The war veteran still fighting ... 30 years on

Nov 11 2008 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

The war veteran still fighting ... 30 years on

AS the world marks Armistice Day, a Fartown war veteran continues to fight a very different battle to the one which made him a hero.

Veteran Geoffrey Atkinson, 91, is still fighting for his war pension – almost 30 years after retiring.

The former RAF sergeant served his country for 14 years and fought in the tough terrain of the Western Desert throughout the Second World War.

At his demob interview in 1948, he was asked by the then Labour government to join the soon-to-be-formed NHS as a physiotherapist as they were short of experienced workers.

He was assured his 14-year war pension contribution would be protected.

But the decision has now left the veteran out of pocket as his active service was never transferred.