Family and friends of Bermudian war veterans are launching a campaign to help those “being left to rot in their old age”.

The Royal Gazette has learned of the plight of nearly a dozen former soldiers who are struggling with financial, medical and housing problems more than 50 years after sacrificing the prime of their lives in the name of freedom. Campaigners, including veteran MP Ottiwell Simmons, are calling for a review by Government of the way Bermudians have been treated since the war and are also looking to highlight the case in the British Parliament.

Following petitioning by a member of the Bermuda Regiment in the UK for the Edinburgh Tattoo, the Ministry of Defence is now willing to accept applications for enhanced pensions from veterans on the Island.

Health and Family Services Minister Patrice Minors has also received a letter from the campaign group and is understood to have promised to look into the matter, Mr. Simmons told The Royal Gazette.

The campaign is being led by Carol Emerson, a member of the Bermuda Regiment band, who has visited a number of the veterans and is keen to see their plight highlighted.

“It is so sad to see people who have given so much now having to scramble around for the most basic needs,” said Ms Emerson, who has already recovered lost medals for one former soldier and has dug out many old photos to distribute to other servicemen.

“A lot of these people have been forgotten about and they, and their families, are having to deal with medical and financial problems without any of the assistance that those in other countries have been offered. These are very proud people and don't like to complain themselves, although they do have valid concerns that need addressing.

“As well as doing tangible things like writing to Government and speaking to the Ministry of Defence on behalf of the veterans, these people just need a little time spending with them - and that is where we want to see support structures put in place to help them. We want to see these people secure in their quality life in their retiring years and they need adequate assistance, care and welfare similar to that offered in other Commonwealth countries, and suitable pension awards.”

With the closure of the War Veterans Association headquarters in Hamilton, campaigners say there is nowhere for many of the Island's 80 surviving service veterans to meet.

Ms Everson claims that many are undergoing financial hardship, living in poor quality accommodation with themselves or their wives having to work as full-time carers without any financial or welfare assistance.

Mr. Simmons, who knows a number of veterans personally, told The Royal Gazette: “It has been brought to my attention that there are a number of war veterans who have fought in the Second World War who are not being cared for in any way.

“It is sad that people who have risked their lives, or made sacrifices, have been abandoned in this manner. Surely they are entitled to security, care, housing and other basic needs.

“These people are being left to cope on their own, despite all that they have done. People need to be aware of this, the plight of these veterans needs to be made public.

“They should be given just recognition for what they have done. We are investigating what they are entitled to by law, and even if there is no legal entitlement, there must be a moral right to help them.

“In the US, veterans are entitled to all sorts of help with housing and the costs of care through GI programmes. What we are trying to do here is to make sure that these people are being cared for.

“We must treat them with some respect. These people volunteered in the prime of their lives, surely they must be entitled by law, or force of law, to some kind of benefit now. The community needs to know that these people, who have made such a contribution, are now in need of their help in return.”

Frank Farmer, of the Bermuda War Veterans Association, said that he was not aware of any veterans struggling with any of the problems the campaign is seeking to highlight and said there was a process that people could go through to get assistance.

“Everyone is well looked after,” he told The Royal Gazette.

“But anyone in any hardship can go to Government where we have the War Pensions Commission to deal with this sort of thing. There is a system in place to help those who need assistance.”

He added that $65,000 annually raised through the Poppy Appeal was also distributed to those veterans in need.

The Royal Gazette was unable to contact the War Pensions Commission.