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BBC News
2 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Military veteran has 'burning fire' to correct pension 'robbery'
Time has not dimmed Ernest Williams' sense of being 90 years of age, the former Royal Navy veteran says he still has a "burning fire" inside believes he was "robbed" of the military pension he deserved and has been fighting to have it corrected since the 1980s."I'm coming up to 91 and I haven't got long to go," Mr Williams said. "I'm doing it for my wife." It wasn't until Mr Williams had a chance conversation with his brother-in-law Ronald Oswell, that he says he realised what had two men had almost identical service records and both applied for redundancy when the UK armed forces looked to reduce numbers in while Mr Williams, who lives in King's Stanley, Gloucestershire, was given a discharge date in 1970, his brother-in-law was allocated one in 1972."He said 'What do you think of the pension, Ernie?'," Mr Williams told BBC West Investigations."I said, 'Well £440 a year is not very good, is it?'"And he said 'No it's £880 a year'." It transpired that during the intervening two years, military pension rules had changed and had Mr Williams been given the later discharge date he would have got a much better Ministry of Defence said it cannot comment on individual cases, but during his time campaigning Mr Williams has been told that his pension reflected his "full and correct entitlement".Mr Williams enlisted in the navy aged 18 in 1952, eventually becoming a Chief Petty Officer. He served many years overseas, including on aircraft carriers in the far as the UK armed forces looked to reduce numbers, he was offered redundancy under a navy programme known as DCI 1187/ navy agreed to add time to his service record so that he received a military pension in addition to the state crucially, Mr Williams says he was not given a say in when he left the armed forces, and rather was told he would leave the navy on 28 November who applied at the same time were given a discharge date in 1972."You're told when you're going. [Your discharge date] was not disclosed until some time later. There was nothing I could do about it," Mr Williams said. Mr Williams and his wife Wendy believe about 400 men were discharged in the same 'first wave' as him, with about 2,600 going in the 'second wave' in 1972, receiving a substantially improved Williams said: "What did this 400 do that was so wrong they had to be discriminated against financially?"She added that the extra money would have made a "vast difference" to their couple launched a series of appeals to various official bodies once they realised what had May 1984, Mr Williams was told by the MOD that both his and his brother-in-law's pension "are correct" and the disparity was due to "a pay rise for CPO's [Chief Petty Officers] in the intervening two years which is reflected in the basic pension awarded".He continued to fight his case throughout the 1980s, 1990s and 1998, the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency told Mr Williams that in the period between the two phases, "changes were made [to the military pension] but these changes were not retrospective" and that his pension reflected his "full and correct entitlement". Over the years Mr Williams has been supported by some of Stroud's 2019, Labour MP David Drew wrote to Penny Mordaunt, the Defence Secretary at the time, to highlight Mr Williams' case, believing he was the victim of "an injustice" and had been "unfairly treated".Mr Drew argued that comments made by senior politicians in the late 1960s about intended improvements to military pay meant that possible differences in pensions should have been describes Mr Williams' case as "shocking" and that "both the process and the documentation surrounding the volunteer redundancies were ethically flawed".But ultimately, Mr Williams received the same answer from everybody he asked to look at his case – that his pension was correct based on the rules at the Williams still maintains that before he left, he never had the effect of different discharge dates explained to him – and that he would never have accepted redundancy on the earlier date had he known an extra two years would have effectively doubled his pension. Mr Williams' case has similarities to a fight waged by other military veterans over their Monaghan was involved with the Equality for Veterans Association (EfVA) which also campaigned against pension decisions in the rules before April 1975 meant that in most circumstances, servicemen had to serve 22 years to be eligible for an armed forces pension in addition to the state Monaghan left the RAF at the end of 1974, having accrued 14 years' service, including in Singapore and the middle he left a few months later, he would have received a military pension. The rule change in 1975, like rules on pensions generally, were not retrospective. The issue was debated in parliament in 2015, with then-Defence Minister Anna Soubry saying making changes to pension policy retrospective would break an "essential principle" and "would lead to widespread, long-term and unmanageable consequences for both this government and future governments".Mr Monaghan believes communication from the MOD was not good enough."Everyone was kept in the dark," he said."They knew nothing about [pensions] when they were young."We never had a brief on pensions. We were never given any insight and probably we didn't have any interest because I was a young man."The Equalities for Veterans Association was disbanded a few years ago – because of a lack of success and the dwindling number of surviving veterans from that period. Mr Williams says he feels "very bitter" about his experience but hopes that by speaking out publicly for the first time, he can bring more attention to his also hopes any other servicemen still alive and affected by the same issue will come added he intends to continue his campaign by contacting the current Stroud MP, Labour's Simon Opher, in the hope he will take up the Williams said: "I'm just a stubborn old sod and I'm not going to give in. I would appreciate it if anybody said to me 'you were right and we were wrong'."