Sahr Salieu Sam, a representative of the Royal Commonwealth Ex-service League in the United Kingdom and also a member of the British Army, has on behalf of the British people presented five million Leones (old money) each to 142 ex-servicemen and widows who were part of the Sierra Leone Army before Independence in 1961.
The presentations, undertaken last weekend, were made in the 16 districts of Sierra Leone including the Western Area.
Speaking to The Nationalist during the presentations to the aforementioned beneficiaries in Waterloo, Sahr Salieu Sam said their aim was to help the ex-servicemen and women “who served the Crown” but now in need of help.
When asked what year did the British people through the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Service League start to give such assistance to these ex-servicemen and women, he disclosed that since 2019. He noted that they had been providing the said money every six months.
Mr Sam also informed The Nationalist that the League was formed to raise awareness and persuade the UK government to help support their worthy cause.
He concluded that the organization was made up of people from the Royal British Legion, the Royal Navy and the Royal Navy and Marines.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries of ex-servicemen, women and widows retired Captain Foday M. Koroma, who joined the Sierra Leone Army in March 1959 and retired in 2002, expressed appreciation to the RECL for providing them the money.
“I am going to do medical check-up and as well as provide food for my siblings,” retired Captain Foday M. Koroma said. He, however, appealed to the Royal Commonwealth Ex-servicemen (RCEL) to consider the wives of their colleagues who were yet to benefit.