Firmin Sword of Peace

The Firmin Sword of Peace (previously known as the Wilkinson Sword of Peace) is an award given to units of the British Armed Forces for activities above and beyond the unit's normal role that improve relations with the community, either within the United Kingdom, or overseas.[1]

The award was established by British swordmaker Wilkinson Sword in 1966, with the company presenting a ceremonial sword to one unit each of the Royal Navy (including the Royal Fleet Auxiliary), British Army, and Royal Air Force; each unit having been judged as making the most outstanding contribution to community relations within each service during the calendar year.[1][2]

An award can be shared between multiple units on the same operation: for example, the 1998 Navy award was presented to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships Black Rover and Sir Tristram for their involvement in Operation Teller (the British relief response to Hurricane Mitch).[1][2] The award can also be shared with foreign military units: the frigates HMS Galatea and HMNZS Canterbury received the 1983 Navy Sword of Peace after a series of port visits made by the two ships to African nations sparked several diplomatic initiatives.[3] From 1994 onwards, the company began presenting a fourth sword to any joint-service unit or ad hoc single-operation unit that met the criteria for the award.[1] Unlike the awards for the three services, the "Special" sword was only presented if such a unit existed and was deemed worth recognising.[1]

After Wilkinson stopped the production of swords in 2005, Firmin & Sons began sponsoring the award.[2] Awards since 2005 have been made as follows:

Year Royal Navy Army RAF Joint Service
2005[4] HMS Chatham International Mine Action Training Centre (IMATC) Royal Engineers RAF Linton on Ouse No Award
2006[5] No Award Support Battalion Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps RAF Shawbury Joint Service Signal Unit (Cyprus)
2007[6] HMS Gannet 39 Engineer Regiment RAF Aldergrove RAF Digby
2008[7] Northern Diving Group 24 Field Squadron (Air Support) Royal Engineers RAF Shawbury Joint Service Signal Unit (Cyprus)
2009[8] No Award No Award RAF High Wycombe The Military Stabilisation Support Group (MSSG)
2010[9] RFA Largs Bay 64 Works Group Royal Engineers RAF Shawbury Joint Force Command Brunssum
2011[10] No Award No Award RAF Leeming 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group
2012[11] First Patrol Boat Squadron No Award RAF Cosford No Award
2013[12] HMS Daring No Award RAF Brize Norton HMS Illustrious
2014[13] No Award 5 Armoured Medical Regiment RAF Search and Rescue Force No Award
2015[14] HMS Enterprise 2 Signal Regiment The RAF Police The Defence Cultural Specialist Unit

Additionally in 2014 a Special Achievement Award was made to the Gurkha Welfare Scheme.[15]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Wilkinson Sword of Peace". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 17 January 2000. col. 276W–278W.
  2. 1 2 3 Robinson, Peter; Christopher J. "The Wilkinson Sword of Peace". Historical RFA. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  3. ↑ "Wilkinson Sword of Peace". Collections. Royal New Zealand Navy Museum. 2009. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  4. ↑ 2007 Defence Instruction 10-004 released in February 2007
  5. ↑ 2007 Defence Instruction 09-031 released in November 2007
  6. ↑ 2008 Defence Instruction 09-010 released in October 2008
  7. ↑ 2009 Defence Instruction 09-011 released in October 2009
  8. ↑ 2010 Defence Instruction 01-181 released in October 2010
  9. ↑ 2011 Defence Instruction 01-214 released in November 2011
  10. ↑ 2012 Defence Instruction 09-022 released in December 2012
  11. ↑ 2013 Defence Instruction 09-017 released in December 2013
  12. ↑ 2014 Defence Instruction 09-020 released in December 2014
  13. ↑ 2015 Defence Instruction 01-217 released in November 2015
  14. ↑ 2016 Defence Instruction 01-164 released in November 2016
  15. ↑ 2015 Defence Instruction 01-217 released in November 2015
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