The claim against the U.K. Government.
As you know, the approaches made to the Japanese Government have not been very successful. This is not due to lack of effort on the part of those who have been fronting the proceedings and acting on your behalf. Basically, it is down to the unwillingness of the Japanese Government to admit that their behavior warranted compensation to their prisoners. They have claimed that the Peace Treaty effectively settled the matter once and for all. From their point of view, they can hardly be blamed for taking this attitude. If they agree to paying British POWs, the majority of countries in the Far East would immediately "jump on the same Band Wagon", as well as America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand etc., and effectively bankrupt Japan.
As you know, the question of some sort of compensation or SPECIAL GRATUITY as it is now called has been taken up by The Royal British Legion, The National Federation and the JLCSA in the light of the ludicrous awards made in court in civilian prosecutions for compensation for stress, dismissal because of pregnancy, sexual or racial harassment etc.
Support has come for the claim from various bodies including certain influential Members of Parliament of all parties as well as approximately half of the Members in Parliament. Various newspapers have also "got in on the act" as you probably noticed by the extra loose inserts in the last newsletter.
However, various preliminary work has been going on in order to supply the Prime Minister with information on approximately how many FEPOWs and FEPOW Widows were still alive and who might be making a claim against the U.K. Government. To this end, at Conference NICK TOLLEY of the South and West Somerset Fepow Club volunteered to collate the names and addresses of Fepows and Widows which were requested to be sent in by all Fepow Clubs and Associations. Even with a lot of volunteers this has been a mammoth task and Nick, Steve Cairns, etc. are to be congratulated on the incredible amount of work they have put into this. Do please note that if you are a member of a Fepow Club or Association your name, address and other details will have been sent to Nick Tolley and you should have received a double-paged letter with a form on the bottom of the last page which you were requested to return with various details to Nick Tolley. If this has been done, you do not need to worry about "REGISTRATION" for the claim, your name, address and other details etc. will be on the main database and should something be forthcoming from our Government, your details will be easily supplied. THERE IS NOT ANY NEED FOR YOU TO APPROACH, OR JOIN, ANY OTHER FEPOW ORGANISATION, OR ANY OF THESE
FIRMS WHICH ADVERTISE IN THE NEWSPAPERS ON A "NO WIN - NO FEE" BASIS. If, however, you have not received a letter from Nick Tolley, or returned the completed form, PLEASE WRITE TO NICK TOLLEY, 23 ABINGDON STREET, BURNHAM – ON - SEA, SOMERSET TA8 1PL PLEASE REMEMBER TO ENCLOSE A SELF STAMPED ADDRESSED ENVELOPE. Amongst the information you are requested to supply will be your (in the case of Widows', their husbands') Service Number. If you cannot remember this or, in the case of Widows, never knew it, this information may be obtained by writing with as much Information as possible, including your date of birth, to THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, DEFENCE RECORDS, 2B BOURNE AVENUE, HAYES, MIDDX UB3 1RF. You will also be asked to supply the National Insurance Number of the FEPOW which can be found on the front cover of the Pension Book belonging to the FEPOW or, in the case of Widows, may be obtained from the BENEFITS AGENCY, REF: POW SPECIAL SECTION, ABP 1101 BENTON ROAD, LONG BENTON NE98 1YX.
At this point I would like to point out that not only do we not know if there is going to be a payment made, but we also do not know the conditions of payment or who will do it. We have to wait and see ,should a payment be made, whether, for instance, Widows wlll be included, (I can just imagine the sort of uproar that would ensue if this was the case!) We do not know if British, or rather U.K. citizens now living abroad will be lncluded. We do not know if it will be tax-free although this was one of the requirements included in the original claim to the U.K.Government. In all probability the U.K.Government, through one of its Ministries would (perhaps the
Ministry of pensions as in the original payment of £76) make any payment direct to the claimant, using the main database which has been created using totally voluntary participants, thus avoiding the need for any administration expenses. However, some expense has been necessary, the printing and posting of the "Nick TOLLEY LETTER" for instance So if any of you can spare the odd note or two, towards this, if would be greatly appreciated. Please send direct to NICK, address above, made out to NFFCAThe E-Mail address for nick tolley is: nick.tolley@talk21.com