On 5th May 2004 in a MBCTV programme, both the prime minister, Paul Berenger, and his deputy and Finance minister, Pravind Jugnauth, openly recognised the many unmet needs of the ageing ex-servicemen, who served in the Middle East and elsewhere. As far as I can remember, this was the first time concern was expressed for our plight as Mauritian ex-servicemen. However, they confined their acknowledgement too narrowly to financial and medical needs.

With a long career as professional social worker and sociologist, working with older people, among others, I would extend the needs far beyond financial and medical ones to cover such unmet needs as isolation, social exclusion, the killer disease of loneliness and the feeling of rejection. The lost roles of Mauritian elders in an increasingly dysfunctional society, as Mauritius is clearly veering towards, where life’s philosophy is, to use the Darwinian term, survival of the fittest, our ageing and vulnerable army veterans must also feel the psychologically adverse impact of their social circumstances.

In addition to the recognition of ex-servicemen’s contribution by the politicians, which is, no doubt, very much appreciated, there is the welcome news from the Army Authority in the United Kingdom: “the veterans…who completed 30 days in the Suez Canal Zone between 16 October 1951 and 19 October 1954 would be eligible for the General Service Medal with Clasp Canal Zone”.

The visit to the office of the Ex-servicemen’s Trust for personal research and, incidentally, discussing the social circumstances with the very efficient and helpful Secretary, Mr Mudhoo, won my deepest sympathies towards my former comrades-in-arms. As a result, I committed myself to writing this paper. If asked on whose side I am, I would always be on the side of the underdogs, the powerless and the voiceless, where once I belonged.

Using sociological knowledge, in addition to my experience as an ex-serviceman, and applying the social work techniques, I tried to explore the social circumstances of some veterans within my limited time on the island. The information thus gathered reveals that a large number of these people are quite vulnerable to the rapid social change which Mauritius is experiencing.

<B>Contribution to the British Army</B>

Mauritians, both men and women, supported, either locally or overseas, the British military campaigns as long ago as the First World War. In 1945, many Mauritian women, particularly those with some education and belonging to the more liberated ethnic groups, joined the Mauritians’ Volunteer Corps. Just as in other British colonies, thousands of men also participated in active service overseas. We also feel proud that Mauritian combattants generally acquitted themselves with great distinction and honour whilst serving in the British Army. For example, Private Claude Beerjoolall was mentioned in Despatches and Corporal France Domingo was made a Member of the British Empire (MBE).

The contribution of Mauritian soldiers to the British army in the Middle East during the Egyptian uprising, first inspired by General Naguib and later led by Colonel Nasser, has recently been acknowledged by British Army Authorities. The letter, dated 13th June 2003 put it thus: “… the personnel who completed 30 days in the Suez Canal Zone between 16 October 1951 and 19 October 1954 would be eligible for the General Service Medal…” The Newsletter of December 2003 showed that no less than “… 12000 men and women, either volunteered or conscripted were engaged in the army during World War II (1939-45) and 22,000 were engaged after 1945”.

<B>Sacrifices made </B>

Excluding those who died in service in previous wars, on 3rd December 1951, eight Mauritian soldiers were ambushed on the Suez Canal Road. They were either killed or executed in action with the Bulak Nizam (Egyptian Auxiliary Police Force) when they were escorting Major Stuart Rose on the Suez Canal Road.

A quick count shows that 32 Mauritian soldiers perished in the Middle East during the so-called peacetime service. They were buried in the military cemeteries of Fahid and Moascar. As a Sergeant, I myself was responsible for providing a guard of honour for one of my deceased Mauritian comrades-in-arms.

<B>Reasons for joining the Army</B>

Mauritius, like many other British colonies, suffered from economic neglect and under-development, being primarily used as a supplier of raw materials for British industries. This inevitably led not only to scarcity of job opportunities but also generated, to use a Marxist term, a great reservoir of a reserved army of labour. Large-scale unemployment and poverty left few options to the restless and dissatisfied young Mauritians except to join the British Army. Some of the respondents in the small sample said that the youth’s spirit of wanderlust was also a push factor towards the Army Recruiting Office. Another attraction offered by the army was the opportunity to travel and see how other people lived. However, few were prepared to deny the fact that it was unemployment, lack of job opportunities, poverty and a sense of hopelessness as to a satisfactory future that drove the majority of young Mauritians to join the British Army. Exploring my own decision to enlist in the army on the fourth day after my eighteenth birthday, it was for similar reasons: that is, I saw no future in my job, which involved flattening tough empty oil drums for house building, and I downed tools one desperate morning to make for the Army Recruiting Office.

