Recently I have received letters and phone calls asking me why along with others, I formed  NESA the National Ex-Services Association.

 

A reporter from the Mirror was one of those asking, and herewith is my reply to him and all others who are curious to know WHY.

Ten years ago a small group of angry and disgruntled old soldiers were in agreement that the British Government should be held responsible for their lack of understanding and consideration shown toward their former service men and women. As a group we felt that the Government had let us down badly, just as earlier Governments, Conservative and Labour alike

But don't get us wrong, we are not a group of moaners and whiners. We call ourselves patriots, and we are extremely proud to have served alongside this country's 14 million other ex-service people who rallied to Crown and country in two world wars and endless other world conflicts

The combined association of serving personnell and their families is the largest group of like minded peoiple in the country. Together we can make things happen.

We are proud of our comrades who fell in the fight for freedom, and the many others who survived, some terribly injured in mind and body, and those who today subsist shamefully, on charity.

We are thoroughly fed up with politicians and bureaucrats who seem to have no time for people like us. We are determined to grab their attention. That is the reason why we also founded NESA News, so as to become the independent voice of former service people and their families. We are non political, non sectarian and we do not beg for charity, Instead, just as we did when we served, we help each other. We are a family.

We no longer care if we are labelled "the awkward squad", for the sorry truth is that many of those who rule this country have a shameful record of being awkward in ignoring the former fighting men and women in time of peace.

Look, for example, at the continuing struggle to obtain compensation for those who suffered at the hands of the Japanese. Look too at the fight for proper pensions, and the continuing battle for compensation for the victims of the Nuclear Tests Program, and those suffering from Gulf War Syndrome, and the many, many others living in the shadow of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

It is our intention to serve notice on the powers-that-be, that we are no longer prepared to tolerate the casual disregard which successive Governments have had for those brave men and women of the past - and still today - who risk life and limb in the defence of the freedom and democracy, proudly won.

I was one of the lucky ones during the war - but it hardly seemed like it at the time. I served my time in the Far East and was captured by the Japanese .when Singapore fell. I did my time in the notorious death camps, and was one of the slave labourers - but somehow I survived.Seventy years on, I still have the recurring nightmares and bouts of depression, but I was helped back to health and sanity by my wife, not by an uncaring government  

I was able to work after leaving the army. I earned my keep and paid my way, In retirement we can just about manage. Many who served - and slaved - like me were not so lucky. We in NESA are bitter that they are not given as a right any financial support. We are angry that brave men and women have to resort to charity, be it public or private, in order to survive.

Charities are acknowledged by the British Government, in order to save them having to do the work themselves.

I was the chairman of the National Ex Services Association, also the editor of NESA news, a 12 page tabloid which we posted free to all members with bulk copies being sent free to other associations for them to sell on to their members. All receipts going toward their own association funds. A total of 10,000

We paid for the newspaper from members subscriptions and the occasional raffle.

We are non political, non charity, we do not believe in former smart intelligent service men and women trawling the streets , selling plastic flowers to people who in the main have already paid through the loss of a relative who served.

I am also the editor of our web site, plus assisting in helping others to have their manuscripts and memoirs published.

I joined the army at 15 years in 1936, did my bit on a number of occasions, including a three and a half year spell as a Japanese prisoner of war. My experiences are mainly the reason for my current fight for recognition and respect due to all those who put their lives on the line.

Finally

My reason for writing is to ask for as much support as possible from all quarters in support of our service men and women. Just recently there was mention by a high ranking officer concerning the lack of public concern and respect due to them and in which he stated that he could not understand why.

As a former service man I can tell him why. The lack of respect is caused by the low regard our own government and especially the MOD hold them.

For instance PAY, British service men and women are the bottom of the pay scale of all western countries.

Consider for instance the election of a none experienced person to represent any constituency in the UK. No training whatsoever he receives an immediate salary of around £60,750 annually. Added to this he receives rent allowance.

An untrained soldier. The average British salary is now around £24,603. For this he must be prepared to travel overseas pay his own messing kit and repairs, he will also be expected to lay down his life.

Today, the only time our service men are brought to the attention of the general public is when one of their number has lost his life, or the annual ceremonial parades, Even these are totally outdated. Monuments and statues to the two world wars, yet nothing to honour those men and women who were killed or died because of their experiences in the various wars and campaigns. Starting with Korea, Suez, Malaya, and continuing on to include Africa, Aden, Bosnia, Falklands, Ireland, Iran, The Nuclear bomb tests, Portondown etc.