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Ed Andrews III, Harford County attorney and decorated Vietnam War veteran, dies
Ed Andrews III, a well-respected Harford County attorney and decorated Vietnam War veteran, died of a heart attack May 25 at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center. The Fallston resident was 78. Born in Winchester, Virginia, he was the son of Hiram Edward Andrews Jr., an aerospace engineer, and Ruth Belle Holter Andrews, who owned a Kingsville antique shop. Mr. Andrews spent his early childhood on his family farm in Front Royal, Virginia, where he enjoyed the outdoors. After moving to Kingsville, he graduated from St. Paul's School for Boys, where he played football and basketball. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland, College Park. Mr. Andrews joined the Army and was stationed in Vietnam. He was awarded two Purple Hearts and other decorations for his work in intelligence. While on the battlefield, doing surveillance, he came under fire. He was cited for his bravery in carrying a wounded senior officer on his back to a helicopter during a rescue mission. He was also hit by mortar fire during the incident. Mr. Andrews was taken to a MASH unit and eventually recovered from his wounds. After leaving the military, Mr. Andrews spent two years traveling the world and collecting stories of the people he encountered. He spent time working on an oil rig in the North Sea, worked as a hand on a fishing boat in Scotland and on a game reserve in South Africa. Mr. Andrews was a Capitol Hill police officer in the special forces division in Washington, D.C., while he pursued his law degree at American University. He began his career in earnest as a public defender for the City of Baltimore, where he tried several high-profile cases. He later moved to Bel Air, where he settled with his family and went on to establish a private law practice. 'Ed was very passionate and aggressive in the courtroom,' said Senior Judge Stephen M. Waldron of the Circuit Court for Harford County. 'As a judge, Ed put you through your paces. He was once so offensive during a hearing that we did not speak for six months. Then we found ourselves in an elevator and we both started laughing. 'Out of the courtroom, no one had a bigger heart than Ed. He was passionate about justice,' said Judge Waldron. 'He was super prepared to defend his clients and he worked long hours. I'd pass his office and see the light on at night.' He was the public defender of Frank Edward Green, a Far Rockaway man who shot four Harford County law enforcement officers, killing one. In 1988, just hours before Green's trial was scheduled to begin, lawyers for accused killer Frank Green made a last-minute request to have his capital murder trial moved from Harford to Anne Arundel County. 'Believe me, it was a decision that was made at the 11th hour,' Mr. Andrews said to The Baltimore Sun. He cited pre-trial publicity as the reason Green wouldn't get a fair trial in Harford and because it was a capital murder case, the change of venue request had to be granted. Marian M. Hogan, retired elementary school teacher, dies Neil William Curran, former Baltimore city planner and organic farmer, dies Terral M. Jordan, T. Rowe Price venture capitalist, dies Todd Liddell Parchman, investment banker, dies Jim Henneman, Baltimore sportswriter and former Orioles scorekeeper, dies Mr. Andrews was the Harford County Council attorney for many years and took on countless pro bono cases. His charity and compassion truly set him apart, as an attorney and as a human. He was an active member in local politics and ran for political office. 'My husband was a collector of everything. He appreciated books, art, and antiques and had impressive collections of each. He was a gourmet cook and the consummate host,' said his wife, Irene M. Padilla. 'He was a history buff with a particular interest in early American and military history. Ed was always up for an adventure, whether that was climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro or learning to snowboard in his 50s.' Mr. Andrews also oversaw the renovation of his 18th-century home over the past decade. 'Because of his playful spirit, children and animals adored him almost as much as he adored them,' his wife said. 'He had an infectious laugh, an impish smirk, and a mischievous twinkle in his eye.' A celebration of life will be held at 7 p.m. June 6 at the McComas Family Funeral Home in Bel Air. Survivors include his wife of 25 years, Irene M. Padilla, the retired State Librarian of Maryland; a daughter, Heather Mohalski, of Brookhaven, Georgia; a sister, Sandra Alvarez, of Florida; and two grandsons. Have a news tip? Contact Jacques Kelly at and 410-332-6570.
