News-Info-Alerts

Re: No Compensation For Ex-POW

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: April 17, 2002

"PoW snubbed over £10,000 payout

Kevin Turner Exclusive

A SCOTS war veteran who was ordered by Winston Churchill to surrender to the Japanese has been denied £10,000 compensation.

Ian Hay, 77, was refused the Government cash as there are no records to prove he was in a PoW camp.

He was a 17-year-old ordinary seaman on the battle cruiser HMS Repulse when it was sunk by Japanese plane during World War II.

Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered the 700 survivors to surrender to the Japanese.

Ian and his shipmates were interned in the Seeleeter PoW camp in Singapore, a former Ford motor car works.

But all captured British servicemen have a duty to try to escape - and young Ian managed to break out within 24 hours.

He and seven other escapees sailed to Borneo, where the Japanese recaptured them before they managed to flee to Australia.

Now the pensioner has been snubbed for a £10,000 ex-gratia Government payment because the War Office say he can't prove he was held in a PoW camp. Ian, of Houston, Renfrewshire, feels their refusal to award the payment is an insult to the memory of his crewmates.

He said: "It is galling to think that it was the MoD who ordered 50,000 British troops to surrender to 10,000 Japanese in Singapore.

"We fulfil the criteria for being prisoners of war. I do not see why the MoD can snub our claim.

"After surrendering in Singapore and being declared prisoners of war, we escaped to Borneo.

"The whole area there was under Japanese occupation and we were captured again.

"The MoD probably do know we're entitled to the money - but my shipmates who are still alive are obviously very old now.

"Time is running out for us, but hopefully the MoD will recognise our efforts soon."

The Government announced in November 2000 that it would make a payment of £10,000 to surviving members of British groups held captive by the Japanese during WWII.

Now West Renfrewshire MP Jim Sheridan wants Ian to receive the recognition he deserves.

He has asked Minister for Veterans' Affairs Dr Lewis Moonie to have the case reconsidered in light of further evidence supplied by Ian.

Sheridan said: "There are obviously rules that have to be followed but there is no doubt in my mind that Mr Hay is entitled to this money.

"It is appalling that he and others who have fought for this country are having to continue to fight to receive what they're due." "