Veteran launches campaign to restore recognition for personnel injured outside operational deployment

A Cookham veteran who was wounded by an IRA nail bomb attack in the 1980s is calling for the reinstatement of an award to acknowledge service personnel who are injured outside of operational deployment.

John Radley was returning from public duties with the 1st Battalion Irish Guards on October 10 1981 when the coach he was travelling on was struck by a Semtex nail bomb.

“I served with the Irish Guards in Chelsea Barracks in 1981,” he said.

“I [had] various injuries. I got a six-inch nail across my forehead, embedded in my forehead.

“I had a six-inch nail that penetrated my neck, travelled through my body and got stuck halfway in and halfway up my back, but luckily enough [it] didn’t touch my kidneys or my lungs or my heart.”

Among other procedures, Mr Radley had to have his eardrum rebuilt and a false jawbone installed after it was ‘obliterated’.

Due to his injuries, he was discharged from duties.

Mr Radley said there is no award recognition for wounded service personnel who were not injured on a named operation.

In December he launched his campaign called Operation Steadfast Shield which calls for an award to be introduced.

“The British Government used to do a thing called the Defence Service Medal,” he said.

“If you were injured while not on operational duty, you would get a service defence medal to recognise your sacrifice and that you’ve been injured serving the Crown.”

He added that countries such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand still award the

medal.

Mr Radley said he has received the support of key figures, including fomer army officer and MP Johnny Mercer.

He has spoken with political figures including Maidenhead constituency MP Josh Reynolds, Hilary Benn, and Alex Burghart.

Mr Reynolds said he believes the campaign is a ‘good idea’.

Mr Radley believes recognition is ‘absolutely essential’.

“It’s something that should have been done years ago,” he said.

“There’s many, many, many, probably thousands of people in my position and I think there should be some acknowledgement and there should be some recognition of the sacrifice that we have made to the Crown and to the country.”

Kenny Donaldson, director at Supporting, Empowering, Fair and Focused (SEFF), which supports victims and survivors of the Northern Ireland Troubles, including miliary veterans, said: “John Radley has been involved with SEFF for many years and we are very aware of the impact (physical and psychological) that the Provisional IRA’s attack had upon his life.

“It is the injustice John feels at not being recognised by his own State which is possibly the most piercing of all injuries and he is not on his own in this regard.

“We stand with him in this legitimate call for recognition and equitable treatment.”

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “We owe a huge debt of gratitude to all those who serve this country with bravery and dedication and are fully committed to ensuring they are properly supported and are acknowledged, including through the award of medals where they are justified.

“Those injured and evacuated from an operational deployment that attracts a campaign, operational or general service medal are automatically awarded the relevant medal, regardless of whether they have met the standard eligibility criteria.

“We are also actively considering a defined injury medal in acknowledgement of service personnel injured during their military careers.”