<B>Gains and losses </B>

Talking to the informants and trying to stir the dormant and almost fading army memories, as I came across them, many incidentally appeared to believe that they have benefited from volunteering into the British army. Some of the advantages derived from it can be outlined thus:

• The British army enabled them to reclaim the right and dignity to feel they were doing something more constructive than a life wasted in unemployment, poverty and a feeling of hopelessness.

• Army life provided an opportunity to meet and interact with compatriots of different social backgrounds and ethnic groups.

• Army life offered them the opportunity to travel, see other countries and experience how other people with totally different cultures lived.

• Army life enabled them to internalise a set of values and disciplines that provided their life with greater consistency after demobilization.

• Army life provided an opportunity for some basic education in addition to stimulating the development of ambitions and goals. As for myself, I see my achievements originating from nowhere but from the period I served in the army.

As regards losses by joining the army, the respondents said that they were fewer than what they had gained. The main one was the high divorce rate among Mauritian demobilized soldiers. Two factors could be deduced to explain this: first, many young soldiers fell into the trap of getting into arranged marriages too quickly, tempted by the monthly army marriage allowance of Rs 30 and, second, some of the young wives, left behind, with money for the first time and a relatively high degree of independence, behaved irresponsibly. As a result, pioneers’ wives had a tainted reputation, although, to be fair, the majority kept firmly to their marriage vows.

It was also observed that a substantial number of ex-servicemen found it difficult to settle down in pre-army conditions at home. Dissatisfied with the monotony of life after demobilization, with no employment, plenty of empty hours to fill for the active mind and unrealistically high expectations held from an unstimulating laid back society, they became restless and irritable.

Once the army savings were used up, many rejoined the army. I must confess that I belonged to this category, although I decided not to volunteer again at the eleventh hour. I must confess that, after demobilization, I behaved irresponsibly and engaged in some reckless adventures, which, looking back, were inexcusable. Risk-taking took me to India and then to England, where I achieved most, if not all, of my dreams. What is regarded as irresponsible can sometimes be constructive action leading to self-actualisation.

<B>The problems of demobilization</B>

It was envisaged that demobilized Mauritian soldiers would experience difficulties readjusting to civilian life after spending a period in such a diametrically different environment as in the army. A readjustment office was set up to facilitate re-settlement for those returning home in 1945. By the way, an association for the welfare of ex-servicemen was created as long ago as 1927 to provide support for those Mauritians who had served in the First World War. To facilitate the process of support, the Ex-Servicemen’s Welfare Fund Act 1946 was passed, whereby financial assistance was provided on a need-assessment basis.

Adverse criticisms against the working of the associations and use of the fund resulted in government intervention in 1998, when the Ex-Servicemen’s Trust Fund was created under the Finance and Audit Act, thereby repealing the 1946 Act, rationalising the different ex-servicemen’s associations and placing them on an equal footing. As from 31st July 2000, the aims of the Trust Fund Board have been to democratise the associations and promote the welfare of the veterans, who served in the British army from 1939 to 1956.

<B>Past undemocratic tendencies </B>

Information derived from the interviews suggests that ex-servicemen’s associations in the period of the pre-government involvement were overtly undemocra- tic and even discriminatory. Managed and controlled by a small group of influential personnel, only a minority of ex-servicemen enjoyed access to financial assistance and other facilities. Therefore, there was an acute problem of access to welfare support for the vast majority of ex-servicemen, partly due to lack of publicity of the associations’ duties and responsibilities. Added to this, was that some ex-servicemen, belonging to some communities, constrained by cultural beliefs, saw the provision of financial assistance from these organisations as charity and too stigmatising to make a claim.

However, the evolution of Mauritian society through wider dissemination of education, improved communications and, perhaps more importantly, government intervention, has made the Trust more democratic and responsive. As a result, the welfare services of the Trust are reaching a growing number of army veterans: in December 2000, 6,912 ex-servicemen registered for the Millennium Gift. In my view, this figure is literally a drop in the ocean, given the fact that 22,000 men engaged or re-engaged after 1945. It appears that more effort should be focused on reaching the larger number of army veterans who are yet to be rewarded for risking their lives and limbs by serving in the British Army.

<B>Current situation</B>

The overwhelming majority of living Mauritian ex-army combatants are in their 70s and those bearing the numbers of 1390, 1800, 1802 and 1808, like myself, are even much older. It is needless to point out that old age invariably has multiple disadvantages, not least deteriorating physical and mental health. Research has demonstrated beyond a shadow of doubt that the elderly, who have lost their high status and role enjoyed in pre-industrial Mauritius, are often exposed to abuse and verbal or physical, and exploitation. Furthermore, having been left to their own devices by adult children, as social trend shows today, life for the elderly, including army veterans, is not only isolated and lonely, but also more expensive than that of their younger contemporaries. With health failing, prices of goods and services spiralling and pension money not catching up with the constantly rising cost of living, the Mauritian elderly find most of their limited disposal income swallowed up by doctors’ fees, medication, rent, water and electricity bills, private transport on grounds of poor mobility and more expensive food at local shops due to their inability to shop around.

