A FORMER RAF serviceman who fought for more than half a century to get a medal recognising the military campaign at Suez has written a book about his quest.
In it, John Hunt, 72, of Carr Field, Clayton Brook, chronicles the fight to get medals for 60,000 Suez veterans following a Government decision not to award them General Service Medals.
Their fight led to a Government investigation and last year Prime Minister Tony Blair said medals would be awarded to all those who fought at the Suez Canal between 1951-54.
Mr Hunt was finally given his medal in November and decided to write a book to draw a line under the campaign.
"I was clearing out all the paperwork I had collated for the campaign to get recognition for our efforts in Suez and I thought it would be a shame to throw it all away," he said.
"I think that it is important to have this down for historical purposes and so that future generations can know what it was like."
British servicemen were sent to defend the Suez when Egypt threatened to take control of the canal.
Fifty four servicemen were killed, with a further 133 dying from either disease, suicide or accidents.
It was originally decided that service personnel who fought at Suez should not be rewarded, but a long running campaign by veterans and MPs brought the reversal last year.
Mr Hunt described the conditions in Suez as a 'living hell' as the servicemen battled against desert conditions and the threat of terrorism.
"The fight for the medals was for the lads who lost their lives out there. It's a shame that some have died since and never got their medal," he said.
He has paid to have 50 copies of his book, In My View, Suez: The Hidden Truths, printed privately and is hoping to sell them to Suez vets. If it is successful he will consider getting it published.
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