Monitoring & Evaluation Visits – 2024
RCEL HQ staff conduct several Monitoring and Evaluation visits to various commonwealth countries each year
to ensure we meet our FCDO contractual requirements as set out in the AGA.
Secretary General Major David Thompson
LESOTHO 8-12 September 2024
Since the last visit to Lesotho in 2022, there has been a key personnel change following the sad death of Lt Col Jurie vd Merwe in November 2022. Jurie’s son-in-law, Hano Du Toit, having worked in tandem with Jurie since 2020, has stepped in to provide oversight and support to the APC (African Pioneer Corps) and we are grateful to Hano for his valuable assistance.
A key objective of this visit was to discuss reducing operational costs in Lesotho considering the declining number of beneficiaries. At the time of the visit, there were 6 veterans and 5 widows remaining.
Whilst in Lesotho, David travelled to Maseru to meet with two key APC staff members, Julia Puseletso Maratholi and Calwick Tsehlana. The group then met with the British High Commissioner at the Lesotho Ministry of Defence. Two WW2 veterans, Sergeant Mokhejane Khalie and Corporal Thabo Lekena joined the meeting. Both served in Egypt and Syria during WW2, one of them also in Italy and the other Palestine. Both held logistical roles; Sgt Khalie was an armourer and Cpl Lekana a munitions and weapons guard. At ages 103 and 98, both are physically frail but in otherwise good health. Both extend their thanks for the welfare grants they receive.
The MOD team outlined their commitment to the welfare of veterans, which include quarterly visits to the veterans’ homes. The MOD work closely with the APC and reiterated its thanks to RCEL for the help provided to veterans in Lesotho. The High Commissioner took a keen interest in the veterans and in the support provided by RCEL. To mark the Bicentenary of the founding of the Basotho nation of Lesotho in 1824, the High Commissioner expressed his desire to meet the remaining pre-independence veterans to thank them for their service. The APC agreed to assist with this.
David spent time during his visit reviewing the beneficiary payment process and governance systems, which were all in order. This was a productive visit and enabled RCEL to start the process of reducing operational costs moving forward, with a plan in place from April 2025.
Sergeant Mokhejane Khalie and Corporal Thabo Lekena
Front Row: Left – Brig Mohobo, Right – Lt Col Linale
Back Row: Left – Hano Du Toit, 3rd Left – BHC,
4th Left Acting Principal Secretary MOD
Secretary General Major David Thompson
SOUTH AFRICA 12-15 September 2024
The last visit to South Africa was conducted by the previous Secretary General, Lt Col Chris Warren OBE in April 2022. The South African Legion National Headquarters (NHQ) has been reliant on RCEL funding to meet a proportion of its administrative and operational costs for some years. However, with just 13 SCOWP beneficiaries remaining (correct at the time of this visit), a key objective of the visit was to discuss reducing the RCEL administrative contribution. The majority of the 42 non-SCOWP cases in South Africa have been handed back to either the Royal Navy Benevolent Trust (RNBT) or the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund (RAFBF), further reducing the RCEL administrative requirement.
David Thompson’s visit was timed to coincide with the SA Legion Conference attended by regional and branch delegates. David delivered a presentation to the delegates covering a brief history of RCEL, current structure, success of the FCDO programme to date and future options for RCEL beyond 2027.
The SA Legion Cape Town Branch Chair briefed delegates on the proposed move of the SA Legion HQ from Johannesberg to Cape Town later in the year. The proposed move had been considered for some time and will result in considerable savings to the SA Legion budget.
David met with the Consul General, Mr Colin Leeman, and updated him on RCEL’s work. David also met with met with the National Treasurer and General Secretary of the SA Legion to review beneficiary records and processes for grant receipt and disbursement to beneficiary bank accounts. Currently the SA Legion disburse quarterly payments, and it was suggested they should disburse the grants 6-monthly in line with disbursement from the UK, thus reducing bank charges and additional administrative time.
To close the SA Legion Conference, a short Remembrance Service was held on the Sunday morning at which David laid a wreath on behalf of RCEL. After the service, David had the opportunity to meet with some beneficiaries, including Jean Groombridge, who is 87. Jean was married to Harry, an RAF Spitfire Pilot during WW2. After the war, he worked initially for Ethiopian Airlines, heading their London office, before a job with the South African Air Force which necessitated a move to South Africa in 1973. Jean and Harry married in 1967, and they have one son who accompanied Jean for this visit. Due to poor health, Jean lives in a care home where she receives excellent care. The grant she receives from the RAFBF helps towards the care home fees.