It was very upsetting interviewing a 78-year old veteran, who has recently undergone major surgery, and his wife, also house-bound with severe diabetes, high blood pressure, a heart problem and swollen legs. With relatives living far away and in similar dire circumstances to themselves, they lead an isolated life, surviving as best as they can, on their state pension and with some help from the Ex-servicemen’s Trust. They informed me that, by the time they pay the rent, clear water and electricity bills and buy some of the prescribed medication, there is not much money left for food. In spite of these difficulties, these courageous people, who impressed me and won my deepest sympathies, did not dwell on the constant discomforts resulting from their multiple deteriorating health problems. This army veteran and his wife repeatedly emphasised that their sad case was only the tip of the iceberg, as many ageing ex-servicemen and their wives are experiencing the same, if not worse, unacceptably difficult circumstances in these days of a relatively affluent Mauritius.

Therefore, there is an urgent need for a comprehensive survey, which, if requested, I would like to undertake, to investigate the unmet needs of Mauritian army veterans with a view to rethinking how best suffering can be minimised at this critical phase of their existence. It is a serious error of judgement to hold the view that people’s situations remain constant under the rapid waves of social change. A civilised society is judged according to how it responds to the needs of its most vulnerable members.

I suggest that the Board of the Ex-Servicemen’s Trust Fund considers the following suggestions:

• Empower recipients of welfare provisions by giving them a choice between a one-off payment in lieu of participation in outdoor activities. There seems to be such an empowerment principle at the moment. One must realise that many veterans cannot participate in outdoor leisure activities as a result of severe disabilities and ill health.

• Consider the provision of free house visits by doctors, nurses or other medical professionals and free medical prescriptions on a means-tested basis, on the grounds that some ex-servicemen have not been able to make contingency provision for old age.

• Making provision for free installation of telephone and rental payment on grounds of need on a means-tested basis. The recipient pays for the telephone calls made.

• Consider the appointment of a small team of trained social workers to carry out assessment and prepare a care-package for referrals, which should include home care support for the severely disabled and house-bound.

Arrangements should be considered for army veterans to visit the graves of their fallen comrades overseas and some places where they served. British army veterans enjoy this facility. So should Mauritian ex-servicemen who served in the British army.

<B>Conclusion</B>

The ageing ex-army Mauritian combatants are morally entitled to special treatment at this traumatic junction in their lives. When the colony was literally bankrupt economically and politically and, as a result, the life of the working class was short and brutish, weakened by large-scale unemployment, poverty and disease, the veterans risked their lives and limbs in joining the British Army to sustain the loved ones they left behind. As for the island’s coffer, they were prepared to risk their lives for foreign exchange.

No doubt, the 1946 Ex-Servicemen’s Welfare Fund Act was a specific and clear acknowledgement to the Mauritian veterans’ contribution to the British Army. So was the government intervention in 1998, which led to the setting up of the Ex-servicemen’s Trust and the recent statements made by leading politicians indirectly expressing concerns about the many unmet needs of the ageing Mauritian ex-army combatants. It was an additional moral boosting of a major psychological nature in recognising the effort of Mauritian soldiers in the Middle East during the Suez crisis by the British Army Authorities’ decision to award some of them a General Service Medal.

However, concerns, tributes or medals do not feed the most vulnerable people with special needs in the real harsh world. Speaking to a few army veterans and, using my own social work and sociological knowledge, I was able to make a relatively quick assessment of their needs within my limited time in Mauritius. For the Ex-servicemen’s Trust to achieve its goal of bringing relief and promoting the welfare of current and prospective recipients, it appears that there is an urgent need to carry out a comprehensive survey with a view to finding out whether the veterans’ Trust is meeting their needs adequately, whether the services are reaching as many as possible across the island and whether a re-evaluation of approaches are needed. I am not aware if this suggestion has already been implemented. Empirical studies have shown that welfare organisations are frequently mistaken and hold on to outdated views, methods and practices without periodically exposing themselves to rigorous reviews and re-evaluation. No efficient modern organisation remains blind to the rapid social change, which is affecting Mauritius.

<I>As a Mauritian ex-serviceman, and long-time social worker in UK, I am interested in hearing from veterans as to how I could assist them. My particulars: 38 Kimberley Road, London N17 9BJ, Tel: 020 8801 8343.</I>

<B>Sam LINGAYA</B>