Veteran from UK, Neil Wigan receives British Empire Medal for service in World War II

99-year-old Neil Wigan was one of the 147 recipients of the prestigious British Empire Medal (BEM)

Neil Wigan served in British Army’s 1st Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment during World War II

Neil Wigan, 99, a veteran of the Second World War, has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for his service in the British Army’s 1st Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment.

Wigan was one of the 147 recipients of the prestigious British Empire Medal (BEM) announced in the Queen’s New Year Honours list.

Wigan enlisted in the British Army at the age of 18 and was sent to fight in the Burma Campaign, one of the bloodiest and most brutal campaigns of the Second World War.

He served with distinction with the 1st Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment, and was involved in several major battles, including the Battle of Kohima and the Battle of Imphal.

After the war, Wigan returned to the UK and worked as a carpenter. He has been a member of the Royal British Legion for many years and is an active supporter of the charity’s work.

Wigan said he was “humbled and honored” to receive the British Empire Medal. He said, "I am very grateful for this recognition, and I would like to dedicate it to all the men who served in the 1st Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment during the Second World War.”

The British Empire Medal is a British military and civil award for meritorious service. It was established in 1917 by King George V.

The medal is awarded to members of the British Armed Forces and to civilians who have performed meritorious service. The medal is usually awarded for services that are not of a sufficiently high level to warrant the award of the Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE).

The British Empire Medal is a highly respected award, and it is a great honor to receive it. Wigan is a worthy recipient of the medal, and his story is an inspiration to us all.