The honour scheme, launched last year and conferred by King Charles, acknowledges the sacrifice of police officers, firefighters and public servants.
Across the UK the families of 106 families people who lost their lives are to receive the honour in what is only the second ever list of Elizabeth Emblem recipients to be published.
Elizabeth Emblem, presented to the familiy of public servants who have been killed in the line of duty
The high proportion from Northern Ireland includes many families whose loved ones were killed during the Troubles.
Among those named in the list of recipients is Brian Armour from the NI Prison Service, who was serving at the Maze when he was killed on October 4, 1988 by the IRA who had planted a bomb under his car. John Doherty, of the Royal Ulster Constabulary will also be honoured. He was visiting his mother in Ardnasool, near Lifford, Co Donegal when he was ambushed and shot dead by the IRA on October 28, 1973.
John Doherty RUC officer murdered 1973
An Elizabeth Emblem — the civilian equivalent of the Elizabeth Cross, which recognises members of the Armed Forces who died in action or as a result of a terrorist attack — will also be presented to the family of William Ivan Toombs.
Ivan Toombs (Toombs family/PA)
He had been working for HM Customs and Excise in his office at Warrenpoint Harbour when members of the IRA entered and fired handguns at point blank range on January 16, 1981.
RUC Reserve Constable Robert Struthers is also included in the list. He had been working in the office of his full-time employer, Lorne Electric Ltd in Londonderry, when two armed men entered and shot him on June 16, 1978.
RUC Reserve Constable Robert Struthers
The families of two more RUC reserve constables will also be honoured. Margaret Cherry Campbell, who died on November 21, 1975 had been investigating a road traffic accident on the main Londonderry to Limavady road when she attempted to stop a passing car, which swerved, stuck another vehicle which then stuck her. And RUC reserve constable Wallace Allen who had been working in his regular job, driving a lorry for Milk Marketing Board in South Armagh, when he was shot by the IRA and his body taken. He died on August 31, with his remains located two weeks later on September 12.
The family of firefighter John Nicholl, who was working to bring a blaze under control at a disused shop on August 27, 1976 when the building collapsed and trapped him inside, will be receiving the award in recognition of his sacrifice.
It will also be presented to the loved ones of PSNI officer Philippa Reynolds who died after a stolen car crashed into a police patrol vehicle in February 2013.
PSNI officer Philippa Reynolds who died in 2013
Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said the Elizabeth Emblem was “a lasting memory” of officers’ bravery.
“It is a poignant and powerful symbol of national gratitude – a recognition not only of the officers’ ultimate sacrifice, but also of the pain their loved ones have been left behind to process and carry,” he said.
Secretary of State, Hilary Benn, who this week marks a year in office, said the nation owes “a huge debt of gratitude to all of the public servants who will posthumously receive this honour.
“I want to personally thank the families of those police officers, firefighters and other public servants from Northern Ireland who are recognised for their bravery and service,” he added.
“Your loved ones made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the wider community, many during the deeply traumatic period of the Troubles, and for that we will be forever grateful.”
Wallace Allen, who was kidnapped by the IRA while he was doing a Sunday morning milk round
Two NI Executive ministers also added their appreciation.
Justice Minister Naomi Long, said: “We owe a great debt to those who lost their lives as a result of their public service. I am pleased to see the first recipients of the Elizabeth Emblem in Northern Ireland named today. It is a fitting testament to the dedication of those police officers and prison officers in Northern Ireland who lost their lives in the course of their duty, and to their families.”
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt added: “I acknowledge the profound sacrifice of the two late Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) firefighters, whose deaths occurred many years ago but whose courage remains deeply respected.
“As the first from NIFRS to receive the Elizabeth Emblem, this important recognition pays lasting tribute to their service and bravery.
“I offer my sincere sympathy and gratitude to their families, who have carried this loss for decades.”
In addition to 34 people from Northern Ireland the list of recipients includes 63 from England, eight from Scotland and one from Wales.
The Emblem’s design incorporates a rosemary wreath, a traditional symbol of remembrance, which surrounds the Tudor Crown. It is inscribed with ‘For A Life Given In Service’, and will have the name of the person for whom it is in memoriam inscribed on the reverse.
The families of 34 people from Northern Ireland who died in the line of duty are to receive national recognition with the award of an Elizabeth Emblem.
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Full list of people from NI who will be recognised with national award
• Const Earnest McAllister, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died March 20, 1972. • Const John Doherty, RUC. Died October 28, 1973. • Const Robert Megaw, RUC. Died December 1, 1973. • Const Cyril John Wilson, RUC. Died March 17, 1974. • Const John Harrison Forsythe, RUC. Died June 18, 1974. • Res Con Andrew Alexander Baird, RUC. Died October 14, 1975. • Res Con Margaret Cherry Campbell, RUC. Died November 21, 1975. • Sgt James Hunter, RUC. Died May 15, 1976. • Ff John Aloysius Nichol, Northern Ireland Fire Brigade. Died August 27, 1976. • Sgt Albert Craig, RUC. Died September 18, 1976. • Const Patrick Liam McNulty, RUC. Died January 27, 1977. • Const Kenneth William Sheehan, RUC. Died April 8, 1977. • Res Con Robert Albert James Struthers, RUC. Died June 16, 1978. • Const William Herbert Turbitt, RUC. Died June 17, 1978. • Sub-O Wesley Orr, Northern Ireland Fire Brigade. Died November 16, 1978. • Const Richard Allen Baird, RUC. Died April 17, 1979. • Res Con Frederick John Eric Lutton, RUC. Died May 1, 1979. • Res Con William Wallace Allen, RUC. Died August 31, 1980. • Res Con Lindsay Gardiner McDougall, RUC. Died January 14, 1981. • William Edward Ivan Toombs, HM Revenue and Customs. Died January 16, 1981. • Const Gary Desmond Martin, RUC. Died April 27, 1981. • Const Andrew Alfred Woods, RUC. Died August 2, 1981. • Sgt William Gordon Wilson, RUC. Died February 21, 1983. • Res Con James Ferguson, RUC. Died October 6, 1983. • Res Con Trevor George Elliot, RUC. Died May 18, 1984. • Insp Patrick Martin Vance, RUC. Died August 31, 1985. • PC Paul Richard North, RUC. Died March 17, 1987. • Brian Samuel Armour, Northern Ireland Prison Service. Died October 4, 1988. • Const Gary Carl Meyer, RUC. Died June 30, 1990. • Insp William David Wesley Murphy, RUC. Died November 10, 1990. • Const John Spence McGarry, RUC. Died April 6, 1991. • Const Michael John Ferguson, RUC. Died January 23, 1993. • Res Con Kenneth Thomas Irvine, Police Service of Northern Ireland. Died November 23, 2008. • Const Philippa Reynolds, Police Service of Northern Ireland. Died February 9, 2013.