RAOC Gazette - page 62
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1980 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | Yes |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1980 |
| Late date | 1980 |
| Transcription |
Annual Report THE Committee of Management has pleasure in presenting this report for the year ending 31st December 1979. During the year 1979 the RAOC Aid Society dealt with four hundred and forty six cases, most of which were applica- tions for financial assistance. This represented a small decrease in the number of cases investigated but the total expenditure on aid in the year exceeded that for 1978 by £2,402. A large proportion of assistance given by the Aid Society is concerned with the elderly, including a number of veterans and widows of the First World War. Although the number of these ex-RAOC members and their widows will inevitably Teduce sharply over the next decade, it is anticipated that the potential number of Second World War veterans and their widows requiring assistance will increase steadily until it reaches a peak in the year 1990. Whilst the number of male survivors will in turn reduce, many of their widows will still need help. Because of this and the need to provide support to the survivors of subsequent campaigns, the Army Benevolent Fund, in a recent study in this subject, forecast that the demands on their and Corps/Regimental Funds' resources for the elderly will continue to increase and that there will be no significent reduction until after the year 2000. The Committee wishes to express its thanks once again to the excellent co-operation and assistance given to the Aid Society by SSAFA, The Royal British Legion, The Forces Help Society, The Officers' Association, the Department of Health and Social Security and Hospital Welfare Officers. The work carried out by serving officers under the 'After Care' scheme has again been of great importance in bringing to the attention of the Society cases of need so that aid can be provided. This is acknowledged with gratitude. The Secretaries of many RAOC Association Branches arranged visits and the presentation of small gifts to seventy nine patients in hospitals and homes during the Christmas 1979 period. Most of these patients were permanently in hospitals or homes and the fact that they were remembered by their old comrades was deeply appreciated. Free holidays at Pontins Holiday Camps were provided for twenty four needy widows and children and the Society shared with the Royal British Legion the cost of providing thirty eight ex-RAOC members with holidays at convalescent homes. As the result of recommendations by the Aid Society the Army Benevolent Fund made grants and loans to serving and ex-members of the Corps totalling £29,901. Of the total of £246,000 passed to the Army Benevolent Fund by Corps and Regimental Benevolent Funds, the RAOC Aid Society con- tributed £17,000 to assist with their support of National Service Charities. The Regular Forces Employment Association found em- ployment for one hundred and twenty six ex-RAOC members during 1979. The Committee is pleased to report that subscriptions, donations and income from investments resulted, in 1979, in a record total of £62,116. Income from donations, which included £2,500 in legacies, exceeded that for 1978 by £4,053. Here are a few examples in summary of aid given by the Society in 1979: — An ex-Sergeant was found to be suffering from Parkinson's Disease, bronchitis, and had a colostomy operation and also a broken hip. His wife was a diabetic and suffered from arthritis and asthma. In addition they had a mentally handicapped daughter. Not surprisingly they had found it very difficult to cope with heating bills and the purchase of new bed linen. A grant was made by the Aid Society to assist with outstanding bills. The widow of an RAOC soldier who died after being dis- charged from the Army on medical grounds, was living on her own and managing, although almost sightless. The Aid Society made a grant to assist with the cost of redecorating her living room, kitchen and bathroom. The wife of an ex-Staff Sergeant who had served in REME as well as the RAOC was suffering from senile dementia. Because of her illness she needed constant attention and this became beyond her husband's capacity as he was very deaf. Her husband became desperate after she had nearly gassed herself by not igniting a gas fire properly, and, because there were no beds available in the local hospital, he arranged for her to be admitted to a private hospital. After using up all his savings he applied for financial assistance and the REME Benevolent Fund and the Aid Society jointly cleared the out- standing bills. The lady was eventually admitted to the local hospital. A Serving Sergeant's mother and his daughter both died and the Sergeant was faced with considerable funeral bills to pay. After using his savings he was unable to meet the total costs of these tragedies and the Aid Society assisted with a grant to pay the balance required. An ex-Lance Corporal became unemployed through illness and although only forty years of age it is doubtful whether he will be able to work again. He had been living with a sister but, owing to the increase in her family of children, he had to obtain a room elsewhere. The Aid Society, together with the Royal British Legion, were able to help in financing his move by assisting with the initial rent and some supplies of groceries. A Serving Corporals baby daughter had to undergo a major operation in a London hospital. Because of the serious- ness of the child's illness the doctor advised it was necessary for the father to be available at all times during a period of the child's stay in the hospital and, in consequence, the Corporal was faced with considerable expenses for travelling and for London accommodation for himself and his wife. The Aid Society assisted with these expenses. An ex-Corporal and his wife were both registered disabled. The ex-Corporal had suffered from three heart attacks and his wife from arthritis, bronchitis and polio. Because of extra heating required during the 1978/79 winter they had been un- able to meet all their fuel bills. The Aid Society made a grant towards these outstanding bills. Five widows of RAOC NCOs have found difficulty in meet- ing all the expenses of their sons attending The Duke of York's Royal Military School and have received small grants from the Aid Society. An ex-Lance Corporal died when on a day trip to Cherbourg leaving a widow with three young children. After paying the French hospital fees and the cost of bringing her husband's body home, the widow, who suffers from arthritis of the spine, had used all the family's savings, and was unable to pay an outstanding rent bill. A grant was made by the Aid Society to clear the rent arrears. An ex-Warrant Officer Class 1 who served for seventeen years in RAOC died in India leaving a widow and a student son. The widow was having considerable difficulty in obtaining a pension. Initially the pension had been rejected but an appeal had been lodged by the British Commonwealth Ex- Services League with the Department of Health and Social Security, with the Royal British Legion keeping a watching brief. As the family were in very straitened circumstances the Aid Society made an immediate grant and the King's Fund was considering further assistance. An Officer's widow aged eighty years living in Southern Ireland was finding it very difficult to manage on her Depart- ment of Social Welfare old age pension of £250 and an annuity of £620 per year. As a result of a visit by a represen- tative of The Officers' Association a small special needs grant was made for the year for fuel etc. The cost of this grant was shared by the Officers' Association and the Aid Society. An ex-Corporal died while trying to rescue two grand- children from the house next door. Despite his brave at- tempts both the children died in the fire. The ex-Corporal's house was also burnt and his widow and daughter had to be re-housed. The insurance money was only £3,000 and was used to purchase essential furniture, leaving fuel bills which — 45 — |
| Book number | R0404 |