RCEL provides grants to 3,362 veterans and widows,
below are 15 Case Studies relating to the beneficiaries we support.

Rehmat Bibi, 87, lives in Karachi. Her late husband, Murad Ali, served in the British Indian Army from 1939 to 1946. He retired as a Lance Naik and served on the Africa and Burma fronts, earning both the Africa and Burma Stars. Her journey has been one of great struggle and resilience. After the partition of India in 1947, her husband migrated to Pakistan, surviving the horrific massacres which started soon after partition. He managed to find his way to Pakistan, eventually settling in a small village in Punjab called Chandarkay. Sadly, he died in 1965, leaving Rehmat to raise two young sons on her own. 
Mrs Bibi worked tirelessly as a labourer in the fields, earning just enough to provide for her family. Her life has not been an easy one. Mrs Bibi received an RCEL grant last year for the first time and expresses her heartfelt gratitude for the assistance. “I am so happy to receive these funds. It brings me great comfort. Thank you.”
Ahmed Nazir, age 101, lives in Bangladesh. He enlisted in the Indian British Indian Army Medical Corps in Hyderabad in 1945. He served in various locations, including Kolkata, Madras, Jerusalem, Baghdad, Palestine, Egypt, and Syria. As a cook, he played a vital role in supporting war veterans by providing them with meals during the war. He retired from military service in 1947. Ahmed lives in his native village and has three sons, two daughters, and eighteen grandchildren. His advanced age means he has trouble communicating and needs a great deal of assistance. The grant enables the family to buy food and ensure Nazir has sufficient to eat.
Nigel Hawkin, age 81, served for four years initially as an engineer and subsequently as a diver in the Royal Navy between 1959 to 1963. He trained as a diver in 1960 at HMS Vernon. His fondest memory of service was a deployment in HMS Lynx, a Type 41 frigate, which in total lasted over a year with only a very brief visit back to the UK. The voyage included visits to South Africa, Tanzania, the Caribbean and South America. Having left the Navy, he moved to South Africa to join a cousin in 1968, initially working in Simonstown and subsequently working as a consultant based in Cape Town. He remembers specifically working on a project to build a flour mill in Lesotho. Nigel is widowed, has two daughters and lives in Cape Town, South Africa. He extends his thanks to all those who support RCEL.
Mr Dube, aged 80, from Zimbabwe, served for 21 years in the Rhodesian African Rifles, where he underwent catering corps training in Bulawayo. He finished his service with the rank of SSgt, a position he is immensely proud of. Throughout his life, Mr Dube has been supported by his wife Mercy, with whom he has built a large family, including two daughters, five sons, and numerous grandchildren. He is very grateful for his grant which has enabled him to survive in Zimbabwe’s challenging economy.
Mokhejane Khaile, is 104 years old and lives in Lesotho. Khaile worked as a Sergeant during the second-world war, spending time in Egypt, Syria and Italy. On his return from the war, he worked at with animals at a veterinarian clinic.
Khalie is widowed and has five adult children. He remains in remarkedly good health for his age. The welfare grant he receives ensures his basic needs are met.
Rosemary Sepiso, 80 is from Zambia. He late husband, Wasa, served in the British Forces during WW11 from 1939-1945 as a Rider, tasked with dispatch and communications – crucial duties often performed in dangerous conditions. After discharge, he worked at the national post office until he died in 2007. Rosemary and Wasa had eleven children but sadly six died in infancy. Rosemary was a subsistence farmer for many years, managing a small field of rice and vegetables.
Today Rosemary has various health challenges including mobility and sight issues. She relies on the welfare grant she receives to survive. “Without the grant, I would go days without proper food. It brings peace of mind knowing that help still comes from those who remember our sacrifices.  Thank you.”
Mr Mutasa is 93 years old. He enlisted into Rhodesian African Rifles (RAR) in Harare when he was 20 years old in 1952, as a Private. He served in Malaya and recalls travelling by ship under instruction to destroy the enemy. He married his wife Blessing in 1955, and they have eight children - four boys and four girls. Unfortunately, two sons and one daughter have died. Mr Mutasa cares for three orphaned grandchildren. He left the army in 1958 and worked as a messenger at the district council for over 25 years. Sadly, his pension was reduced to nothing during Zimbabwe’s period of record-breaking hyper-inflation. He later worked as a security guard.  He is grateful to RCEL for the welfare grant he receives. “Without this help we would not survive as we use the money to buy food and seed to grow vegetables and maize. Thank you for remembering us”.
