Lambeth army veteran receives badge at Westminster ceremony

The ceremony honouring five former servicemen took place in the Jubilee Room at the Palace of Westminster in the presence of representatives of today's armed forces.

"Stanley Hutchins served in the Royal Artillery 25th Field Regiment from 1958 until 1960," states the citation read to guests. "He completed his training in Oswestry, Shropshire and then went on to exercises on Salisbury Plain.

"Mr Hutchins then saw active service in Cyprus, at the time of the EOKA terrorist campaign led by General Georgios Grivas. He tragically lost comrades there when part of a convoy he was travelling in came under fire. Mr Hutchins was still serving in Cyprus when the campaign ended." 

He was accompanied by his wife Pat who was born in the Elephant & Castle and recently retired from her job at London South Bank University.

Kevan Jones MP, who arrived direct from the Commons chamber where there had been an unexpected Defence statement, described the occasion as special and one that brought alive service in the armed forces.

"Thank you for the debt we have to each and everyone of you," he added.

Service Personnel & Veterans Agency chief executive Kathy Barnes welcomed the recipients and their families.