Veteran is pleased at award of lost medal

BUT STILL RILED BY LACK OF RECOGNITION BY UK

- ANDY PHILLIPS

ONE of the last surviving crew members of Britain's famous Lancaster bombers is to be presented with a replacement medal from the Netherlands ambassador - at the age of 98 but said he continues to go unrecognized by the UK.

Now living in a care home in Hooe, Plymouth, Ivor Foster qualified as an air gunner in June 1944 at the age of 19, and went on to fly 16 missions, including perilous bombing runs over Nazi-occupied Germany.

As he did not complete training until after D-Day, he was among thousands of volunteer servicemen who were ineligible for the Air Crew Europe Star, which was given to crews who served from 1939 up until Operation Overlord, in 1944.

Mr Foster was awarded the 'Thank You Liberators 1945' medal by the ambassador of the Netherlands at the time, for his service.

Unfortunately, a move into a care home more than two years ago meant the medal and certificate - as well as other memorabilia of his RAF service - was lost.

However, a replacement medal and certificate has been obtained from the current Netherlands ambassador, Karel Van Oosterom, and is being handed over to Mr Foster at The Retreat care home in Hooe this week by the Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Cllr Mark Shayer.