Double honour for veteran

12:17pm Monday 7th July 2008

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ON Veterans' Day, Vale of Glamorgan MP, John Smith, presented Mr Albert Drake of Redbrink Crescent, Barry, with both an Armed Forces Veteran's Badge and a Merchant Seafarer's Badge for the service he gave to the country.

Despite the ship on which he served being torpedoed, 81-year-old Albert Drake is a survivor of the Battle of the Atlantic and he also saw service in the Royal Artillery as a radar operator.

John Smith said: "I was only too happy to help Mr Drake get his much deserved badges. He is one of the few former servicemen in the Vale of Glamorgan to be awarded both badges.

"Those who have served and those who continue to do so in our Armed Forces should have our deepest respect and gratitude.

"Veterans should be immensely proud of the contribution they have made to the security of our nation - a security that allows all of us to live our lives in freedom.

"It is something we take for granted, but is purchased at a high price by our surviving veterans and those who serve so bravely on operations overseas today. All deserve our respect and recognition for helping to protect us from harm."