The Royal British Legion Scotland Arbroath Branch Club

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New Memorial Unveiled

A new memorial honouring all those who have been killed in conflict has been unveiled by HRH The Princess Royal.

The memorial, which stands in the south cloister of London’s Westminster Abbey, is dedicated to all service personnel, both regular and reserve who have died in conflict since the end of World War II.

It complements the main Armed Forces Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, which honours all service personnel who have died in or out of conflict, and is to be used as a focal point in London for all events commemorating post-WWII conflicts.

Rucksack hero receives his GC

The Royal Marine who jumped on top of an exploding grenade to save his comrades has been awarded the George Cross, the highest civilian accolade.

Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher was saved by his rucksack as he shielded his fellow servicemen from the blast, risking his life in a split-second decision.

The 24 year old Marine, of 40 Commando, had set off a trip wire by accident while on a night-time patrol in the Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Return to Rationing is launched

The Legion has launched its latest campaign, which calls on the Government to bring pensioners out of poverty, later today.

The campaign, titled Return to Rationing? is designed to tackle issues that are leading the older members of the UK’s ex-service community into a life of poverty.

It is estimated that more than 2.5 million pensioners are living on an income that’s considered too low to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and many are unaware of which financial services and benefits are available to them.

Backed by charity Age Concern, Return to Rationing? aims to influence existing policy to include introducing an automatic payments system for Council Tax Benefit and making a full disregard of war pension income a statutory requirement.

It also recommends doubling the personal expense allowance for elderly care home residents and distributing a £50 fuel voucher to pensioners who are aged over 70 and in receipt of Pension Credit.

The Legion’s Director General, Chris Simpkins, said: “We all thought rationing was history. But we were wrong. Even the Chancellor says we’re facing the worst economic climate in 60 years and this has a crushing impact on older people.

“The Government must give them the help they deserve – making it easier for them to access their entitlements and giving them a level of income to ensure their basic needs are met.”

Press Releases

Armed Forces Day

The long-awaited Armed Forces Day will be held on June 27 next year.

However, it will not be a Bank Holiday and it will share the date with Veterans Day. Veterans Day, which was established in 2006, has the aim of ensuring that the contribution of veterans is never forgotten.

The Government anticipates that Armed Forces Day will allow people to honour the service of British servicemen and improve public respect for the military.

It hopes that recent examples of discrimination, such as the verbal abuse for wearing RAF uniform in Peterborough and the Surrey hotel that turned away a soldier in uniform, will become a thing of the past.

The decisions follow an independent inquiry led by Quentin Davies MP, which was published in May. It contained 40 recommendations, most of which have been accepted by ministers.

Other initiatives include:

A 'Veteran's Card' for everyone leaving the Armed Forces which can be used as a form of ID to help veterans claim discounts or benefits;
An improved system for arranging homecoming parades;
A relaxation on the rules on media contacts, to make it easier for units to talk to local press and television;
A pledge by ministers to 'explore' ways of including the armed forces in citizenship lessons and for a dramatic expansion of cadet groups in schools.