Gongs

​Years ago I had a neighbour who was originally from the U.S. and who had a big pickup truck with a canopy that was boldly emblazoned with decals detailing his service in Vietnam. USMC VIETNAM WAR VETERAN it proclaimed in big white letters, along with the names of battles (KHE SAHN etc) and colour reproductions of all the campaign ribbons he had earned. I never spoke to the fellow, as he had a bad reputation in the neighbourhood for reasons I won’t go in to, but what struck me about his display was how foreign it was to my own experience with my Dad’s service. My Dad (and every other Second World War veteran I have read about or spoken to, almost without exception) was modest and went out of his way not to appear to be “talking up” his wartime service. The difference between Dad’s attitude and my neighbours could not be starker. The thought of my Dad driving around in a truck proclaiming RCAF BOMBER COMMAND VETERAN - NUREMBERG – BERLIN – DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS etc etc is laughable. Was it his belonging to an earlier generation that accounted for the difference in attitude from my neighbour? The type of war he fought in? The culture he grew up in (Canadian vs American)? I am not sure.
The attitude of British and Commonwealth servicemen towards the medals they were awarded is a case in point. Decorations were universally referred to as “gongs”, and the Distinguished Flying Cross was known known to Bomber Command airmen as the “Survivor’s Gong” - in other words, it was often a reward for having actually survived a tour of operations despite the atrocious loss rates (topping 50% or more). I never knew my Dad had gotten a medal until I asked him specifically, when I was about 14. Bob McWhirter (the rear gunner in my Dad’s Lancaster crew) had his D.F.C. hidden in the back of a drawer – his family found it when they were moving house years after the war’s end. Teddy Rutherglen (the Wireless Operator on Dad’s crew) kept his D.F.C. tucked away as well – he was moved when his teenage daughter found it and had it framed as a gift..."I didn’t think anyone cared” he told her, fighting back tears.
The modesty and humility of that generation, I have learned, are signs of confidence and inner strength, and of an understanding that one has been very, very lucky – and that many of ones friends and comrades were not.
At the end of the Second World War, Bomber Command was snubbed by Winston Churchill, who gave no mention of them (or their leader, Sir Arthur Harris) in his Victory Speech, and no special campaign ribbon to acknowledge their contribution in defeating Hitler. Seventy years later the Canadian government came out with a Bomber Command clasp (to be placed on the 39-45 Aircrew Europe campaign medal) to honour Canadian bomber crews, but the timing was somewhat suspect. The government of the day was getting well deserved criticism for its poor treatment of Canada’s Afghanistan veterans, and many felt (including me) that the clasp was bit of a publicity stunt to show solidarity with veterans. It was a bit of a “too little, too late” situation for many.
Despite my misgivings, I eventually did apply for the clasp on behalf of my late father. That was about 18 months ago – no word yet...