Frank Masiyano, 89, enlisted into the Kings African Rifles in 1953. He was recruited in Zomba, Nyasaland and trained in Northern Rhodesia. He served with 1 and 2 KAR and later with the Malawi Army as the driver to the Malawi Army Commander before retiring in 1980. Upon retirement, he was employed as a driver at the Geological Survey department from 1982 to 1997, and later as a subsistence farmer.  The grant enables Frank to buy food, improving the quality of his life.
Umar Hayat, 100 was only 17 when he enlisted in the army in 1941, taking his place among the many young men from Pakistan who stood for duty during the Second World War. Rising to the rank of Lance Naik, he served in multiple critical regions, including Burma, Assam, and Panipat—areas central to both wartime activity and the broader history of the subcontinent.
Lance Naik Umar Hayat retired in 1948. Unlike many of his peers, he did not receive a pension. He has eight children and lives in the village where he was born and raised. He has several age-related ailments, all of which require ongoing care. Despite this, his spirit remains strong—a quiet testament to the resilience that marked his time in service. Lance Naik Umar is part of a generation that gave everything for their country and returned to live humble lives, often with little recognition or financial support.  The welfare grant he receives from RCEL provides food and comfort and reminds him that his service has not been forgotten.
Mrs Regina Gablela, 91, is the widow of Pte Sinmiyane Gablela who died in 2022. She lives in a rural area of Eswatini with her grandchildren. Pte Sinmiyane Gablela served in the SDF (Swaziland Defence Force) from 1940 – 1946, loading and unloading stores and ammunition from transport trucks. After service, he returned home and became a farmer.
Regina uses the welfare grant to purchase food; without it she would have insufficient food to eat. “The grant means I can buy better food and eat more often. I am very grateful.” 
Franseco Alexander Samuels, 88, enlisted in the Jamaica Regiment in 1956.  When Jamaica gained Independence in 1961, Franseco continued his military service in the Jamaica Defence Force where he served in many units until retiring as a Corporal after 26 years of service. 
Franseco was diagnosed with glaucoma in 2015 and later completely lost his sight. Despite his current living conditions being less than satisfactory he is well cared for and happy. 
Sammy, as he is affectionately called is deeply grateful for the assistance he receives from RCEL.
Keberi Kirigwajjo, aged 104, from Uganda served with the East African Army Engineering Corps (EAEC), with his service primarily based in Kenya and Somaliland. He enlisted in July 1942 and was honourably discharged in 1946.
Following the Second World War, he and his wife were blessed with 12 children. After his military service, CPL Kirigwajjo held various positions, including roles at British American Tobacco, the Uganda Court, and as a supervisor at the Busoga Growers Union.
He expresses his sincere gratitude to RCEL for the grants he receives, which have enabled him to improve his diet with more nutritious food.
Mrs Nakaima Mudondo, aged 83 from Uganda, is a farmer and the widow of Mr Erukan Teanywa, who died in 1985.
Mr Teanywa served in the East African Military Labour Service. Mrs Mudondo lives with her grandchildren and continues to work the land to support their livelihood. In addition to enabling her to purchase food, the grant enables her to invest in crops to grow more food to help sustain her household. 
She expressed heartfelt appreciation for the support she receives. “I feel the need to thank you again for all your help and kindness. May the Lord bless you abundantly.”
Mr Gunawardhana is a proud World War II veteran who served under the British Forces as a member of the Royal Engineers during operations in Malaysia. Now 100 years old, he lives in Nugegoda, a suburban area near Colombo, Sri Lanka. After completing his wartime service, Mr. Gunawardhana remained active in military-affiliated circles and later joined the Sri Lanka Army Engineers Association, further contributing to the post-war rebuilding and welfare of service personnel.  He is a father of four—three daughters and one son—who remain close and supportive in his elder years.  The grant Mr. Gunawardhana receives is vital in supporting his health and wellbeing. The grant is primarily used to buy nutritional food, crucial to sustaining his health and comfort.
Mrs Perera is the widow of the late Private A. A. Jayathilake, who served under the British Forces during World War II as a member of the Ceylon Light Infantry. She is now 90 years old and resides in Sevagama, Polonnaruwa - a sacred and historically significant region in Sri Lanka. 
Mrs Perera has four children and lives with one of her daughters who is her full-time caregiver. Her other children also assist her as needed to ensure her wellbeing. 
The grant she receives significantly aids her health, providing a healthy diet and allowing her to live in dignity and comfort while receiving the essential care she needs.
 
RCEL - Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League - Registered Charity No. 1174874 - Haig House, 199 Borough High Street, London SE1 1AA, United Kingdom - Telephone +44 (0)20 3207 2413

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