DEFENCE chiefs have apologised for the way the family of a murdered military policeman were treated over their request for a replacement medal.
They have also promised to change their procedures after the parents of Northallerton Redcap L/Cpl Ben Hyde were offended by the Ministry of Defence's curt response to a request for a replacement medal honouring their son's sacrifice.
L/Cpl Hyde was one of six military policemen murdered by a mob in an Iraqi police station in 2003.
His mother, Sandra, thought she had lost the Elizabeth Cross - granted to the next of kin of Armed Forces personnel killed on operations as a mark of national recognition for her loss.
The medal, which is inscribed with Ben’s name on the back, did subsequently turn up in the Hyde’s home but not before Mrs Hyde had reported it missing and started the process of obtaining a replacement.
L/Cpl Hyde’s father John said his wife had followed the instructions to the letter for obtaining a replacement - supplied with the medal when first awarded - and had obtained a police incident number for the loss.
But his wife had received a “totally heartless” response from a civil servant in the Medal Office saying under the circumstances the MoD could not replace it. There was no explanation.
Mr and Mrs Hyde asked their MP, Rishi Sunak, for help and now Defence Minister Earl Howe has acknowledged the Hyde's "unsatisfactory experience" and apologised.
The minister said the MoD's Medal Office had now amended the standard letter the Hydes had received to prevent any further upset and to make the policy on replacement medals clearer.
Mr Sunak: "I am pleased that Earl Howe has responded so positively to my inquiry. The three-line letter Mrs Hyde received was blunt in the extreme and it is good to know the department has taken steps to ensure this doesn't happen in the future."
Mr Hyde said he and his wife were gratified by Earl Howe's response.