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Wednesday 8 November 2006 13:38
Ministry Of Defence (National)
Extension of the HM Armed Forces Veterans Badge and UK Merchant Seafarers Veterans Badge
The Armed Forces Minister, Adam Ingram, today presented Veterans Badges to veterans of the 1960s.
Eligibility for both the HM Armed Forces Veterans' Badge and UK Merchant Seafarers Veterans Badge has today been extended. All those who served in the Armed Forces or Merchant Navy at any time up to 31 December 1969 can now apply.
Mr Ingram said:
"Today there are 10 million veterans living, working and contributing across every walk of life in the United Kingdom. The HM Armed Forces Veteran's Badge and UK Merchant Seafarers Veteran's Badge are marks of our respect and gratitude.
"I am delighted to announce that we are extending the eligibility to a new group of thoroughly deserving veterans. These men and women served in small wars and counter insurgencies; in conflicts that are perhaps less in the limelight today. Conflicts that saw bloody fighting from the jungles of Malaya, Borneo and Sarawak to the dusty plains and city of Aden at the tip of the Arabian Peninsula.
"The HM Armed Forces Veteran's badge has already been awarded to over 328,000 veterans - this latest extension will, I am delighted to say, reach out to yet thousands more. Similarly with its recent introduction in June this year the UK Merchant seafarers Veteran's Badge has already been awarded to over 3000 recipients."
He added:
"As Winston Churchill said: 'A medal glitters, but it also casts a shadow'. And those words certainly resonate today, in this week of Remembrance Sunday. As we commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of our commitment of our service personnel we also remember those who did not return. In Aden, for example, 167 British service personnel lost their lives.
1. The HM Armed Forces Veterans' Badge was launched in May 2004 with the initial intention that it would be made available to all First World War veterans and the Second World War veterans who, under the Heroes Return scheme, travelled back to the battlefronts they had fought on. Because the badge has been so popular, eligibility has been rapidly increased to include those who served in the Armed Forces or Merchant Navy, who served in armed conflicts, at any time up to and including 31 December 1969.
2. Amongst the veterans included by the extension of the eligibility criteria will be those who served in the following campaigns and theatres:
* Aden 1964-1967
* Malaysia 1964-1966
It will also cover the start of the troubles in Northern Ireland in 1969.
3. The Minister met five Armed Forces Veterans and two Merchant Navy veterans today at the Ministry of Defence;
A. Mr Barrie Russell from Rotherham. He initially joined the Royal Engineers in 1960 before transferring to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in 1964 - 1966.
B. Mrs Joan Ryall from Gateshead. She served in the Women's Royal Army Corps from 1961 - 1963.
Mr Maurice F Barlow MBE from Nuneaton. He joined the Royal Army Service Corps in 1960 and left the Army in 1995 as a Major.
C. Mr Peter Fox from Ramsgate. During his career in the Royal navy he served on HMS Endurance in the Falklands (pre-conflict) and on submarines for 12 years.
D. Mr George Price, from Welling Garden City. He served in the Merchant Navy and supplied the troops in Aden from 1960 - 1963.
E. Mr Tim Brant, Secretary of the Merchant Navy Association. He served in the Merchant Navy and transferred fuel for the RAF from Abadan (Middle East) to Ghan Island (Maldives) in 1960.
4. Further extensions to the eligibility criteria of the Badge will be announced in due course.
5. Included in eligibility for the HM Armed Forces Veteran's Badge are the widow(er) s of those Service personnel whose spouse died as a result of an injury or illness attributable to their military service and who are in receipt of a United Kingdom war widow(er)'s pension.
6. Applications for the badge detailing, name, address, date of birth, service number, period of service and theatres of service should be sent to Veterans Services, Veterans Agency, Norcross, Blackpool, FY5 3WP.
7. Further information on the HM Armed Forces Veteran's Badge, along with help and advice on any issue affecting veterans' lives, can be obtained from the free national veterans helpline 0800 169 2277 or website http://www.veteransagency.mod.uk.
8. Eligibility criteria and further information on the UK Merchant Seafarers Veteran's Badge can also be obtained from the free national veterans helpline 0800 169 2277 or website http://www.veteransagency.mod.uk. Alternatively veterans can contact the Federation of Merchant Mariners 01480412958 ([email protected]) or the Merchant Navy Association 01472 851130 ([email protected]).
9. For more information go to http://www.news.mod.uk.