IT is always sad when someone shows his ignorance in public.

If Mr Jeffrey (Evening Press, July 22) had come to the Minster on Sunday, he would have found the veterans enjoying the company of a naval officer who had had a very hard and dangerous war. The Duke of Edinburgh more than earned his medals. For Mr Jeffrey's information the medals the Duke was wearing were:

The 1939-1945 Star - for active service abroad during the war

The Atlantic Star with the France and Germany clasp - The Battle of the Atlantic and the Normandy landings.

The Africa Star - serving in the Mediterranean escorting convoys to Malta

The Burma Star with the Pacific clasp - supporting the Burma Campaign and being subjected to Kamikaze attacks in the Pacific

The Defence and War Medals complete with an Oak Leaf showing he was Mentioned in Despatches for gallantry

Two foreign awards including the Croix de Guerre

Mr Jeffrey may also like to know that initially the Admiralty did not want him to be present in a theatre of war but he insisted and got his way.

J H Jessop,

Dalby Mead,

York.

...REFERENCE the letter from Colin Jeffrey, I reproduce the following extract from a press release titled 50 Facts About The Duke Of Edinburgh: "The Duke was on active service in the Royal Navy throughout the Second World War.

"The Duke's first naval appointment, aged 18, was as a midshipman to HMS Ramillies, which escorted the first contingents of the Allied Expeditionary Force from Australia to Egypt.

"The Duke of Edinburgh was mentioned in despatches for his service in the Second World War.

"His Royal Highness joined HMS Valiant in the Mediterranean Fleet and was involved in engagements including, on March 21, 1941, the battle of Matapan (in Greek waters) against the Italian fleet.

"For his work in control of the searchlights, Prince Philip was mentioned in despatches. He was later awarded the Greek War Cross of Valour.

"Towards the end of the Second World War, Prince Philip served in the destroyer HMS Whelp in the Pacific, and was present in Tokyo Bay for the Japanese surrender on September 2, 1945."

As one who attended the 60th Kohima anniversary, I am pleased to put the record straight.

Major MG Wilks,

Aldwark,

York.

Updated: 09:23 Saturday, July 24, 2004