David also met Nigel Hawkin, aged 81. (Pictured). Nigel 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. Nigel is widowed and has two adult daughters, one of whom is in the UK and the other who lives close to him in Cape Town.
This was a well-timed visit to the SA Legion. The organisation is run effectively with good governance, systems and beneficiary records. A plan is in place to reduce operational costs, including the relocation of the HQ to Cape Town which has now been completed.
Secretary General with Office Holders and Regional Representatives of SA Legion. Front Row: 3rd Left – Brian Smith, Outgoing National
President; 4th Left – Mark Louw, New National President; Right – Ray Knesset
Nigel Hawkin
Programme Manager
ZAMBIA 1-5 October 2024
The last visit to Zambia was October 2022. Since then, Zambia has experienced its worst drought on record, leading to detrimental effects on essential infrastructure, including electricity, with 84% of the country’s power provided by hydro energy. During this visit there were just two hours of electricity supplied per day.
At the time of visiting, Zambia had 32 beneficiaries – 31 widows and 1 veteran. RCEL works closely with the Zambia Poppy Appeal Committee, (ZPAC), chaired by Captain Geoff Thomas. He and his team are the day-to-day contact, and they collaborate with the Ex-Serviceman's League of Zambia (EXSELZA) to liaise with surviving veterans and widows, ensuring they receive their grants and manage all necessary reports and paperwork.
Programme Manager, Dean Burditt, spent time with Geoff and fellow ZPAC member, Grace Mwale during his visit. Both have full time jobs and busy lives. However, their commitment to RCEL and their compassion for those beneficiaries in Zambia was very apparent. Dean spent time checking paperwork and beneficiary files etc and attended a ZPAC meeting.
Dean also attended a meeting with members of EXSLEZA and ZPAC - Chairperson Brigadier General Joyce Puta, Deputy Chair Colonel Kungune, Geoff Thomas, Evelyn Kaenga Mwenso and the Zambia Director of Veterans, Colonel Mwamba, where they spoke about the challenges in Zambia and the ongoing support of the 32 beneficiaries in country.
Whilst in Zambia, Dean visited the British High Commission and met the Acting High Commissioner (AHC), Sam Waldock and the Defence attaché, Lt Col Ali Kearns RM. The AHC was keen to understand the history and the impact of RCEL and emphasised its support of our ongoing work.
Dean met with seven Lusaka based widows during his visit, all living in their own homes. These included Emah Phiri, pictured with Dean and Dali Lunga, pictured with her daughter. Most were struggling with failing health and mobility but were delighted to see Dean and Grace and expressed their gratitude for the welfare grants they receive. One told Dean that the grant enables her to treat herself to her favourite food – peanut butter!
A productive visit which reinforced the great work Geoff, Grace and ZPAC are doing to support the surviving widows and veteran in Zambia.
Left to Right - Capt Geoff Thomas, Colonel Mumba, Director veterans, Evelyn Kaenga Mwenso,
Capt Dean Burditt, Brig Gen Joyce Puta, Chairperson and Col Kungune Vice Chairperson.
Emah Phiri and Dean Burditt outside her house
Dali Lunga with her daughter Ruth in their home
Controller Welfare & Grants
MALAWI 17-23 November 2024
An important visit to finalise the appointment of VELOM as the Member Organisation for Malawi, following the retirement of RCEL’s long-serving Honorary Adviser, Denis Lewis who for the past 16 years has provided RCEL with independent in-county oversight of the KAVT. The urgency of handover was confirmed when sadly, KAVT Chairman General (Ret’d) Buxton Namwali died in July 2024 leaving the KAVT without leadership and no candidate to fulfil the role.
Since its creation in 2017 from its predecessor Commonwealth Ex-Services League of Malawi, VELOM is Malawi’s only official organisation for all veterans and ex-service members. Following due diligence and other compliance checks, VELOM took over the role of Member Organisation effective October 2024 and received the 2024 Part 2 Welfare Grants for disbursement.
Controller Welfare & Grants, Tim Burt, met with the VELOM Executive at their office within Malawi Defence Force HQ - the first in-person meeting between RCEL staff and VELOM. Further productive meetings were held with VELOM and KAVT to ensure the smooth transition continued.
Whilst in Malawi, Tim visited the British High Commission in Lilongwe and met with Donal Ahern, Political Secretary. Donal was keen to learn of RCEL’s work and our beneficiaries in Malawi. After much planning, VELOM, with KAVT assistance, made arrangements for welfare grant payments to beneficiaries at the Zomba Memorial Homes. At the same time as collecting their cash grant, beneficiaries opened bank accounts for future payment of their grant by bank transfer. More accounts will be opened over the coming months with the aim that by end 2025 all Malawi beneficiary grants will be paid by bank transfer.
