WITH reference to D H Aspen's letter about veterans' badges (LET, June 16).

While it is only right and fair to distribute the badge to WWI and WWII veterans first, the new five-year qualifying criteria for those leaving HM Forces after 2005 seems a complete nonsense.

Indeed, an ex-member of HM Forces is still a veteran no matter how long one served.

I guess it would make more sense to increase the volume for eligibility in five-year time scales from 1945 onwards as soon as possible.

Moreover, it is a travesty to ignore many aged veterans who served crown and country in conflicts long ago -- with the Veterans Agency 'passing the buck' on instructions from their masters, by glibly announcing that they will extend eligibility at a later date, which has yet to be decided.

This, I regret, will be too late -- sadly -- for many 'old sweats.'

The whole idea of a Veterans' Badge was excellent, but it seems to have been bogged down with the usual bureaucracy.

Well -- what's new!

JOHN HUNT, Ex-Radar Section, Suez Canal Zone, Middle East Air Force.