Forces sweetheart backs veteran campaigner

27 October 2009

Dame Vera Lynn and Roy Wilson

FORCES sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn has got behind a veteran campaigner from Harold Hill's quest for medal recognition for all members of the armed forces.

Roy Wilson, from Dorking Way, wants a National Defence Medal (NDM) created for everyone who has served in the armed forces since the end of the Second World War.

Apart from long service awards, the British Government has never considered service in the Armed Forces as the sole justification for an honour.

The liaison officer for National Service Veterans Association charmed the 92-year-old wartime songstress at the London Poppy Appeal launch, in Horse Guards Parade, in central London, last Thursday.

Roy, along with campaigners David Kelly from Peterborough and Eddie Mortimer from Kent, presented Dame Vera with a report on the long-running crusade.

Roy said: "She listened very intently, and the courtesy I got from her was lovely.

"She said she was in favour of the NDM and that she would send me a letter in due course."

But it appears the trio ignored official protocol to land the picture "coup" with Dame Vera.

"Dame Vera was very polite and gave us our undivided attention, much to the annoyance of the time keepers." Said David, "Overall this was a fantastic coup for the campaign!"

Dame Vera's greatest hits album reached number one in the album charts in September - an amazing 70 years after her first musical successes during the Second World War.