Fox News
2 days ago
- General
- Fox News
Disabled veteran fights homeowners association lawsuit over flagpole in Florida yard
Print Close By Sarah Rumpf-Whitten Published May 30, 2025 A disabled veteran in Volusia County, Florida, is at the center of a heated dispute with his homeowners association (HOA) over a flagpole installed in his yard. According to Fox News affiliate WOFL-TV, the Countryside Villas PUD3 HOA has filed a lawsuit against the unnamed veteran, claiming he failed to obtain the required approval before erecting the permanent structure. Despite the legal friction, community support for the veteran has surged, with neighbors speaking out against what they see as harassment and unnecessary litigation. "Leave the veteran alone. He hasn't done anything wrong," Frank Johnson, a veteran himself, told the outlet. "He's called me crying that they're harassing him and bullying him. He's served this country. He's paid his dues. They wanted to get him on a flagpole and some weeds in the lawn. It's pathetic. It's really pathetic." ASSOCIATED PRESS MOVES TO DISMISS DEFAMATION CLAIM FROM VETERAN WHO DEFEATED CNN IN COURT The HOA maintains that its actions are grounded in procedural compliance. In a letter sent to the veteran, the association emphasized that it was not denying his right to fly the American flag, but rather enforcing a policy requiring prior approval for permanent flagpoles. The letter noted that the veteran's military service does not exempt him from these rules. The situation only escalated when the veteran refused to remove the flagpole, accruing $1,000 in fines. The HOA responded by initiating a lawsuit for $8,000 and threatening to place a lien on his property. Orlando Law Managing Partner Jennifer Englert told WOFL-TV that this action may not be legally defensible. Englert explained that Florida statute says as long as the flagpole is under 20 feet, a homeowner can have a flagpole on their property, even if the HOA has rules against it. "Why are you fighting about something that you know you have to allow? That is very clear," she said. MARYLAND SCHOOL SUSPENDS MARINE HOPEFUL AFTER AMERICAN FLAG LAW CONTROVERSY Concerned neighbors and a caregiver have come forward to condemn the HOA's tactics, describing them as bullying and deeply disrespectful to someone who served the country. Margaret Murphy, a resident who attended HOA meetings, took the issue to State Sen. Tom Wright, expressing in a letter that her own father's legacy as a Pearl Harbor survivor compelled her to act. "My father was a survivor in Pearl Harbor. He would be rolling over in his grave if I didn't say something," she told the outlet. In a statement to WOFL-TV, The Countryside PUD Unit III-B HOA, Inc. Board of Directors said that they never told the veteran homeowner that the "flagpole/flag was prohibited." "Factually, this has never been about a flag or a flagpole. The resident was told via multiple correspondences that he absolutely can have them. The situation boils down to that he failed to submit an ARC application, which is required for flagpoles by the HOA. That rule has been in place since 1990," they said. "The resident was given multiple opportunities to remedy the situation including assistance from the American Legion and the Elks. He also was given an opportunity at a hearing that he never showed up for. Florida Statute makes it clear that an HOA resident also needs to follow the governing documents which he has failed to do. This situation is no different than any other architectural guidelines in our docs. As a result, a fine was imposed, and he failed to pay the fine." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for September. Fox News Digital has reached out to The Countryside PUD Unit III-B HOA, Inc. Board of Directors for comment. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a U.S. Writer at Fox News Digital. Since joining in 2021, she's covered high-stakes criminal justice—from the Menendez brothers' resentencing, where Judge Jesic slashed their life-without-parole terms to 50-years-to-life (making them parole-eligible), to the assassination attempts on President Donald Trump's life and shifting immigration enforcement, including her reporting on South Florida's illegal-immigration crisis, covering unprecedented migrant crossings from the Bahamas and ensuing enforcement operations. Beyond those beats, she reports on crime, politics, business, lifestyle, world news, and more—delivering both breaking updates and in-depth analysis across Fox News Digital. You can follow her on Twitter and LinkedIn. Print Close URL
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
UK's oldest WW2 veteran awarded Freedom of Erewash
The UK's oldest surviving World War Two veteran has been awarded the Freedom of Rose, who is also the UK's oldest man aged 110, was honoured by Erewash's youngest ever mayor, 25-year-old Harry Atkinson, at a ceremony at his care home in Ilkeston, said it was a "privilege" to present the award to the the award, Mr Rose said it was "great" and "very nice to see all the people" at the small event. "I want to say thank you very much for coming to see me," he said."I didn't do anything that anybody else wouldn't have done." His son, David Rose, said he was proud of his dad, adding: "Bearing in mind what he's been through, it's quite something, and he's still here to tell the tale."You start telling [his] story and you get a lump in your throat. All I can say is I'm extremely proud of the man."Thank you to the council, greatly appreciated, and he deserves also praised the work of the British Legion for supporting veterans like his father. Paul Scott, John Sewell and Paul Jarvis from the Ilkeston and Long Eaton branches of the Legion attended the Atkinson said veterans like Donald "need recognising". "We've had a generation of people that served in WW2," he said. "Some gave the ultimate sacrifice. "This is in recognition of not just Donald but to them as well. They allowed us the freedoms that we have today."If anything, it's a shame that it's taken us this long. 110 is a bit too long I think!" The leader of the council James Dawson said it was a unanimous decision of the authority to award Donald the freedom of the borough."It's the highest honour that any local authority can bestow," he said."It is in recognition of Donald and his service, but also [a] special things in this 80th year of VE day and VJ day."People who took part, people like Donald, we have to treasure the time we have with them."Mr Rose was born in Westcott in Surrey on 24 December joined the Queen's Royal Regiment at the age of 25 and went on to train as a served in North Africa and Europe and puts his longevity down to salty water he had to drink during his time as a Desert Rose, who turned 110 last December, enjoyed a wartime-themed party at the care home where he lives in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, for VE day anniversary celebrations earlier this month.
