An 88 year old British Army veteran has been presented with his veterans badge off his County Councillor at his home in Newfield village.
Former Coldstream Guardsman John Sayers, who recently had the honour of raising the Union flag near the village’s war memorial in the local park, was asked by Councillor (Cllr) Pete Molloy if he had received his veterans badge to which Mr Sayers responded by saying he hadn’t, so Cllr Molloy took Mr Sayers service details and applied for his badge on his behalf.
After being presented with his veterans badge, Mr Sayers said, “I am very pleased to receive my veterans badge from Councillor Pete Molloy, and I would like to thank him for his effort in getting me it, which I will proudly wear.”
Due to when Mr Sayers served in Kenya in 1959, during the Mau Mau rebellion, there is the possibility that he can be awarded with the African General Service Medal, which Cllr Molloy has also helped Mr Sayers to get an application form from the Ministry of Defence Medal Office, and apply for it.
Cllr Molloy said, “With being a veteran myself, it was a pleasure to help Mr Sayers receive his veterans badge and I hope his application to be awarded with the African General Service Medal will be successful.”
Veterans can apply for their veterans badge online by visiting https://www.gov.uk/apply-medal-or-veterans-badge.
Spennymoor's local community newspaper.
