Roll of Honour updated

Our website holds information about the Armed Forces Memorial (AFM) and also houses the AFM Roll of Honour (RoH) search facility.  Inclusion on the Armed Forces Memorial and the Roll of Honour is determined by the AFM Trustees Inclusion criteria. 

The RoH details deaths in Service since 1/1/48 which meet the AFM Trustees Inclusion criteria.  Its search facility potentially allows you to search for a person who died whilst they were Serving, 

The AFM RoH is normally updated on a monthly basis and it potentially provides details about Service personnel who died over 2 years ago. Partial RoH records are normally reviewed two years after the date of death when more information may be available.

The RoH is straightforward to use, requiring either the surname, forenames or initials, and/or the Service No.  Once you have found the Service person you are looking for there is an option to print an AFM Certificate

The RoH has just been updated and potentially records the details of Service personnel up to and including 28/02/09.  Partial RoH records are potentially available for those who died from 01/03/09/ to 28/02/10.

Latest issue of Veterans WORLD now online

The latest issue of our external magazine Veterans WORLD is now available online.

Our April edition is full of informative articles which will be of particular interest to those advising veterans and their families.

In this issue

Articles range from initiatives for bereaved Service children to horticultural therapy to go-karting! There are also a few articles focusing on resettlement schemes for Service personnel. We have a page providing some useful advice on dealing with debt and a preview of Armed Forces Day 2011. That’s just a quick round-up, to hear more about this issue check out our new podcast; in which Laurie Manton, Editor-in-Chief of Veterans WORLD tells Joanne Lowe about the latest edition.

So, now we have podcasts, blogs and tweets there really is no excuse to be missing out!

If you work in an advisory capacity with ex-Service personnel and their families and you still don’t receive Veterans WORLD, request your copy here.

We are always on the look-out for new initiatives to make interesting articles, so if you think you have something that would fit the bill please submit an article to us for consideration at the Veterans WORLD email.

The AFCS Review – one year on

It’s been a busy year since the Review of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme was published last February. The Review was carried out by former Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral the Lord Boyce, in 2010 and it made a number of recommendations.

The majority of changes required legislative amendments to the Scheme and all of these have now been laid before Parliament.

With this legislation now in place, it will mean that the Government has fulfilled its promise to implement all of Lord Boyce’s recommendations within a year.

Some changes recommended by the Review were made more quickly and took effect from August 2010.

Changes to the Scheme have included an average increase of 25% to all lump sum payments, (except the highest payment which was already doubled to £570,000 in 2008) and a change to the way payments are calculated for multiple injuries, which will ensure that individuals will receive some compensation for each of their injuries that occur from a single incident. The changes will still guarantee that the most seriously injured receive the most compensation.

Another recommendation was for the creation of an Independent Medical Expert Group (IMEG) to look at how specific illnesses and injuries, including mental health, are compensated. The group has just published their first report. All of the recommendations made by the IMEG have now been incorporated to the Scheme for example, the maximum amount payable for mental illness has now almost tripled, to £140,000.

All of the changes to the Scheme will be operational from 9th May 2011.

The Government’s Response to the Lord Boyce Review has now been published. You can read it here.

Planning for Armed Forces Day?

Armed Forces Day parade at the 2010 National Armed Forces Day event in Cardiff

If you want to know more about what's being planned for Armed Forces Day 2011, then visit the official website.  Details for some of the events planned and due to take place on Saturday 25 June 2011 are now available on the site.

The aim of Armed Forces Day, which is now in its third year, is to boost public support and appreciation of all those who serve and have served in Her Majesty's Armed Forces.

It provides an opportunity for the UK public to recognise the contribution that the Armed Forces (serving personnel, veterans and cadets) make and have made to the nation, and for the Armed Forces and veterans to know that they are valued and enjoy the respect and support of both the Government and the nation.

The city of Edinburgh has been chosen to host the 2011 national event and, as with previous years, this will be complemented by a variety of community-led events in towns and cities across the UK.

To find out about details of events planned in Edinburgh and elsewhere, as well as how you can show your support, then visit the Armed Forces Day website.

Details of some activities planned to mark Armed Forces Day can now be found on a Defence online article released today.

Picture: POA(Phot) Mez Merrill, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010

Polish Veterans Minister visits War Heroes

SPVA staff and a Polish veteran  received medals that give thanks to the people taking care of Polish veterans in the UK

Last Thursday, the Polish Government’s Minister for Veterans Affairs, Dr Jan Ciechanowski, took time out from a five day visit to the UK to present ‘Pro Memoria’ Medals at SPVA's Ilford Park Polish Home near Newton Abbot, Devon. The home, known locally as ‘Little Poland’ cares for former members of the Polish forces who served under British command during Second World War.

The Minister was accompanied by Polish Consul-General to the UK, Mr Zaborowski.

Polish Consul-General Mr Zaborowski, Minister for Veterans Affairs - Dr Jan Ciechanowski, Mr Mieczyslaw Juny MBE

Those presented with medals and certificates were IPPH manager Mrs Clare Thomas, Care Manager Jos Rice, Nurse Manager Linda McVeigh and care Assistant Mrs Helen Johns.

Helen grew up at Ilford Park as a child and has now given over 30 years of her working life to looking after the residents, she said:

“It has been an honour to meet the Minister and accept this beautiful Medal from him. My Mother and father were residents here at Ilford Park when it was known as Stover Polish camp. Working at IPPH has enabled me to give something back to the veterans and receiving this Medal means a great deal to me.”

A Medal and certificate were also presented to World War II fighter pilot and former Prisoner of War Mr Mieczyslaw Juny MBE (98), who is now Chairman of the IPPH Residents Committee.

After the presentation, Dr Ciechanowski and Mr Zaborowski spent the rest of the visit talking to other members of staff and residents at the home.

Read the full press release here.

Pro Memoria Medal and Certificate

The silver ‘Pro Memoria’ Medal was instituted in 2005 by the Polish Government’s ‘Office for Combatants and Oppressed Individuals’. It is conferred in a single class to honour individuals who have contributed to commemorating the people who fought for the independence of Poland during and after the Second World War.

The Veterans Survey closes

The Veterans Customer Satisfaction Survey for 2010/2011 closed on Monday.

Just over 3,000 people took part in the survey with the opportunity to have their say on our Agency and the services we deliver.

Thank you to all who have taken part in the survey.

Don't forget, if you want to know more about SPVA and our services for the Armed Forces Community then take a visit to our website.

Polish Minister to visit Devon's 'Little Poland'

The gardens at Ilford Park

On Thursday (3rd March), the Polish Government’s Minister for Veterans Affairs, Dr Jan Ciechanowski, will visit our Ilford Park Polish Home (IPPH) near Newton Abbot, Devon to present staff and a resident with the Polish ‘Pro Memoria’ medal.

During Dr Ciechanowski’s time at the Home, part of a wider visit to the UK, he will also meet other residents and thank staff for the work they do to look after elderly Polish war veterans who served with the UK Armed Forces during the Second World War.

Those being presented with the medal include Mr Mieszyslaw Juny, former PoW, WWII fighter pilot and now Chairman of Ilford Park Residents Committee. He will also present a medal to Care Worker Mrs Helen Johns, who spent her childhood and later her working life at Ilford Park.

The silver ‘Pro Memoria’ Medal was instituted in 2005 by the Polish Government’s ‘Office for Combatants and Oppressed Individuals’. It is conferred in a single class to honour individuals who have contributed to commemorating the people who fought for the independence of Poland during and after the Second World War.

To find out more about the Home, check out our video.