Missing Lad from HMS Westminster - Wife kicked out of MQs

[SRENNAPS]

Bereaved families are not kicked out.

Well according to the friend who serves on HMS Westminster this family has been “kicked out”. Whether that is true or not, I really don’t know. He tells me that he and the whole Ships’ company are absolutely gutted over the incident. The lad I know has now served in the Navy for over 15 years; he loves it and I cannot question his loyalty or desire to stay in and serve his country. He is not the kind of man that makes up negative stories.

There may well be more to this story than we know. I have always found it strange that the story has made very little press, especially as the incident occurred in the Middle East.

But what I do think is that his family should be totally and utterly supported in every way and if it means bending the rule book and ignoring heartless to$$ers in their ivory towers, then so be it.

The Armed Forces and their families of this country need and deserve all the support they can get from the people of the country. If they don’t get it from within or from ex serving members, then what hope is there?


Thanks baffman

[Genstabler]

"Yes, and too generously, according to your earlier posts".
How on earth do you derive that interpretation from my previous posts? Wierd!

[500N]

Someone mentioned death certificate.

So the wife is still legally married ?

What would be the situation if the person was MIA for 6 months ?
Would the same rules apply ?

[lj101]

Srennaps

The MacColl family have this web site with up to date news on it.

Bring Timmy Home | Missing - Royal Navy Leading Seaman Timmy MacColl

No mention of this MQ situation anywhere.

[Navaleye]

From what I have heard from folks on the spot, the MoD has done the square root of zilch to support this family because of his rank. If he was a Sqn Leader, Commander etc then the whole support structure would be different. It stinks. Has this guy been officially declared dead? Is she still married? Yes of course.

[baffman]

"Yes, and too generously, according to your earlier posts".
How on earth do you derive that interpretation from my previous posts? Wierd!

Apologies, your PPRuNe account must have been hijacked. Glad that the real Genstabler generously accepts the 2 year policy.

[Biggus]

I thought that, if there was no body, it took up to 7 years before someone could be legally declared dead.

If I'm right, and it might be a big "if", surely all he could be considered at the moment is MIA or AWOL. On this basis he is still a member of the RN, and the entitlement to a quarter still exists.

As a thought, could the crew of HMS Westminster not set up a fund for the family in question. Say Ł10 a month from each of a 250 odd size crew would provide very well for the family in the short term.

[SRENNAPS]

lj101

I would suggest that the kind of woman she is, she would not mention the MQ side. I think she only wants her hubbie back. I think there are people out there in the country that want the right thing to happen and they haven’t all got “compensation” in the back of their minds.

The saddest thing about that link is this:

“The media response this has created out in Dubai has been phenomenal, and even though the response in the UK has not been massive it has achieved all our aims”.

I do find that pretty disturbing considering he is a member of the armed forces. However, very sadly (thoughts that had already gone through my mind) and still so common in this modern age, I have a tendency to agree with Navaleye’s comment. We all like to think it does not happen any more, but sadly (and backed up by certain comments here) it does.

[big v]

Are we suprised?

The story of this guy is sad and his family are stuck in an awful situation.

The armed forces breaks many people for any number of reasons. I believe it to be true that the biggest single group that make up the homeless population are ex armed forces.

When the individual's value is gone, so is the support. Harsh but true.

Glad I left? Too right.

Toodlepip

[alfred_the_great]

You are all talking bollocks.

[Navaleye]

Please explain your comment?

[SRENNAPS]

All,

I realise that this thread is very controversial and is causing disagreement among us. I have even received a private email giving me a bit of a slating. If you wish me to delete the thread as “it is not in the spirit of military aviation” then I will. Mods if you wish to delete the thread then I will accept that decision.

I just felt this situation needed to be highlighted if it is true but I cannot confirm that. Far lesser things have been presented here on PPRuNe in the past.

Regards to all.

[Blacksheep]

When I was demobbed I received 60 days notice to leave our MQ. When a friend was divorced his family also received 60 days notice. At the end of the 60 days an eviction notice is served. This is then enables, indeed requires, the local authority, to provide emergency assistance. Administrative procedures, bureaucracy and all that, but it is simply part of a process. If you become homeless "voluntarily" they cannot act.

[baffman]

SRENNAPS, in fairness to you the "death in service" theme was not started by you, but having been raised in post #2 was worth discussing, if in so doing we have improved awareness of the actual rules.

And treatment of service families in SFA is a tri-service issue.

As to your initial post, I don't doubt that this rumour is on the go, but I have heard nothing elsewhere as yet to confirm.

It's obviously not up to me but I suggest leave it there (i.e. speculation concerning this particular family). If there really is a problem I suspect that more info will find its way here soon enough.

[parabellum]

the MoD has done the square root of zilch to support this family because of
his rank. If he was a Sqn Leader, Commander etc then the whole support structure
would be different.

There have been a couple of posts on this thread that have been a bit misleading but, for the all out and indisputable leader in 'total bollocks' the above, in 'bold', must take the biscuit.

If all that has been said about the absolute need for an eviction notice is true and it seems undeniably so, then the media would be leaving it alone as they will be well aware of the procedures that are in place and their implications.

[Heathrow Harry]

"Has this guy been officially declared dead? Is she still married? Yes of course."

Is he currently a serving member of HM Armed forces? - apparently not

You have to draw the line somewhere I guess

[Divergent Phugoid!]

I have the ear of one of the leading reporters on the Savill case...

Does anyone think that it might be worth a punt mentioning the story to him, with a view to a full, open, investigation?





Oh and he's from the morse code mail!

[Genstabler]

Non story, at the moment at least. Leave alone.

[Whenurhappy]

The armed forces breaks many people for any number of reasons. I believe it to be true that the biggest single group that make up the homeless population are ex armed forces.

This is a bit of an urban myth. I was talking to the new CE SSAFA quite recently and he was quick to put down this rumour - there are ex-Sp on the streets, but no where near the percentage (typically 25%) that is quoted; same for prison populations. Moreover, of those ex-Sp on the streets, some where TA (but can claim to be ex SP), others left the Services because of discipline and suitability issues (VW from training or kicked out) and surveys that are done do not investigate whether the interviewee is, indeed, genuine. Very few (though, I agree, still too many) had 'normal' careers in the Services and are homeless not due to Service reasons but due to relationship breakups, health and addiction problems, although I accept that these could be related to thier Service.


With respect to the OP, I think that there are a few unknowns in this story; there is nothing corroborating that the MOD is trying to kick the family out of housing within current guidelines; from previous experience (at Lyneham) DHE (as was) was very understanding and accommodating for the widow one SP who had died.

[Shack37]

Originally posted by Genstabler
Non story, at the moment at least. Leave alone.

Interesting post, comment, suggestion or order?
Something to hide?