War vets mark anniversary

Veterans from across the UK gathered at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas near Lichfield to mark the 75th anniversary of the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association.

The recent event attracted more than 350 people including the Royal Patron HRH The Duke of Gloucester, and the associations National President Major General The Duke of Westminster.

A service of remembrance and dedication along with a number of other presentations and ceremonies marked the occasion with guests enjoying music from the Band of the Royal Corps of Signals and a parachute drop by the Red Devils.

Members of the association, Paul Burns, who lost a leg, and Al Hodgson, a double amputee, also took part in the parachute jump.

Lionel O'Conner, aged 22, and George Gates, aged 88, carried the new and old Standards, to symbolise the end of the first 75 years and the beginning of the next.

The British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association is a national charity specifically for limbless serving and ex-service men and women, their dependants and in particular widows.

Jerome Church, general secretary for the association said: "Together we remembered our past and our members who made the association what it is and what it stands for.

"We were presented with our new standard to signify the end of our first 75 years. We will now dedicate ourselves to the future, which has already started to arrive – we have much work still to do."