The UK Government has reiterated that any reconsideration of medallic recognition for BRIXMIS service would require substantial new evidence, reaffirming the role of the Advisory Military Sub-Committee (AMSC) as the independent body responsible for such decisions.
The statement came in response to a written question tabled in the House of Lords by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton, who asked under what circumstances His Majesty’s Government might reconsider awarding a clasp to the General Service Medal for service with the British Commanders’-in-Chief Mission to the Soviet Forces in Germany (BRIXMIS).
In a written reply on 8 April 2025, Defence Minister Lord Coaker clarified that the Ministry of Defence itself does not determine eligibility for historic medallic recognition.
“As the noble Lord was advised in 2023, cases regarding historic medallic recognition are a matter for the independent Advisory Military Sub-Committee (AMSC) to consider, rather than the Ministry of Defence,” said Lord Coaker. “In 2020, the AMSC considered the issue of awarding a clasp to the General Service Medal for service on BRIXMIS, and the recommendation… was that BRIXMIS did not meet the criteria for medallic recognition.”
That recommendation was upheld by the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (HD Committee), and accepted as final unless new qualifying evidence is presented.
“Any further review… would be for the AMSC to consider,” Lord Coaker added, “should additional evidence be submitted, which fulfils at least one of the following criteria: significant new evidence has become available… facts relied upon during the original decision-making process are shown to be unsound; the original decision appears to be manifestly inconsistent… or the decision appears to have been taken for reasons which have nothing to do with risk and rigour.”
Should the AMSC determine such new evidence merits reconsideration, the matter would be passed to the HD Committee for further deliberation and, if approved, submitted to His Majesty The King for final decision.
BRIXMIS, which operated throughout the Cold War from 1946 to 1990, involved British personnel conducting military liaison duties—and, covertly, intelligence gathering—behind the Iron Curtain under the terms of post-war agreements with the Soviet Union. Veterans have long campaigned for official recognition of the risks and strategic value of their service.
I have read some great books on BRIXMIS.
Recognition seems appropriate with the risks the teams took when on tour.
Dougie Florent? He was leaving just as i was starting – they should make a film based on his exploits
JOIN US Everybody can earn 250$/h + daily 1K !!! Start now making every month extra $6000-$22000 or more by just doing an easy online work from home. Last month i have earned and received $19650 from this work by giving this only 3 hrs a a day.Every person can now get this work and start earning online by.
For details check ——-⫸ WWW.WORKSPROFIT7.COM
I don’t recall any names, just what they infiltrated!
JOIN US Everybody can earn 250$/h + daily 1K !!! Start now making every month extra $6000-$22000 or more by just doing an easy online work from home. Last month i have earned and received $19650 from this work by giving this only 3 hrs a a day.Every person can now get this work and start earning online by.
For details check ——-⫸ 𝐖𝐖𝐖.𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝟏.𝐂𝐎𝐌
Perhaps everybody in BAOR should get the medal.
The number of fatalities each year just on exercise was rather significant.
I met a chap in SIB, his job was solely dealing with deaths on exercise.
JOIN US Everybody can earn 250$/h + daily 1K !!! Start now making every month extra $6000-$22000 or more by just doing an easy online work from home. Last month i have earned and received $19650 from this work by giving this only 3 hrs a a day.Every person can now get this work and start earning online by.
For details check ——-⫸ 𝐖𝐖𝐖.𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝟏.𝐂𝐎𝐌
Hi Dave,
Not just BAOR but some other units that were in Germany but not official part of the BAOR or for that matter not under British control. For one was my first Reg,t 28 (Br) Signal Regt, Merc and DAF trucks German telecom equipment a Lt Col in charge of the Regt but a full Col from the German Army in overall command.
We would even get into trouble when going to other UK BAOR bases as our uniform was a bit diffrent with diffrent coloured neck cravattes, shoulder flashes (non worn in the late 70s early 80s) pocket fob etc. We looked more American that British with the changes. Then there are the folks that were in Oman in the early to mid 80s where we where but not officially attached to the Sultan of Omans Armed Forces as ‘liaison’. Or Saudia in the late 80s for the Saudi GID where if we told anyone what we were doing it was x amount of years in jail. (I still don’t know how to fill out my cv on what I did and when)
What do British ex squaddies get for their service a veterans badge that you pay for. So I do agree that every person who served for three years or more should get a service medal and if posted over seas for more than 12 months should get a clasp.
The article is about Brixmis and yet what is missed is the anti SOXMIS, been on a few of those, chasing, hunting, blocking missions. They were fun, but sometime a bit hair raising, especially if it was one the transit routes. Had one or two situations with the Stasi, still wonder if I have a Stasi file somewhere.
I’ve been on exercise in BAOR that have canned early due to ‘excessive’ casualties.
Every exercise had reasons to finish early, war, run out of money, run out of the quota of body bags.
I have never been able to find the NATO part number for UK body bags.
Like the suggestion of a VC for Paddy Mayne, way too late even if it happens.
Uncle served with BRIXMIS, the stories of what they got up to… deserves a clasp at least.
One of the guys in my Regt did a Brixmis tour, he was also caught up in the Woolwich pub bombing and lost part of a limb. He did a lecture for us on my Crew Commanders Course on his time in Berlin which was probably the best lecture I ever had in the army.