LGBT+ veterans stripped of medals for being gay to get them back by Remembrance Sunday
LGBT+ Armed Forces veterans who were stripped of their medals due to their homosexuality, are to have them returned in time for Remembrance Sunday.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has written to scores of ex-service personnel who were told they would never wear them again as they were kicked out of their units and even jailed.
LGBT+ military charity Fighting With Pride will lay an official wreath at London's Cenotaph for the first time this year, on behalf of heroes who lost their lives fighting for their country.
Wreath bearer and former Army nurse Lieutenant Elaine Chambers was part of Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps.
She was forced to resign in 1988.
Lieutenant Chambers told Forces News: "It's a strange mix of feelings. It's really good that it's finally happening.
"I think it's a great shame that it's taken so long for it to get to this point, but I think the more important thing is that at least it has got to this point and hopefully, as well, without the onus being so strongly on the people who were affected so badly by this.
"Overall, I think it's a really good thing and I just hope that the people who do have medals to be returned will get them in time, that's my hope."
Watch: Former Army nurse Lieutenant Elaine Chambers reacts to news medals will be returned.
An MOD spokesperson said: "It will always remain deeply regrettable that members of the Armed Forces were historically discriminated against because of their sexuality.
"We are pleased to be offering the restoration of medals to veterans who forfeited them for this reason.
"As we process applications for medal restoration we remain in contact with applicants and continue to encourage any LGBT veterans who may have been affected by this issue to submit an application for their case to be considered," the spokesperson added.
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