Cash boost for war widows
Visiting the grave of a loved one will now be easier under a new package of financial support from the Government.
The Government will now fund the full cost of a visit to the grave of a husband or wife who fell whilst on military service overseas between 1914 and 1967.
Rather than the bodies being repatriated as is now common, thousands of British soldiers were buried where they fell during the First and Second World Wars.
Their graves are maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which looks after war graves in some 150 different countries. These are mainly located in the 2500 war cemeteries and plots. Reflecting the global nature of British forces operation, these range from France and Belgium to Iraq and Egypt.
Previously, the Government has funded part of the cost of visits to these graves, but the Ministry of Defence will now meet the full cost of one such visit.
Announcing the change, Veterans’ Minister Ivor Caplin, said: “The comfort that many war widows have derived from their visits cannot be underestimated and I hope these enhanced benefits will encourage even more war widows to take advantage of this unique opportunity.”
Since its introduction in 1985 the scheme has helped over 4000 widows to visit their spouses’ grave. It is hoped that the extra financial help will enable more to make the journey.
The scheme is administered by the Royal British Legion, who today said that the announcement was “terrific news”.
