[Michael]

I don't agree with retroactive awards. As any veteran will tell you, there are a lot more VC, DSOs MMs etc won than are awarded. To open that up is to turn awards into an even more political process than currently exists. (Robert Graves mentions that it was understood that any decorations would go to the Regular Army officers, who needed them for their careers).

But equally I disagree with retrospectively taking a medal away from a man (or woman), as happened with the MOH. The largest number were awards to a Maine Infantry regiment as incentive to re-enlist immediately before a battle. Okay, they shouldn't have been awarded - but they were. The British didn't strip Pte. O'Hea of his V.C. for uncoupling a blazing boxcar filled with ammunition during the Fenian Raids (the only V.C. won on Canadian soil). Likewise the several V.C.s awarded to the 2/24th during a small boat mishap in the Andaman Islands (including their surgeon - born in Quebec.)