The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Families Association (SSAFA) assisted my maternal grandfather – Arthur Gibson (ex-Royal Navy) – after he had a stroke in 1987 when the British Legion refused to help. Today, SSAFA raise funds to assist Veterans of the British Armed Forces in many different ways. One such method is the SSAFA ‘Veteran’s Medal’ – which is authorised by the Ministry of Defence. Any Veteran of the British Armed Forces (from any era) who served for at least two-years – is eligible to receive this medal. Furthermore, any direct relative (who is a ‘next of kin’) can also apply for this medal. The issuing authority investigates the military record of the Veteran concerned – and when the identity is confirmed – the medal is authorised. SSAFA generates a modest income from issuing this magnificent award – which must be funded by those applying. I fully support this endeavour as a THANK YOU to SSAFA for helping my maternal grandfather during his old-age and when he was in need – and could not acquire any governmental (or charity) help from the country he had served during WWII.
As a family, we saved our money and applied for the Veteran’s Star for our paternal grabdfather – Alfred Gregory Wyles – who was an infantryman in the British Army between 1940-1946. Although he joined the Royal Warwickshire Regiment – famous for its ‘Last Stand‘ at Dunkirk – due to his ‘sharp-shooting’ ability he was soon transferred to the 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion (the ‘Light Bobs’) of the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Territorial Army) where he was placed in an Anti-Tank Platoon. During D-Day, the ‘Light Bobs’ landed in the first-waves of Allied troops that hit ‘Sword Beach’. His Unit was tasked with fighting their way in-land ten-miles to Caen – where it was to relieve D Company of the Ox & Bucks Ligyt Infantry (Professional) – which had landed as ‘Glider Troops’ around midnight of June 6th, 1944. Due to these required military objectives – my grandfather trained with the Glider Troops around the Exeter Canal System – which resembled the canal system around Caen. Indeed, this association has sometimes ‘confused’ exactly what function my grandfather fulfilled due to him possessing a ‘Winged Pegasus’ badge!
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 