Otley war widow who lost forces pension to receive compensation

Susan Rimmer was only 19-years-old when her husband, Private Jim Lee, died while serving with the British Army in Northern Ireland in 1972.

Susan remarried in 1989 to current husband Dave Rimmer, and lost her forces widow’s pension.

The Government changed the rules in 2015 to say that anyone who remarried could retain their pension — but denied this to anyone who remarried prior to 2005.

With the help of Otley’s then-MP Greg Mulholland, Mrs Rimmer was part of a campaign to get compensation for the 400 like her who had been denied by the cut-off date.

Susan Rimmer with Greg Mulholland (Image: Newsquest)

The Government has now executed a U-turn and announced a one-off compensation payment for those affected.

Announcing the new one-off payment of £87,500, the Government said: “The application window, open later this year, will remain open for two years with support for applicants provided by the Veterans UK Call Centre, and welfare support available through the Veterans Welfare Service”.

Tory frontbench peer Lord Harlech has told Parliament that the money will be taxed.

Mrs Rimmer today said it was a huge relief. She said: “We’ve been fighting for this for so long. I actually won’t believe we’ve won until the money lands in my account.

“When we started this there were 400 people like me affected. Now there are only about 200 of them left because it’s taken so long.

“I was very young when my husband died, only 19. I’m 70 next month. There were a lot of women older than me and they’ve sadly died before they’ve seen we’ve won our battle for justice.”

Mrs Rimmer’s first husband died when the armoured car he was in was attacked with an IRA landmine, which also claimed the life of Lance Corporal Terence Graham from Middlesbrough.

The war widows protest outside Parliament in 2016 (Image: Newsquest)

Mrs Rimmer thanked Greg Mulholland and also the Telegraph & Argus' sister paper, the Wharfedale & Aireborough Observer, which had campaigned on her behalf.

In 2016 Otley's then-MP led a protest outside Parliament in the fight to get justice for war widows.

Greg Mulholland was joined by war widows from around the country, including Mrs Rimmer, and other MPs at the demonstration.

Today Mr Mulholland said: "I am delighted that the Government have finally announced they will do something to address the huge injustice faced by war widows and their families who lost their husbands who were serving their country, only to have their compensation cruelly stopped simply for finding love again later and remarrying.

“Their loss and the loss of their children is lifelong and this should always have been recognised. I am delighted for Susan and her daughter Donna-Marie that finally this wrong is being righted.

“I was pleased to work with Susan and the family and to campaign on this issue and proud we took the message to Whitehall and I also commend the Wharfedale and Airedale Observer for launching their Justice for War Widows campaign in 2016.

"The campaign is not quite over yet, however, as it is quite wrong that this payment, being made to make up for years without support, is set to be taxed and I urge the Government to think again and to ensure this long overdue compensation goes to the bereaved families who were wronged, not to the taxman."

Tory peer and president of the War Widows Association Baroness Fookes said: “While the ex-gratia payment falls short of the full restitution of a war widows’ pension which they would ideally like, it would be churlish indeed not to welcome most warmly this long overdue and most welcome payment.

“But could I ask him to take into account the great age of many of these ladies and their frail condition and the Government machine needs to get more of a move on than it usually does in these matters.

“Could I ask him to take as his motto, a cry often heard in the streets, ‘when do we want it, we want it now’.”

Tory frontbencher Lord Harlech, a serving Army reservist, who announced the payment, said: “This issue has taken a long time to consider and I would accept it has taken too long.

“In light of this week’s announcement I think the important thing is that everyone works together to ensure that those who have missed out and those entitled to the scheme get it as soon as possible.”