U.K. TERROR ATTACK HEROES DENIED GEORGE CROSS MEDALS Público Deposited
The E-Sylum: Volume 10, Number 53, December 30, 2007, Article 15
U.K. TERROR ATTACK HEROES DENIED GEORGE CROSS MEDALS
[British newspapers are taking the government to task over
what many see as a snub to citizen heroes of the July 7,
2005 terrorist bombings who were denied George Cross medals.
-Editor]Gordon Brown's pledge to honour members of the public for
heroism during terrorist attacks has been labelled a sham
after dozens of civilians who went to the rescue of the 7/7
bombing victims were snubbed for awards.Pleas to honour ordinary civilians have been rejected as
undeserving - even though more than two dozen public sector
staff, some of whom were doing desk jobs, have been honoured
for their conduct on 7/7.Brown made the pledge last July at the launch of a book he
wrote on heroism, titled Britain's Everyday Heroes. He said:
"It is right that we look at how our honours system can
recognise those in our emergency services and members of
the public who showed such bravery and heroism in the face
of the recent terrorist attacks."However, Tim Coulson, a teacher who went to the aid of
the victims of the Edgware Road tube station suicide
bombing in July 2005, was snubbed after his wife Judy
applied on his behalf this year.Coulson smashed his way into the stricken carriage from
another train adjacent to it in the tunnel and gave first
aid to the injured and dying. One man, whose body had been
severed at the waist by the blast, died in his arms.Although her husband's case was backed by testimonies from
those he helped and witnesses to his heroism, the Cabinet
Office told Judy Coulson in a letter that "honours are awarded
to people for meritorious service over a sustained period
and not specifically for saving someone's life".The George Cross, which can be given to either military
personnel or civilians and is equivalent to the Victoria
Cross, has been granted 159 times since its creation in
1940. Its most recent recipient is Corporal Mark Wright,
who died in Afghanistan in 2006 while leading fellow
soldiers through a minefield.Peter Zimonjic, the author of a new book on the 7/7 bombings
called Into the Darkness, said he was aware of at least two
dozen members of the public who had performed similar acts
of bravery to Coulson yet none had been officially recognised.The Cabinet Office declined to comment.
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Complete ArticleSPINK NEAR LONDON BOMB SITE, BUT UNAFFECTED
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