AN ALVECHURCH man who served in the Merchant Navy during the Second World War is one of the first to receive a special Veterans Badge.

It was the Federation of Merchant Mariners, formed in 2004, that campaigned for the emblems, which have only recently been manufactured.

Charles Drinkwater, 80, of Hinton Avenue, was a steward in the Merchant Navy from 1943-48.

Civilians on the ships played a vital role ferrying food back and forth across the Atlantic or manning tankers to refuel fighting vessels in mid-ocean.

Mr Drinkwater said: "I was very lucky, the vessels I served on never suffered a direct hit but things were pretty difficult at times."

At 17, he was too young to join the Royal Navy and got bored with his job at home making ammunition boxes, so elected for excitement on the high seas.

Mr Drinkwater, who has three children and six grandchildren, did not get back aboard a ship until his 50th wedding anniversary, when he went on a cruise around Portugal and Spain.

"The stewards on board had it a bit easier than us." he said.

Any former merchant seamen who would like to receive the special badge should apply to the Merchant Mariners, 16 Glebe Road, Brampton, Huntington, PE28 4PH.