This was another successful visit to Malawi, and all aims of the visit were achieved, in particular the handover of MO responsibilities and duties from KAVT to VELOM. RCEL will continue to assist VELOM with the transition including the completion of governance and reporting tasks, beneficiary administration and making grant payments via bank transfer.
Veterans and Ex-Service League of Malawi (VELOM) - National and regional executives
Front row, second left - General (Ret’d) Henry Odillo, Middle, Tim Burt, Middle row,
first left, Colonel (Ret’d) Kelton Keleke.
Veterans and widows waiting to receive their grants
Controller Finance
PAKISTAN 5 - 11 January 2025
Pakistan remains the country with the largest cohort of beneficiaries. The last visit was in 2022 when it was only deemed safe to travel to Karachi. On this visit, Controller Finance, Pasan was able to travel to Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Chakwal, enabling him to meet with veterans as well as widows.
Pakistan has two Member Organisations, CEST (The Commonwealth Ex-Services Trust) and PASB (Pakistan Armed Services Board). CEST is responsible for distributing RCEL funds in Pakistan and is managed by a Board of five honorary Trustees, all of whom are senior retired members of the Pakistan Armed Forces.
Since the last visit, the CEST office has relocated. Pasan spent time in the office and found that beneficiary records are well-maintained and in order.
Chaudhri, Brigadier Ayaz Peer Mohammed, Colonel Pasan Kularatne (RCEL) and Air Cdre Khayyam Durrani Whilst in Pakistan, Pasan met with the British Deputy High Commissioner, Sarah Mooney, in Karachi, who expressed her support for CEST and RCEL. He also met with the PASB in Rawalpindi, the federal body responsible for overseeing policy and veteran welfare across the country. PASB emphasised its commitment to remain part of RCEL.
Pasan visited the Karachi War Cemetery, located a few miles from the city centre. CEST organises the annual service of Remembrance and Reconciliation, which takes place at the cemetery each year.
At the time of this visit, there were 21 eligible veterans and 701 widows. Pasan met with 8 veterans and 12 widows. Some of these visits took place at the PASB office and for the remainder, Pasan travelled to Chakwal to visit veterans and widows in their own village. Thousands of soldiers were recruited from Chakwal, a district in Punjab, during WW1 and WW2. Many men from the district served in the British Indian Army in key battles across Africa, Europe and Asia.
During his time in Pakistan, Pasan met with widow Gahar Bano, 80. Her late husband, Ali Sher, enlisted with the British Indian Army in 1941. Following the partition of India, he continued his service in the Pakistan Army until 1959.
While Gahar Bano does not recall any details about her husband’s service in the British Indian Army, she holds cherished memories of his time in the Pakistan Army. He died in 1979 and Gahar lives with her son in Karachi. The financial aid provided by RCEL makes a significant difference to her life, enabling her to buy essential food for healthy meals. She expressed her heartfelt thanks.
Pasan also met 95-year-old Ahmed Khan, who joined the armed forces at the remarkably young age of 14, enlisting in 1944 and dedicating nearly 17 years of his life to military service before retiring in 1961. His military journey took him across several key regions, including New Delhi, Rangoon (Burma), Chittagong, Dhaka, and Rawalpindi. These postings placed him at the heart of critical movements during and after the Second World War.
Sepoy Ahmed Khan has one son and three daughters, and lives in his ancestral village with his family. Now struggling with kidney issues and blindness, the welfare grant he receives provides much needed essential food.
This was a productive and timely visit, highlighting the effectiveness of CEST in ensuring veterans and widows receive their grants in a timely manner and are treated with great compassion.
Left to right: CEST Board members, Cdre Ejaz Rasool Chaudhri, Brigadier Ayaz Peer Mohammed, Colonel Pasan Kularatne (RCEL) and Air Cdre Khayyam Durrani
Pasan pictured with CEST Chairman, Cdre Ejaz and the Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi, Sarah Mooney.
Gahar Bano
Sepoy Ahmed Khan
Controller Finance
BANGLADESH 12-16 January 2025
This was the first comprehensive visit to Bangladesh for some years after the most recent trip by Controller Welfare in 2022 was cut short due to weather related travel delays.
At the time of visiting, there were 5 veterans and 117 widows in receipt of RCEL grants. The Member Organisation is BASB (Bangladesh Armed Services Board), a government body under the Ministry of Defence, responsible for the welfare of retired and serving military personnel in Bangladesh. Controller Finance, Pasan Kularatne, was accompanied throughout his visit to Bangladesh by Major Mashuk, Secretary of BASB.
