Introduced in November 2024, the Elizabeth Emblem is a national form of recognition conferred by the monarch and awarded to the next of kin of members of the United Kingdom emergency services who are killed on duty. It is named in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II. It is the civilian equivalent of the Elizabeth Cross.

Design

The emblem is silver in colour and oval. At the top is a Tudor Crown above the inscription “FOR A LIFE GIVEN IN SERVICE”, surrounded by a rosemary wreath, a traditional symbol of remembrance. The name of the person commemorated is inscribed on the back. The emblem includes a pin, allowing it to be worn by a next of kin of the person it commemorates. A miniature of the emblem accompanies it, which may be worn by the recipient at “that person’s discretion”. The emblem is not intended to be worn directly with other medals.

Recipients of the Elizabeth Emblem also receive a memorial scroll inscribed with the name of the person commemorated. A close relative who is not the next of kin, for example a parent or partner, may be eligible for an additional memorial scroll, but not the emblem.

Among the first to recipients announced was Hampshire Constabulary officer, Detective Constable 99 Malcolm Wiltshire who died in an air crash in 1985. He was acting as observer in the Hampshire Constabulary Optica Scout aircraft that crashed near Ringwood, Hampshire whilst monitoring traffic flow through the New Forest. The pilot, Police Constable 851 Gerald Spencer was also killed.

“It was a complete shock,” Martin Wiltshire told the BBC after being informed he would be receiving the award on behalf of his father. “It’s a real privilege that dad’s memories have been kept alive after all these years,” he said, adding that his father “loved his job” and “took great pride in his work”.

Mr Wiltshire and his daughter took part in the Police Unity Tour in memory of his father

“It really did affect the family,” said Mr Wiltshire, who was 15 at the time of his father’s death. “But obviously time helped.” He added that his family had been welcomed in by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary in recent years. Hampshire Constabulary has supported him taking part in various events. “They always remember the anniversary of dad’s death each year.”

Speaking about the significance of the award, he said: “It’s really important that their memories are not forgotten and their service to the public is remembered.”

Malcolm James Victor Wiltshire was born on 13^th April 1941 in Dunfermline, Scotland. He joined Hampshire Constabulary as Police Constable 99 on 23^rd March 1962. After attending his initial training course at Sandgate, Kent he was posted to Newport on 23^rd June 1962. On 18^th September 1965 he was transferred to Sandown. On 4^th December 1973 he was posted to ‘O’ Department, South West Support Headquarters. His final posting was to ‘OS’ Photographic, Lyndhurst on 1^st January 1983.