DEFENCE chiefs have apologised for the insensitive way the family of a murdered military policeman were treated over a request for a replacement medal.

They have also promised to change their procedures after the parents of Lance Corporal Ben Hyde were left offended by the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) curt response to a request to replace a medal honouring their son’s sacrifice.

L/Cpl Hyde, from Northallerton, was one of six military policemen murdered by an enraged mob which stormed an Iraqi police station in 2003.

As a result of his death, his parents were presented with an Elizabeth Medal – an award granted, as a mark of national recognition, to the next of kin of Armed Forces personnel killed on operations.

Mrs Hyde had wanted to wear the medal – which bears an inscription with her son’s name on the back – on the Remembrance Sunday parade in Northallerton, but she discovered it was missing.

It did subsequently turn up in the Hydes’ 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 the medal had been supplied with instructions for obtaining a replacement and his wife had followed them to the letter – and had obtained a police incident number for the loss.

He said his wife had received a “totally heartless” response from a civil servant in the Medal Office saying the MoD could not replace it – and there was no explanation given.

Mr and Mrs Hyde asked their MP, Rishi Sunak, for assistance and he demanded an explanation from the MoD for the blunt response.

Defence Minister Earl Howe has officially acknowledged the Hydes had an “unsatisfactory experience” and has apologised.

The minister said the Medal Office had amended the standard letter the Hydes received to prevent any further upset and to make the policy on replacement medals clearer.

Mr Sunak said: “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.

Following their son’s death, the couple set up the Ben Hyde Memorial Trust and have raised more than £40,000 for a wide variety of good causes.

Among the events held is an annual dinner in Northallerton and it was after last year’s dinner that the medal was misplaced.