The first scheduled meeting was with the PSO of the Armed Forces Division, Lieutenant General
S. M. Kamrul Hassan. General Kamrul expressed his gratitude for the support provided by the UK for pre-independence veterans. Pasan later met with the Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Md Ashraf Uddin, under whose remit BASB operates. It provided a good opportunity to update Md Uddin on RCEL’s work and to express RCEL’s gratitude to BASB of its assistance in delivering welfare grants to veterans and widows in Bangladesh.
After further meetings with BASB and a review of beneficiary records and paperwork, Pasan had the opportunity to meet with some widows.
These included Malekun Nesa, 85 whose husband Sergeant Ramiz Uddin Ahmed was enrolled in the British Indian Air Force in 1944 and served until 1968. Malekun Nesa is in poor health and her family faces significant financial hardship. The welfare grant she receives is a literal lifeline, without which she would have insufficient to eat.
Following a meeting with Her Excellency Sarah Cooke (pictured), the British High Commissioner, Pasan visited the District Armed Services Board (DASB) in Chattogram, where he met with five widows. He then travelled to a remote village to visit veteran Ahmed Nazir, aged 101. Ahmed Nazir enlisted in the British Indian Army Medical Corps in 1945 and served in Kolkata, Madras, Jerusalem, Baghdad, Palestine, Egypt and Syria. As a cook, he played an important role preparing meals for the troops. He retired in 1947. Ahmed Nazir has 3 sons, 2 daughters and 18 grandchildren. Widowed and in deteriorating health, he relies on help from his family.
Towards the end of his visit, Pasan made the journey to Mymensingh where he spent time at the DASB office reviewing records and met with two veterans and widows. This was a busy visit with a comprehensive itinerary and comprised many valuable meetings. BASB is a well-run, competent Member Organisation, effectively and efficiently administering grants for veterans and widows in Bangladesh.
With Senior Secretary, Bangladesh MoD Mr Md Ashraf Uddin
Malekun Nesa
Her Excellency Sarah Cooke
Veteran Ahmed Nazir with his son
Caribbean Project Officer
GUYANA 12-14 January 2025
Guyana has the largest number of beneficiaries in the Caribbean – 28 at the time of this visit. Following some complications with the constitution of the Member Organisation, The Guyana Veterans League (GVL), elections for the Executive Committee were held in January 2025.
The key objectives of this visit were to ensure that following the elections, RCEL was dealing with the appropriate entity, that the entity was properly constituted, and to assist with the work needed to facilitate delivery of financial assistance in a timely manner. All these objectives were successfully achieved.
Following meetings between the Caribbean Project Officer, Johanna Lewin, and representatives of the GVL, some amendments to the Constitution were recommended to clarify key roles within the organisation. Emphasis was placed on the need for timely and accurate reporting and guidance provided on how best to achieve this objective.
Assistance was also provided to complete proof of life documentation for existing beneficiaries and verification documentation for new applicants.
Whilst in Guyana, Johanna met with the British High Commissioner, Her Excellency Jane Miller. The High Commissioner was briefed on the work of the RCEL, and she extended her thanks for the work undertaken to support beneficiaries in Guyana.
Johanna also met with several beneficiaries during the visit including Herman Harris, pictured during his service.
Johanna Lewin with the British High Commissioner, Her Excellency Jane Miller.
Herman Harris
Caribbean Project OfficerST LUCIA 15-18 January 2025
With only four beneficiaries (correct at the time of this visit), the key objectives were to put plans in place to reduce the administrative costs and have a more robust contingency plan for replacing Earl Francis. The latter proved to be timely as Earl sadly died just a few weeks after this visit.
WW2 Veteran Corporal Reginald Cherebin with Norva Frazer and the late Earl Francis RCEL pays tribute to Earl who worked tirelessly for decades to assist and provide for the veterans, widows and other family members in St. Lucia. He will be missed.
Simone Bradford is now working alongside Kenroy Justin, both in a voluntary capacity, to distribute grants to the remaining beneficiaries in St Lucia. Simone is the daughter of WWII veteran, Haynes Cyril and has brought a great deal of energy to the table. Both will undertake all proof of life checks and complete the necessary reports moving forward.
Whilst in St Lucia, Johanna, alongside Norva Frazer - Welfare Officer for the Jamaica Legion – visited all four surviving beneficiaries. These included Reginald Cherebin, age 100. Following a fall last year, Reginald is bedridden. Despite this, he remains in good spirit and extends his thanks for the welfare aid he receives.
WW2 Veteran Corporal Reginald Cherebin with Norva Frazer and the late Earl Francis
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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