"OLD CONTEMPTIBLES"

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 149, 20 December 1929, Page 7

"OLD CONTEMPTIBLES"

VETERANS IN ILL-HEALTH

UNABLE TO OBTAIN PENSIONS

Living in one room in London is a ■eteran "Old Contemptible," Sergeant tobort Tliornhill, late of West Yorkhire Regiment, who was awarded the Military Medal by bis corps comnander for great gallantry in April, 917. Sergeant Tliornhill rescued a wounded :onirade from tho German wire, thus >revonting the enemy from obtaining my identification. The General exended "warm congratulations to the lergeant, who, at the risk of his life, >erformed this gallant feat." To-day this old hero suffers constant jad health, partly as the result of a severe bullet wound in his spine, which io received on 14th December, 1914, and partly as the result of malaria, from .vhieh he suffered in India and Burma, md he has no pension. Sergeant rhornhill was in hospital for three nonths with his wound, and there was xn occasion during the- war when, according to his wife, he was told that lie could remain at home and be pensioned off. "He refused to do this," says Mrs. Thornhill, "and went to the Eront once more. My husband has done liis best for his country, and yet he lias no pension." It was nearly thirty years ago that Sergeant Tliornhill enlisted—as far back as 1901—and was soon fighting in the Boer War, for waieh he earned the Queen's Medal with three clasps. He then went to India, and served in that country and Burma, for upwards of six years. He was mobilised for tho Great War, and went to the front with the "Old Contemptibles/ 3 earning tho ilons Star and fighting clasp, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. A THOROUGH SOLDIER. According to his discharge certificates, Sergeant Thornhill not only has to his credit five medals and four clasps, but he served for 12 years, 221 days with the colours, 6 years, 129 days in the Army Eeserve, was qualified as a Mounted Infantry Scout, and had his eharacted assessed as "Exemplary; and tionest, sober, and thoroughly hard-work-ing soldier." Yet-to-day this brave veteran, unprovided for by the pensions authorities, and wrecked in health, has to exist on casual labour as best he can. His ease went to Chelsea, and Chelsea refused relief for the usual trivial, technical reason; in ,other words, although Sergeant Thornhill is, in point of fact, ruined in health, he was officially not "Invalided." The only thing against him is that he was discharged under the wrong paragraph of the King's Regulations. That, and nothing more, writes "A.P.H." in the 'Sunday News.' GAVE THE BEST OF HIS LIFE. Another "Old Contemptible" who now finds himself outside the time limit is Mr. William Phipps, late Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Southall, Middlesex, who says: "Since October, 1922, I have been totally incapacitated and practically helpless. After having given the best of my life for my country I am now a cripple from rheumatism, and I have no pension." Mr. Phipps served twelve years with the colours during his first period of service, including the South African War. He fought in all the arduous operations for the relief of Ladysmith, and earned the Queen's Medal with two clasps. He was invalided home with enteric fever. He re-enlisted for the Great War, and went with reinforcements to the immortal 29th Division at the Dardanelles. After the vacuation, Mr. Phipps returned to the base at Alexandria, Egypt, then was attached to the 37th Siege Battery, and was finally sent to Franco in time for the Somine offensive. He was invalided home with bronchitis, and on recovery was transferred to the Garrison Artillery. Ho went to the front again in March, 191S, and fought in operations round Bethune and Ypres, taking part in tho final offensive toward Ghent. He was then invalided once again with gastritis. On demobilisation, Mr. Phipps endeavoured to carry on at his work, until taken seriously ill with rheumatoid arthritis, and he says, that he has never been really well since then. His local doctor has certified that he has been under treatment for rheumatoid arthritis since June, 1919, "and has been unable for months at a time to move without assistance, and has been totally incapacitated for work since October, 1922. In my opinion, his disability is the direct result of exposure in the Great War." Mr. Phipps says that he applied for pension ia 1920, and was unsuccessful. He appealed against this later, and was once again refused relief. Surely this is a case that might well be considered, irrespective of hard-and-fast time limits.