Veterans of WW-II continue to live in oblivion

WW-II under the British rule. The war might be over but their battle for a decent mode of survival still continues. Most of them continue to live in obscurity as hardly anyone cares about their existence let alone remember their contribution.

A total of 82 personnel from the Southern Region (Tamil Nadu & Kerala & AP & Karnataka) who fought under the British, out which presently 16 of the WW-II veterans are living in southern region. They are members of the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League, but today are somehow managing to make their ends meet with the pension they receive. Some have their offspring to take care of them, but not all are so lucky. Most of them had served on the Burma Front and some even on the North-Eastern front during the Second World War.

“Independence day is celebrated every year but hardly anyone remembers us”, wonders 89-year-old E. Connors, who was a signalman, as he quietly takes a walk near his house.

Connors had recently fallen ill seriously but is still able to walk. After serving as a soldier from 1943 to 1946 he was rewarded with a certificate and medals for his testimonial service to the Madras Guards Auxiliary Force India. Presently Connors also receives a pension a monthly pension of Rs 800 from the Queen, who is the main patron of the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League.

Earlier his pension was Rs 2,000 but was reduced subsequently to Rs 800. “The sum in this era is hardly anything” he says. Neither the state nor the Central government have provided him any assistance.

Capt. Bala, an ex-serviceman and the chairman of the league, points out to this aspect and says, “All the money comes from London. But it is indeed a million dollar question as to why the government does nothing to help them.”

He had spoken to the state government in the matter, but nothing constructive happened as the aged war veterans were asked to visit the offices of tahsildars and other departments personally to sort out the matter. Meanwhile, the British high commission in the city too hasn’t shown much interest on this matter.

At 92, Eric Bernard Rosario, a gunner, who served with the Madras Guards from 1940 to 1947 is even worse as he is bed ridden and hardly remembers anything as he continues to loose his memory. He has no one to look after him, apart from his caretaker Nidia and does not have an access to proper healthcare.

From 2007, he is bedridden and cannot walk and he too receives a meager Rs 800 lying on his bed, in a feeble voice Rosario says, “I was an army man long ago and served for the nation, but today I have no one to help me out.”

However, one noticeable thing is even after all a long period, Eric Rosario still proudly keeps his two medals, the India Service Medal and 1939-1945 War Medal besides him wrapped safely in a briefcase.

Back in 1944, 18-year-old Dulci Mittra (then Dulci Rebello) had also given her services as the in charge of security services in the Women’s Royal Indian Naval Service (WRIN). However, today at the age of 90 she too is in an extremely frail state of health.

Recently she was admitted in the hospital and treatment cost her Rs 4 lakh. Her pension amount is a paltry Rs 1,400. Her daughter takes care of her. “It is indeed a sorry state of affairs as these veterans of WW-II receive no acknowledgement, aid or benefits despite putting in their best services,” her daughter says.

Meanwhile, Col R.A. Kumar, additional director, Ex-Servicemen Welfare Department, said, “ We do not have any database of those working with the British army. We work on the direction of the central government which has no records, so we do not have any schemes for them. But may be something can be done if the Central government can take a call on this issue.”