Fury as the MoD refuses medal for Paras' 'forgotten' Falklands hero whose family insist his citation was lost

A Falklands hero whose medal citation was lost by senior officers has been refused an award – despite a high-profile campaign by his family, MPs and The Mail on Sunday.
The family of Corporal Stewart McLaughlin, 27, say the soldier was recommended for a gallantry medal hours after his death in the battle of Mount Longdon in June 1982.
But because the handwritten citation was lost, the exploits of Cpl McLaughlin, of the 3rd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment (3 Para), have gone unrecognised.His family’s hopes were raised last year when Defence Minister Anna Soubry announced a fresh inquiry, but they have now been told that the review found no evidence that a citation was written.
His brother and son furiously dispute this conclusion, while this newspaper has seen documents which appear to challenge the inquiry’s findings.
These include a letter to Cpl McLaughlin’s commander, Lieutenant General Sir Hew Pike, written just days after the battle.In it, another Para officer, Major Mike Argue, writes: ‘You have read my citation. Prior to his death, he led his section like a demon on the rocks of Mount Longdon. This was McLaughlin at his best.’
The inquiry dismissed this reference to a citation, and also ignored the recollections of General Sir Hew, who is adamant that a medal recommendation was written at the time.
How or when the citation was misplaced remains unclear. Last night, Cpl McLaughlin’s brother Mark, 53, from Liverpool, said: ‘We have had a battle royal with the Ministry of Defence who have been hellbent on refusing Stewart a medal no matter what evidence we put forward.Read more
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(RG)When it comes to medals for the Falklands War, it seems the MOD have been handing them out like confetti recently. Soldiers that were in the UK during the War watching it all unfold on the TV with a pint of lager in their hands, now can have one, having gone down there after the War ended, but the MOD cant seem to give Corporal McLaughlin the medal it seems everyone apart from the MOD think he deserves. It’s a disgrace and stinks to high heaven.

Falkland Islands given medal for showing 'indomitable will' during Argentine invasion

THE Falkland Islands has collectively been awarded a medal today in recognition of their 'indomitable will' during the Argentine invasion.The archipelago were today honoured for the "personal commitment" they showed in defending their right of self-determination during the 1982 war. The South Atlantic medal was handed to almost 30,000 troops and civilians who served in the operation to liberate the Falklands from Argentine forces. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said: "I am pleased to inform the House that in 2015 the South Atlantic Medal will be presented, on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen, to the Falkland Islands, in recognition of the assistance provided to the Forces of the United Kingdom during the liberation of the Islands in 1982. "The Islanders' individual acts of courage exemplified the indomitable will and personal commitment to defending the Islands' right of self determination." Prime Minister David Cameron will honour the people of the Falklands Islands during his annual Christmas message to them.Read More HERE

(RG) Some people will be happy with this award, some particularly those that hate the Tories will say Cameron is using it for his political means leading up to a General Election. I like many are extremely disillusioned with politics in the UK, but I think this award is a good thing, the Islanders deserve this award. I also think a medal should be awarded to all servicemen that have served their Country, particularly in the cold War era, like the awards the Australian military get, but that’s another story. I sure the Argentine Government will have a moan about this but that’s nothing new.

David Cameron is awarded a medal