Firemen thanked for long service and loyalty

Tuesday 16 October 2018

Four of Guernsey's firemen have been given long service medals for completing more than 90 years of service between them.

Head of Operations Pierre Lainé, Firefighter Shane Gaudion and Watch Commander Dave Hockey have all reached 20 years of service to the island, while Crew Commander Milton Le Moignan has been with Guernsey's Fire and Rescue Service for 30 years.

They were presented with their medals last night in a special ceremony at Government House, with the Lieutenant Governor speaking to each of the men as he presented them with their awards. 

Family members, as well as Senior Officers of the Guernsey Fire & Rescue Service and Political Members and Senior Staff of the Committee for Home Affairs were all there for the occasion. 

Mr Laine, Mr Gaudion and Mr Hockey all received Fire Brigade Long Service and Good Conduct Medals while Mr Le Moignan was given the Guernsey Fire & Rescue Service Meritorious Service Medal.

(L-R) Congratulations to Head of Operations Pierre Lainé, Firefighter Shane Gaudion and Watch Commander Dave Hockey for completing 20 years, and to Crew Commander Milton Le Moignan for 30 years of service with Guernsey Fire & Rescue. A remarkable achievement - well done! pic.twitter.com/I36V0ueHSk

— Gov House Guernsey (@GvHouseGuernsey) October 15, 2018

The Fire Brigade Long Service and Good Conduct Medal was introduced under Royal Warrant in 1954 and is given to full-time and part-time members of fire brigades throughout the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands who have completed 20 years of "continuous or aggregate service in an eligible fire brigade or service, so long as they have been of very good conduct and character."

The circular Medal is made of cupronickel and bears the crowned effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and a scene of two firefighters using a hose along with the inscription, ‘FOR EXEMPLARY FIRE SERVICE’.  The medal hangs from a red ribbon, with two thin yellow stripes.

The Guernsey Fire & Rescue Service Meritorious Service Medal was introduced by the Committee for Home Affairs in 2004 to recognise "additional Service beyond the 20-year award of the Fire Brigade Long Service and Good Conduct Medal awarded by Her Majesty The Queen."

This Medal can be awarded for:

• Gallantry where it is deemed that an act is above the award of a Chief Fire Officers’ Commendation
• Over 30 years of Service where an Officer has completed at least 30 years’ service of good conduct

The Medal includes the official Bailiwick of Guernsey Seal, with red, white and gold on the ribbon to represent the Guernsey Flag, together with the symbolic green and white associated with Guernsey.

A clasp is worn on the Medal to indicate ‘Gallantry’, ‘30 years’, ‘35 years’ and ‘40 years’.  Only one ‘years’ clasp will be worn as appropriate with the ‘years’ clasp being automatically awarded on completion of each period of 5 years after the award of the ‘30 years’ clasp.  The medal will be worn on the right breast, as only decorations and medals authorised by the Sovereign can be worn on the left breast.

Pictured top, l-r: Head of Operations Pierre Lainé, Firefighter Shane Gaudion, HE Sir Ian Corder, Watch Commander Dave Hockey, Crew Commander Milton Le Moignan.