When I was a soldier I was able to walk the streets of my own country wearing my khaki uniform or my best Blues. Strangers acknowledged my uniform. The same with men of the navy, girls and young ladies sort to touch their collars as a god luck token. Today this is not allowed as it might upset any of the other nationals who choose to live in our country. Our wounded soldiers are taken surreptitiously and under cover to hospitals for fear they might be attacked by Muslim fundamentalist’s.

Please send me your views for publication. In strict confidence if you wish.

 

ARTHUR LANE

Stay Alive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aims

Our little army have decided to have a go at changing the system which has let so many of us down so badly. The response from the top brass at the Ministry of Defence and from senior politicians has been depressingly predictable. We are told dismissively that there is no need for a further pressure group. But we have soldiered on. What exactly do we want?

First, a Minister for Ex Service Affairs, a member of the Cabinet whose task is not the Defence of the Realm but defence of those who have already served their country well. We need an advocate at the top of the table to argue for full pensions as a right, to end the shame of our old comrades having to rely on private charity or state handouts.

 

That is why one of our symbolic aims - and it is one which many people may at first find hard to understand - is to do away with Poppy Day in its present form. Of course we know that millions of people buy their poppies every November and wear them as a sign of solidarity and respect for those who fell and for those now in need, I do not disparage or reject their generosity of spirit But many service men and women find it humiliating that their standard of living depends on how much money can be raised by selling these artificial flowers. Why should men and women need to trawl the streets like beggars each year selling artificial flowers? It is also particularly degrading to know that those of our comrades who were physically or mentally injured fighting for their country have to earn a living making these artificial flowers. Surely in this technological world a more productive form of employment could be found.

We also wish to put right a curious omission. We have two minutes silence, plus the National Service of Remembrance which is always held in London, to remember our war dead, but nothing beyond the sale of poppies is done to acknowledge the contribution made by those men and women who completed their service without fuss and are still living today, or those who have since given loyal service to the country and Crown. Which is why NESA envisage a National Ex-Service Week, in which the country could register the debt it owes to the living as well as the dead.

I personally look forward to the time when, at the start of National Ex-Service Week, we can see those men and women who have served their country handing out free imitation flowers to passers by as a gesture of thanks to a society which has belatedly recognized former service men and women, and these same ex-service men and women have finally commenced to receive the justice and dignity they deserve without resorting to charity.

Charities are acknowledged by the British Government, in order to save them having to do the work themselves.

 

HISTORY

NATIONAL EX SERVICES ASSOCIATION

 

HISTORY

 

Originally written in 2002 by Arthur Lane, this article was edited in 2008.

 

It is now twenty two years since Ken Coote, Frank Ians, and I decided to create the National Ex Service Association. Our main aim was to create an association, supported by members and relatives of those men whose lives were taken in the cause of service to their country. To form a type of umbrella, free from any form of dictates or cronyism. It would be self supporting, non profit making, and not registered as a charity even though charity was and still is foremost in our pursuits. We were and still are against former service men and women, trawling the streets each year selling plastic flowers, which are presumed to indicate some connection with Flanders fields.

 

Our Patriotism should be seen by our actions and ideals. In our opinion, the plastic Poppy was produced to create a form of blackmail. Its effect if not its intention was to cause embarrassment to those who did not wear one, and a form of receipt to those who did.

We asked the question then, and will continue asking- Why is it necessary for former service men and women to be required to beg from the people of this country, for money to help heal those who were caused to be sick and injured whilst fighting to defend this country.

 

The money was there when needed to create a war, to be able to send men out to their deaths, fully equipped and uniformed. The money was there for the creators of the uniforms and ammunitions to be able to make a big fat profit, and for all the hangers on who never ventured out of the country, for them not to have to walk the streets with a begging can.

We wanted, and still wish, to provide the publicity necessary for the people of this country to be aware of the hundreds of anomalies which exist between our governments over the years and the service men and women who are sent out around the world to do their bidding.

 

At first we were termed renegades and drop outs. Threatening and course telephone messages were received from other so called patriots, but who belonged to a much bigger association than ours which was financed by public donations. Letters were received from the offices of the British Legion asking “Why were we trying to reinvent the wheel” which to ignorant people such as we, seemed a very childish remark to be made by an intelligent officer of such a large organisation.

