THE AFRICA STAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26541, 16 August 1947, Page 9

THE AFRICA STAR

Sir, —In a weekly newspaper I recently read an article on the Africa Star minus the “ 8.” Surely no one who has served in the forces places much importance on such things as campaign ribbons, clasps, etc. They are only tokens to show that the recipient was in a certain area for a certain time. Hundreds of men who were awarded the Africa Star the Italy Star and the 1939-45 ribbon have not heard a shot, fired, while hundreds of prisoners of war received a gaol sentence of three to four years for being in the front line. , .. . .... The army is a most undemocratic institution, and there is no such thing as equal rights for all. Credit is seldom given where it is most deserved. When a soldier does not receive his keep from the army he is given a subsistence allowance, but What of the prisoner of war behind the barbed wire? By no stretch of the imagination can it be said that he received liis ksep. Ex-prisoners of war should have been compensated for the loss of that _ which they were entitled to. Our Government is so particular about this “ keep business, but only when there is Is 6d in the £1 to collect. —I am, etc., Minus 8. August 13.