For those who don't know about this sorry saga this is to those who served in the Canal Zone during the 1951-1954 Emergency. The veterans of this campaign Had been battling with politicians for nearly 50 years to get recognition for this campaign. Over 600 men died in the Suez campaign and the medal and recognition for what they did is long overdue. I have copied this brief description of the campaign from a web site dealing with the subject. In 1951 The Egyptian Government abrogated the 1936 Anglo-Egyptian Treaty, which agreed to the British retaining a Military base in the Suez Canal Zone until Mid 1956, and threatened to 'take over' the Canal. As Britain still had about £100m worth of equipment stored in the Zone from the end of the war, and nearly 10,000 troops to oversee the protection and maintenance of the equipment, the British Government refused to accept the abrogation. This resulted in the Egyptian Government ordering its troops and police to harass British troops in the Zone. Very quickly this harassment escalated and many civilians plus Members of the Fedayeen, were taking part. A 'Suez Emergency' was declared by Britain and an extra 6,000 men, 170 tons of stores and 330 vehicles were air Dispatched to the Zone in a matter of ten days, the swiftest build-up ever achieved by the British Army in peacetime. At it's peak this Military Campaign involved about 80,000 Servicemen and women, made up of a large Army contingent, Royal Air Force Units, the Royal Marine Commandos and a Naval Squadron which constantly patrolled the Suez Canal. It was the largest Military Force to be engaged in any one military theatre since The end of World War Two. Not only was the campaign fought to protect British personnel and property in the Zone but it was also the time of the 'Cold War' And a Russian threat to the Middle East oilfields, which supplied Western Europe's oil, made the protection of the Canal supreme as it was considered vital To Britain's Strategic interests, was Britain's lifeline to Australasia, the Far East and the African Colonies and was essential for trade between Europe and the Far East.