HOW THE WORLD LOOKS AFTER ITS HEROES . . .

AMERICA - Veterans of all US wars are looked after at a cost of 23 billion pounds. This includes healthcare, disability pensions, education, psychiatric counselling and job training. Parents and widows of dead soldiers receive a pension. There is a homebuying loan programme for veterans and their dependants.

AUSTRALIA - Servicemen returning from the Second World War were offered blocks of land with easy-to-pay terms. They were given free tuition and provided with loans on favourable terms to set up businesses. Medical problems from war service are treated free and they receive diability pensions of up to 60 pounds per week.

CANADA - Canada’s veterans are paid up to 240 pounds per month. Regular pensions are topped up by an extra 41 pounds veteran allowance. Disabled or low income veterans get an ‘independence’ allowance to finance house-keeping and nursing to enable care at home instead of in institutions. Recently Canada led the world in paying compensation to all former POWs of the Japanese or their widows at 13,000 pounds each.

FRANCE - Priorities in queues, taxis, shops and public offices. Reserved seats and reductions on public transport. Some jobs reserved for veterans in the private sector. Exemptions from tax, car and TV licences. Free parking. Reduced rates for cinemas and sporting events.

GERMANY - Disabled servicemen receive 10 pounds a week more than their British counterparts. War disabled get free public transport for journeys up to 30 miles. They are eligible for tax relief. More than 500,000 veterans and war widows draw a 64 pound a week benefit. Some needy widows get an extra 71 pounds a week.

ITALY - Veterans get free travel on trains and buses and free medical treatment. They are allowed to retire seven years early. Pensions are based on the salary they would have earned at the height of their careers. Local authorities help veterans with housing.

JAPAN - Disability pensions of 227 pounds a week are paid to almost 100,000 former soldiers. A further 124 pounds a week is allocated to each of close to 885,000 war widows and other family members of dead veterans. Special government bonds provide lump-sum cash benefits for war widows and families.

UNITED KINGDOM - Able-bodied veterans receive only the basic state pensions. Local authorities can disregard disabled veterans’ pensions when assessing housing benefit and council tax, but forty percent of councils allow only the 10 pounds they are obliged by law to disregard. War widows receive an average of 73 pounds per week.

Statistics - Courtesy of International Express, UK

        What a sad indictment on the UK that of all the Allied and Axis countries who fought in World War II, the British government looks after their veterans the worst. Compared to what the Japanese provide their veterans and families with - the British government should be deeply ashamed.
         In addition, the British government has never provided one memorial - either at home or abroad, to the men who were POWs of the Japanese. The more than 125,000 British servicemen who were made slaves of the major Japanese corporations and subjected to heinous crimes against humanity, have never been acknowledged by any British government since the end of World War II. Their deeds and their sacrifice for their country have gone unnoticed and unthanked. One wonders whether the British government - like the Japanese, who constantly refuse to admit their guilt or apologize, are simply waiting for all the old soldiers to die so their problem will go away.
        Hopefully, as more information continues to come to light about the atrocities committed against the POWs by the Japanese, and as more exposure is given to the POWs’ cause all over the world, and with the mounting pressure on Japan to really apologize and make restitution, perhaps the British government will be forced to own up to their gross negligence of their own servicemen as well - let’s hope so!

“We shall not sleep, though poppies grow - in Flander’s fields”