New York Times
3 days ago
- General
- New York Times
Robert Woods, the Steelers' oldest WR, emulates Hines Ward's old-school physicality
PITTSBURGH — More than 30 minutes after practice ended at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Thursday, well after the majority of players left the field, Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Robert Woods stood alone near the end zone. Woods exploded out of his stance, delivering a blow to a tackling dummy before darting upfield. Rep after rep, this continued, as the veteran honed his releases off the line of scrimmage. Advertisement 'It's very important for young guys and old guys to always take the opportunity to work your craft, get in extra work,' Woods said. 'We only get a few hours out here to really work on our craft.' At 33 and entering his 13th NFL season, Woods fits squarely into that second category. His NFL journey began when the Buffalo Bills selected him in the second round of the 2013 draft. Over a career that has spanned 171 games and included 683 catches and 38 touchdowns, Woods has enjoyed many of the highs the game has to offer. A pair of 1,000-yard seasons. A Super Bowl ring. Now on his fifth NFL team, Woods is looking to provide a veteran's savvy, a voice of leadership and a physical presence to a receiver room that needs quality depth to emerge this spring. 'I'm trying to get better,' Woods said. 'Maybe (younger guys) see the same thing. We are trying to teach, if one guy is getting better, the whole team is getting better. Keep elevating your game, and it elevates the team.' While Woods' work ethic after practice stood out, it's the way he competes between the whistles that he hopes gets the attention of coaches and teammates. Throughout the 10-minute conversation, the word 'physicality' was thrown out often. That attribute has been one of Woods' strengths since he began playing football. Through high school, Woods starred on the defensive side of the ball. During his freshman year at USC, he played nickel cornerback and wide receiver during practices before focusing his attention on offense. He's continued to maintain the mentality of a defender as he's built his NFL career. 'Finally getting a chance to run with the football and being physical that way, I always wanted to deliver the blow and not be the one receiving it,' Woods said. Woods said he's always watched the Steelers from afar and, in some ways, modeled his game after Hines Ward. Wearing No. 16, he joked that he has one half of Ward's old No. 86 jersey. The oldest receiver on the roster is trying to instill that old-school mentality in his entire room. Advertisement 'Hines was getting involved in the blocking,' Woods said. 'But when you really watch him going across the middle, making big catches, taking hits, just being a physical receiver, running with the football, fighting for extra yards, I think that's the mentality, that's the mindset of the team (we're) trying to get back to in the receiver room.' That identity fits what the Steelers are about, both past and present. This offseason, coach Mike Tomlin said the team made it a priority to 'retool physicality in all areas.' Under offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, the Steelers also often use their receivers in the run game to create lanes for ball carriers. To Woods, there's a difference between talking about being physical and showing it. 'I think a lot of guys are fake tough guys,' he said with a smile. 'When you get hit, you kind of really see who's really tough. 'Just being able to deliver the blow every single time. Obviously, you get a guy on the sideline, you hit him once, (he) might come in a little different the next time, and that's when you're able to fight for those extra yards and get those first downs. And it's a long game, and guys don't want to be hit for four quarters, and you see that. And I think if you have a whole team who is delivering the blow every single play, I think you'll see teams start turning down.' Woods has been a precise route runner, sure-handed receiver and willing blocker throughout his career, but the question is: How much does he have left as he approaches his mid-30s? An accomplished sprinter in high school who ran a 4.5 40-yard dash at the 2013 combine, Woods is confident he still has the wheels to be a difference-maker. However, he's coming off his least productive season after catching 20 passes for 203 yards and no touchdowns last year in Houston. Advertisement The Steelers will need Woods — or another receiver — to step up and seize the opportunity. After GM Omar Khan dealt George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys, the wide receiver room again features an upper-echelon No. 1 in DK Metcalf and plenty of opportunity behind him for someone to emerge as the next threat. The best way for Woods to capitalize on the opportunity? Keep working. 'I'm just coming in here and working,' Woods said. 'Obviously, there's one ball, and I'm trying to be open every time, and hopefully that ball finds me. But we are just going out here and working, putting good stuff on tape, hoping the coaches see that and see myself open on film, and say, 'This is a guy we could get the ball.''
