Veterans receive badges of honour (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Veterans receive badges of honour

9:35am Thursday 28th June 2007 in Swindon By Gazette Reporter

War heroes were honoured for their bravery at a special celebration to mark National Veterans Day yesterday.

Twenty-four of the town's veterans attended a church service at St Mark's Church before congregating at the Royal Naval Association Club in Harding Street to be presented with medals.

The small white lapel veterans badge was a token of thanks from the state to the men who served their country so honourably.

Ninety-two-year-old Fred Jefferies was the oldest member to accept the tribute medal. The pensioner from Wheeler Avenue was part of the Royal Engineers regiment. He signed up in December 1940, at Clitheroe, Lancashire, where he was in reversed occupation from the start of the war.

He said: "I served across Europe and worked on the bridge constructed over the River Po in Italy. I was also on a ship that was torpedoed. Many men were lost and the ship ended up being towed to a North African port."

Fred was discharged and went to the reserves in September 1946, and after another 13 years he was released.

"It has been quite emotional," he said. "The church service was very special and to receive the medal will always live in my memory," Fred said.

It was a very proud few hours for all those who received their medals and Mayor of Swindon, Coun Michael Barnes, got the ball rolling by presenting the first medal to Rear Admiral Nicholas Wilkinson, who served in the Royal Navy for 49 years.

Representatives from all three services were on hand to hand out the badges. Navy Rear Admiral Nick Williams CB, Major General Mike Swindells from the Army and Wing Commander Donald Turnbull, gave out the veterans badges.

Iain Smith, 49, from Grange Park was another to receive the mark of respect. The former soldier, who went to the Falklands, said: "This is a thank you from the Queen and the Government for us veterans serving the country. It really is a badge of honour and I have to say this is the proudest moment of my life."

Another former soldier, Chris Churchill, of Old Town, thought the day was a great spectacle. "It was really good today and bigger than I thought," said the 60-year-old. "I very much enjoyed chatting to some of the veterans and comparing stories."

Former RAF man Roy Smith organised the day and said all the hard work had been worthwhile. The 71-year-old from Eldene, received his veterans medal last year. He said: "It has taken a lot of organising but it was great to see what a good time all the veterans had.

"Let's hope next year's anniversary will be an even bigger event."