Ref. 31112-28A SUEZ veteran has been rewarded with a medal nearly 50 years after his service ended.

Ernest Goodchild, 74, served with the RAF during the canal emergency of the 1950s, but neither he nor his comrades sometimes called the Forgotten Army received the recognition at the time.

Then two months ago he learned that the Government planned to issue medals to those who served in a war that many veterans feel has been overlooked.

His partner Ann called RAF Innsworth in Gloucester to ask about the medal and on Friday, on return from their holiday, the couple found a package on their doormat. Inside was a silver medal featuring an image of an angel and the words Canal Zone.

Mr Goodchild, who finished his service in 1957, said: "I was quite surprised I had got it after all this time."

"It means quite a lot to me and I've been showing it off to lots of people."

The pensioner, who lives in Middleleaze, said that he planned to frame the medal and put it up in his living room.

The Suez Crisis erupted in 1956 when Britain decided to join France and Israel in a military intervention to attempt to prevent Egyptian leader General Abdel Nasser from nationalising the Suez Canal.