because it isn't recorded on my 'Service Record'. I have had no response to a request for them to examine RAF medical or pay records. It has been suggested elsewhere that a record of staffing movements should be recorded on both the Masirah and Salalah F540 Unit Record. I am also informed that this record 'may' be held by the National Archives Office, because of time passed, and have raised a query with them. Does anyone out there know if Salalah and/or Masirah maintained this record in 1969 and would staff movements be recorded on it? Regards to all, Graham
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charles cameron carruthers
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Post by charles cameron carruthers on Jul 30, 2015 15:34:31 GMT
regarding the Dhofar Gong GSM 1962 I served at Masirah in the Commcen 1972 to 1973 and although we were not in the firing line as the Guys down in Salalah were. we were back up to their operations down there. I served previously in Aden 1963 to 1965 and got both the Radfan and South Arabia gongs or bars to the GSM. I wasnt up in the Radfan but sent enough sitreps back to uk covering the Operations up country through CCA Steamer Point. We had our problems in Aden and I lost 3 mates there one committing suicide and we did guard duties in the town and on camp so my South Arabian bar was earned ! This is why I wonder why Masirah did not come into the area even altho` were in Oman. One time I remember was a boat suddenly showing up at the bottom end of Masirah with Black September people in it recruiting for `adu`and they were captured and flown off to Muscat in a Box Omani kite .I was in the Desert Rescue team and we saw this boat down there for quite a while. The guys that served in Egypt early 1950s fought their case and got the Canal Zone bar to the 1918 GSM so I would like to think we would be in the picture for the Dhofar gong. ma`alamah sadeqis shufti hinna yimkin barden!!!
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charlie cameron carruthers
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Post by charlie cameron carruthers on Aug 6, 2015 10:35:12 GMT
reference medals check out ian gardiners book` in the service of the sultan` pages 71 and 72 on his comments on the GSM 1962.
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Post by Andy Blyth on Sept 1, 2015 10:24:23 GMT
I too have been researching the "rules" for the award of the Dhofar GSM. During my time in Masirah (Nov74-July 75) as an SAC (AATC) I can well recall having made many trips to Salalah and other "bases" within the region, assisting on "days off" - what else was there to do, in various tasks both directly trade related and additional duties. Given there were tasks carried out at Masirah in support of Salalah , let alone those carried out directly in "Dhofar" by many service personnel it strikes me that the somewhat rigid application of Salalah only is inappropriate. The British Armed Forces were in Oman to support the Omani government across a wide spectrum of activities. The GSM is a recognition of contributing to a campaign effort in country and all serving in OMAN at that period surely ought be allowed to qualify.
Just a thought. Nice to have stumbled across this web site by the way.
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Post by Graham Jones on Sept 17, 2015 20:58:52 GMT
Following my ‘post’ on this site I have been contacted by Steve DAY, who was an instructor with the RAF School of Administration at Worthy Down and now the Defence School of Administration. Steve states; “I have spoken to the SNCO instructors who operated pre our current JPA computer admin processes. Graham needs to obtain a copy of his F280 which lists chronologically all his postings and deployments, with dates, throughout his whole service career. This will confirm he was in Salalah for the requisite number of days, and should be the evidence the medals office require. It would have been sent to the archive as part of his F445A Personal Documents Folder when he left the service. Copies of his records can be obtained from the RAF Disclosures, Room 14, Trenchard Hall, RAF Cranwell, Sleaford, Lincs, NG34 8HB”.
Request should be submitted on MOD Form 1694 (Data Protection Act 1998 Subject Access Request (SAR) Form).
My request has been sent off and I am awaiting their reply.
I am grateful to Steve for his assistance and will update as and when….. Graham
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Post by Mick sasse on Nov 8, 2015 12:10:22 GMT
I was in salalah in the FST RAMC during this period, but only for a brief spell. It was, I am sure, over 30 days. Would I therefore qualify. We were all given a medal,? Dhofar star, but of course it was not actually recognised that we were even there, or so I have been told.
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Post by Graham Jones on Nov 10, 2015 17:44:46 GMT
Well, as anticipated, I appear to have been a GHOST during my time in Salalah. I have received a copy of my RAF service record which, as predicted, shows my posting to RAF Masirah but no record of my 3 month detachment at Salalah. I wonder how many others have been GHOSTS there? It would appear that my quest is now lost in the bondu! My search seems to raise too many questions, particularly; What recognition would there have been had I (or anyone else GHOSTING) become a casualty whilst at Salalah? After some 45 years, I have the memories but not the recognition. Many thanks to those of you who have given advice and added comment to my Post. Regards, Graham Jones
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Post by Shaun Prior on May 18, 2016 7:55:38 GMT
I did a six month tour at RAF Salalah back in '71. I was with the Royal Artillery detachment on the Green Archer radars, but worked mainly up on the hedgehogs,[ less bull]. Although I have the British GSM, does anyone know about the Omani GSM? I believe it was awarded to the BATT lads and also some others, who they are I don't know. Is there anyone out there who knows? Regards, Shaun Prior.
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Post by RoyalRock on May 29, 2016 23:01:50 GMT
Completed two tours in Salalah 73 and 74 with the RAF Regiment, spent lots of time on the hedgehogs and received the GSM, however we were informed that the Sultan wanted everybody to receive the Dhofar Star but the british government would not allow this as his head was on the medal and not our Queen. We were also informed that the medal would be recorded on our service records as being awarded but would not receive it. I note this did not happen, has anyone else any info on this and should we put up a fight and try and get this award and medal for those who earned it?
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Post by SAF Veteran on Sept 21, 2016 10:59:08 GMT
I hope this might help the discussion:
Members of the Sultan's Armed Forces - that is those on secondment to SAF or employed directly by SAF on contract - were awarded Omani medals. Seconded personnel who subsequently returned to regular service with the British Forces were entitled to wear those Omani campaign and gallantry medals. The latter category were worn only once permission had been received from Buckingham Palace - which was generally granted without contention.
There were many soldiers and airmen who were neither seconded nor on contract but were deployed to Dhofar as part of UK units (e.g. Cracker Battery, BATT and RAF Salalah - and I hope this will assist your members). It has always been my understanding that those personnel were entitled to the customary UK awards - GSM + clasps etc, but would not have been awarded Omani medals. So - nothing to do with whose face appears on the medal (!) - but just a matter of your serving status at the time (i.e. Secondment and Contract OR detached from UK unit)
So, having been on secondment to SAF, I wear the Omani medals but have no entitlement to the UK clasp to the GSM for that campaign. That all seems perfectly logical and I hope that it helps your members to establish their own entitlements.
With best wishes
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Post by RoyalRock on Feb 19, 2017 5:56:31 GMT
Thanks for that, makes sense and again thank you for taking the time to reply. If anyone has any pic's of Salalah the jebal or hedgehogs would I be able to get copies? Being a poor LAC when there never had enough money to buy a camara so no pics.
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Post by DAVE 15 on Apr 6, 2017 21:09:47 GMT
Hi Royal Rock i was Regiment in 73 i have some Photos.
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