The event was part of a wider campaign in the region to raise awareness of the help and support provided for current and former members of the Armed Forces by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency, in partnership with local charity and voluntary bodies.
Local dignitaries attended the ceremomy as well as senior members of the Armed Forces and veterans groups.
Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans Kevan Jones MP said:
"We owe a lot to our Armed Forces and veterans - and it's a real privilege for me to be here today to present these Medals and Veterans Badges. There are thousands of veterans and still serving people in the Essex and Suffolk area, so I can't overstate how important this awareness campaign is. I want to be sure that we are getting the message through to all of them, and their families, about the services and support we provide. I am pleased that so many people have come along to hear what's available."
Amongst those receiving medals and veterans badges yesterday were: Mr Sidney Brewster who enlisted on 17 February 1944 and served with the Wiltshire Regiment, the Somerset Light Infantry and the Berkshire Regiment in Belgium, Holland and Germany; Mr Gerry Solomon who joined the 5th Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment, in 1940 and saw action in the North Africa Campaign under Field Marshal Montgomery, including El Alamein and the relief of Tobruk; Mrs Wilma Sutton who joined the Women's Royal Army Corps in October 1969 at age 19; Miss Jackie Kidd who is a former Corporal in the Royal Corps of Signals; Mr Nigel Burke who enlisted in the Royal Welch Fusiliers in 1979; Mrs Olive Doe who joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service in 1941; and Mrs Victoria Bateman who received her badge in honour of her husband, who was killed during Operation Herrick 8 in Afghanistan, and for her own involvement in the veterans' community.
The 1939–45 Star is awarded for any period of operational service overseas between 3 September 1939 and 8 May 1945 (2 September 1945 in the Far East). The criteria are 180 days' service between these dates, although some special criteria apply when, at certain specified times, just one day's service is required.
The France and Germany Star is awarded for one or more days' service in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands or Germany between 6 June 1944 and 8 May 1945. The ribbon is in the colours of the Union Flag, also symbolising those of France and the Netherlands - a central red stripe flanked by white and blue stripes of equal width.
The War Medal is awarded to all full-time personnel of the Armed Forces wherever they were serving, provided they had served for at least 28 days between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. The War Medal shows the crowned head of King George VI, while the reverse bears a lion standing on a dragon with two heads - above are the dates 1939 and 1945. The ribbon is in the colours of the Union Flag, a narrow central red stripe flanked by narrow white stripes, wider blue stripes and then red.
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