Elizabeth Emblem
The Elizabeth Emblem is a national form of recognition conferred by the monarch and awarded to the next of kin of members of the United Kingdom emergency services who are killed on duty.[1][2] It is named in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II.[1][2] It is the civilian equivalent of the Elizabeth Cross.[1][2]
History
[edit]On 9 March 2024, the introduction of the Elizabeth Emblem was announced by the government.[3]
Design
[edit]The emblem is silver in colour and oval.[4] At the top is a Tudor Crown above the inscription "FOR A LIFE GIVEN IN SERVICE", surrounded by a rosemary wreath, a traditional symbol of remembrance. The name of the person commemorated is inscribed on the back.[3]
The emblem includes a pin, allowing it to be worn by a next of kin of the person it commemorates. A miniature of the emblem accompanies it, which may be worn by the recipient at "that person's discretion". The emblem is not intended to be worn directly with other medals.[3]
Recipients of the Elizabeth Emblem also receive a memorial scroll inscribed with the name of the person commemorated. A close relative who is not the next of kin, for example a parent or partner, may be eligible for an additional memorial scroll, but not the emblem.[3]
Criteria
[edit]There are three criteria for a person to be eligible for an Elizabeth Emblem:[3]
Public service
[edit]- A person was employed in a role by, on behalf of, or formally funded by, an eligible body. The definition of an eligible body will be granted by the UK government, a devolved government (Welsh, Scottish and Northern Ireland), local government, a Crown Dependency or a British Overseas Territory;
- A person worked, either paid or voluntary at the behest of an eligible body, including any person with a formal contract or agreement to work for an eligible body, or ordered to provide a service;
- A person worked as part of emergency services personnel (either paid or voluntary), dealing directly or indirectly with emergencies. This will include front-line workers, as well as those working in control rooms, all working for emergency services of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a Crown Dependency or a British Overseas Territory. It also includes those who worked for mountain, cave and water rescue, weather and natural disaster response services and HM Coastguard; and,
- A person is not eligible to be commemorated by the granting of the Elizabeth Cross.
Circumstance of death
[edit]- A person's death occurred directly as a result of them taking action whilst in the course of their duty;
- A person was targeted on or off duty, as a result of their role or action they had taken;
- A person's death occurred during an operational call out, whether this was routine or for an emergency, whereby they died as a result of their response to the call;
- A person's death occurred due to them acting in assisting in an emergency situation that they were trained for, even if they were not formally on duty at the time;
- A person's death that occurred as a result of illness or injury attributable to their service; and,
- At the time of the person's death or during serving their organisation, they were not engaging in a criminal act or in such a way to place themselves or others at additional risk to their life.
Occurrence of death
[edit]- A person's death must have occurred on or after 1 January, 1948; or,
- A person's death must have taken place in Palestine between 27 September 1945 and 31 December 1947.
Nationality
[edit]- A person who has died may be of any nationality; however, if they were not a British citizen, the granting of the Emblem will be on agreement of the state in which they held citizenship.
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "New award for emergency service staff who die in line of duty". BBC News. 9 March 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ a b c "New 'Elizabeth Emblem' unveiled to commemorate public servants who died in line of duty". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
- ^ a b c d e "The Elizabeth Emblem - application guidance and eligibility". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
- ^ "The Elizabeth Emblem Statement made on 11 March 2024". parliament.uk. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
Sources
[edit]- "Roll of Honour" (PDF). wmfs.net. 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
- Cooper, Geoffrey (2009). "Roll of Honour 1899–1990" (PDF). Kent Fire and Rescue Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2018.