However we continued to flourish despite these hypocrites. and although we did not become as big as we would have liked to be. We had the greatest supporters anyone could wish for.

 

The association newspaper assisted, by giving publicity to a number of very important issues, including the Far East POWs claim for compensation. The Porton Down  enquiries,  giving support in the fight for justice for the unfortunate soldiers who were accused of murder while serving in Northern Ireland, recognition for those men who were executed during the first world war, the creation of a minister for service affairs, although it has yet to be seen if this was a wise move on our part - It seems as though we have assisted in the removal of an established quango, from one office to another one.

 

The association in its present form (May 2008) is being resurrected. We no longer publish a regular newsletter but rely on the internet. The internet can reach many people and we are not yet at a stage financially to distribute newsletters.  There is still a great deal of work to be done. There are so many misdeeds and irregularities to be examined. Matters which it would seem have been hidden away, hoping that time itself will eventually eliminate them from our minds.

 

Although we are a non political organisation, there are many times when it has been necessary to at least paddle into the shallows of politics. Within the last half century our country has dissolved from being a highly respected nation, envied all over the world for its patriotism and love of freedom, into a squalid multi national, money grabbing, power seeking, conglomerate of thieves, hangers on and independent ‘taxers’; prepared to allow us to descend into a third world ‘banana republic’ type nation in order to sustain their status.

 

British service men around the world would be the first to agree that the ending of the Second World War, was the beginning of the collapse of the British Empire. The following decline of Great Britain itself incorporating a collapse in values and structure is a collapse created by the same lust for power that will eventually cause the final self destruction. Caught among the quagmire of this national descent into financial tribalism, personal leverage and selfish chattel usage are many small voices crying out.

 

 

They are crying out from many quarters about many things.

 

 The infrastructure of accountability has gone. Phone calls from India telling blatant lies about what they are selling. Phone calls put through from directory enquiries by operators that don’t tell you how much that service will cost. Bills which change their appearance every month when a new graduate thinks he can improve things. Media outlets who serve the world and the world’s majority and its thinking and not the country they’re supposed to. Media outlets who crucify the innocent for the sake of entertainment and hide behind the exaggerated and appropriate reasoning of accountability, who  change allegiance at the drop of a hat because they have a sense of the tide of feelings of a nation which they create in the first place .

 

Police who are told to arrest people for saying the wrong things or for selling square tomatoes by the pound. Suicidal British people who give benefit to the drug corporations because they can not speak out. Morris dancers scared to go out the door because they may be the next institution to suffer the accusations of ‘racism by bell ringing’. Murderers, rapists and peodophiles who get out of prison after serving terms shorter than some single people spend banging their head against walls because they feel unworthy, inadequate or incapable of satisfying the debt collectors let alone the members of the opposite sex.   

 

Yes, 20 years ago Esther Ransen would have to be tied down to keep her mouth shut because every race, religion, sect, organisation, corporation and nationality has a government supported round table in this country to which they can air their grievances,  …..

 

As mentioned we as an association do not want to get too political.

We are here to support the fraternity which is the Ex serving members of His or Her Majesties Armed Forces.  The way we see it from a political perspective is that it is easier for many small fish to eat one big fish after another than it is for many big fish to eat single small fish one after another.

 

Each one of us is a piranha in a lake of sharks – let’s stick together!

 

Arthur Lane 2008

 

 

 

Musician to the Dead

By Arthur Lane

As you may be aware, I write, research and publish material about the Far East until it is coming out of my ears. I also publish a newspaper which is sent out to around 10,000 ex service men and women. Not all Far East vets, from this and my publishing, as you can imagine I receive lots and lots of anecdotes and stories.

On the day that 18th Div arrived in Singapore, I had been sent back from Mersing for R and R. To keep me out of mischief I was assigned to assist the men as they arrived at the race track. From there we took parties around Singapore showing them the various strong points. I have since thought that we were showing them the quickest way out. I had been in Singapore /Malaya since 1937 and knew every nook and cranny but it didn't do any good, I was still caught up in the bag.

However my main line of enquiry is about Colonel Wild. and reverend Noel Duckworth the Padre who was Wild’s second in command, between them they saved many lives, including that of James Bradley who escaped. Wild and Duckworth kept his absence away from the Japs for several days.

No medals or thanks was ever handed to either musketeers.