War Pensions -- The Royal Air Force

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[> [> Re: War Pensions -- John Cooper, 30/03/04 8:01:22

I get quite a few emails on this subject, here is one just come in today

Hi there John.recently I asked PMA at Innsworth for my Service records,I gave them all my movements in the 4 years that I was in the RAF(1958/1962)mid way in my service I had an accident while on the job of servicing a Radio Aerial,it collapsed while I and an other guy were up it.Needless to say I was in hospital for 4 months plus a further 3 months of Physio, then continued on with the rest of my time in the RAF,all of this was in my letter to them.I got a reply from them that as 41 years had elasped almost all of my records had been destroyed under the MOD retention policy,but forwarded my Form RAF 543 Service Record of Service to me.Even this has some glaring mistakes in it,with items struck out and notations stating that this was over ridden .I have been in contact with a pal of mine who serves with the British legion and tells me to try for a War pension,I have down loaded the forms from the VA web site.After reading your fight with these types,I get the feeling that I will be having the same sort of fight with them.I live in ******* Canada,and it will be long distance correspondance.I would really appreciate any tips on winning against officialdom,ie how can I get my records,how to apply and who to apply to,and addresses to get all and any thing pertaining to my case, Thanks in anticipation of a early reply.

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[> [> [> Re: War Pensions -- John Cooper, 2/04/04 14:38:50

This one from a friend and ex colleague, they really beggar belief

When I left St Mawgan for the sunny shores of Sharjah I little realised that when I came back from there I would bring with me a lifelong medical problem.
We had a gung ho CO there who thought that all erks should be au fait with desert survival techniques. So myself with a bunch of airmen in tow was sent out into the bondu in a temp of 104 in the shade, no map, no water, just an instruction to "head for those two pointy hills in the far distance" a wadi, mit water, would be found just before we reached said hills !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After about three hours toiling through ever roughening terrain, some of the lads began to collapse. I scouted on ahead but could find no sign of water.

We formed a committee, and it was decided to leave all the lads except me and another non smoker, in the shade of a tiny gorse bush ?? Whilst me and tother lad set off for a local army camp which we knew was only a few miles
away. To cut a long story short I flaked out whilst a mile short of our destination, but tother lad, dead fit, carried on and eventually returned with an army landrover + 3 tonner and gallons of water, many lives saved.

From that time I was never well. A month later I was posted home to Watton, where upon going sick I was treated for indigestion and put on a diet. Over the next two years I lost weight from 13 stone to 8 stone, which I put down to
the diet. Next thing I was in Ely Hospital. I found out I was diabetic, seriously so. I explained my theory of severe dehydration etc. etc. but the medical board decided it was heredity. This despite the fact there was no record of any one from either side of my family ever suffering from the
complaint. As a SNCO I was allowed to finish my current 14 year stint and then given a discharge with a medical category of A4 G2.(still breathing and walking unaided) No pension or compensation. Medical records still emphatically record hereditary reasons and my claims that this
is incorrect cut no ice.

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[> [> [> [> Re: War Pensions -- Jim Fox, 29/05/04 20:00:51

A V.C. holder from Canada took the Ministry for Defence to the Hihg Court yesterday as he wanted his war pension paid back to the start day of his injuries, the court allowed this.

I have also come across an article where it is up to the serviceman to proof that he is entitled to a war pension, so it looks like things are getting harder.

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[> [> [> [> [> Re: War Pensions -- John Cooper, 30/05/04 13:25:10

I haven't seen these reports anywhere, so if anyone can guide me in the right direction please do so, especially you Jim.

Re the VC holder, I appealed through the courts in London last year to have my pension backdated to when I came out of the RAF in 1969, this was turned down because it would have amounted to over �60000, seems that this chap has won the day. If I find anything on this I will post it here.

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[> [> [> [> [> [> Re: War Pensions -- John Cooper, 2/06/04 19:37:52

MOD Oracle sent this to me today via a report in GUARDIAN UNLIMITED it would appear that claiming relating to timing is being reduced and that the onus is on the ex serviceman to prove that he/she was injured as a result of service in HM Forces rather than being given the benefit of any doubt....BLOODY CHEEK!

Copy and paste this site

http://www.modoracle.com/news/detail.h2f?id=5457&category=1&refresh=2EDDEEB0-B696-