Burstow: hundreds of local residents may qualify for Veterans badge

2.48.11pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 15th Jan 2007

Paul Burstow, MP for Sutton and Cheam, is asking veterans who served in the Armed Forces to contact him for help collecting the Armed Forces Veterans badge - a badge which anyone serving in the forces before 1969 may be entitled to.

Merchant Navy Seamen, Home Guard veterans and war widows receiving a war pension are among other groups able to qualify for the badge. The badge is a survivors badge, to be worn on civilian clothing, and cannot be awarded posthumously.

Mr Burstow is calling for anyone who feels they may be entitled to a badge to contact his office by writing to: 312-314 High Street, Sutton, SM1 1PR or by telephone on 0208 288 6550.

Commenting, Paul Burstow MP said:

"The Veterans badge is a symbolic recognition of the debt we owe to all those who served our country in years gone by."

"I would encourage anyone who feels they may be entitled to the badge to contact me for an application form."

Notes to Editors:

List of groups qualified for the Veterans badge:

Merchant Navy

Home Guard

Polish Forces under UK command

Cyprus Regiment (WW2)

Suez Canal Zone (1951-54) Veterans

War widows/widowers receiving a widows pension