Civilians - War Veterans Allowance Program

This policy replaces the following policy: Civilians – War Veterans Allowance Program – May 18, 2012.

Purpose

This policy provides guidance on determining if an individual, other than a civilian merchant seaman, served as a member of a recognized civilian group and, therefore, satisfies the war service requirements for the War Veterans Allowance (WVA) Program.

Please refer to the policy entitled Civilian Merchant Seaman – War Veterans Allowance Program for this group’s war service eligibility requirements.

Policy

1. Section 57 of the Civilian War-related Benefits Act (CWB Act) authorizes certain civilian groups to have entitlement to benefits under the War Veterans Allowance Act.
2. Section 56 of the CWB Act defines the civilian groups who may receive WVA. A civilian must satisfy one of the following definitions, as well as other eligibility criteria defined under the WVA Act.

Corps of (Civilian) Canadian Fire Fighters World War II

3. The Corps of (Civilian) Canadian Fire Fighters assisted the National Fire Service in the United Kingdom to combat World War II enemy air raid and bombing fires.  Members of the Corps served for the duration of the war, with the first group dispatched to the United Kingdom in December 1942.
4. Records indicate that about 408 members served in this capacity and are eligible to receive the Defence of Britain and the World War II War Medals.
5. A person must have been a member of the Corps of (Civilian) Canadian Fire Fighters for Service in the United Kingdom and served during World War II in a theatre of actual war.
6. Confirmation of service for this group is available from:
   
   Library and Archives Canada
   395 Wellington Street
   Ottawa, ON   K1A 0N4
   Canada

Overseas Welfare Workers World War II

7. This group served outside Canada under the auspices of the Canadian Red Cross Society or the St. John's Ambulance Brigade of Canada in various capacities. Most served in the United Kingdom while others served in the Mediterranean Theatre and Belgium.
8. Staff members signed a contract in 1942-43 for the duration of the war and as long as needed after that. In 1944-45, contracts were for a minimum of one year. There were 641 members of the Canadian Red Cross Society and 220 members of the St. John's Ambulance Brigade who left Canada for overseas service
9. For World War II, these persons may be recognized if they served in a theatre of actual war:
   1. as a welfare worker, nursing aid, ambulance or transport driver, member of Overseas Headquarters Staff, or in any other capacity; or
   2. as an orthopaedic nurse with the Scottish Ministry of Health, or
   3. as an orthopaedic surgeon with the Scottish Ministry of Health.

Overseas Welfare Workers Korean War

10. During the Korean War individuals served in a capacity similar to the Overseas Welfare Workers of World War II as described in paragraph 9.
11. Historical records indicate that a total of 56 members of the Canadian Red Cross left Canada to serve during the Korean War. Of these, 31 served in Japan and Korea.  Further, 25 served in Japan, but not in Korea itself. There were two cases of medical repatriation. Order in Council P.C. 22/3432 dated June 30, 1952, provided compensation for disability or death arising from service in Japan or Korea.
12. Confirmation of service for this group is available from:
    
    Canadian Red Cross Society              
    Human Resources Department                          
    Suite 300 - 170 Metcalfe                                  
    Ottawa, ON     K2P 2P2                                     
    Telephone: (613)740-1900
    Fax: (613) 740-1911
    
    or
    
    St. John Ambulance Association
    312 Laurier Avenue East
    Ottawa, ON     K1N 6P6
    Telephone: (613) 236-7461

Ferry Command

13. These individuals served during World War II with Number 45 Wing of the Royal Air Force Transport Command, Number 45 Group of the Royal Air Force Ferry Command, or the Atlantic Ferrying Organization (ATFERO) as an Air Crew member.
14. The ATFERO, a British Crown Company, organized in 1940, employed civilians to fly bombers and other aircraft across the Atlantic. In 1941, Ferry Command took over the ATFERO with a number of Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Air Force (RAF) personnel and civilians attached to it. Ferry Command retained and continued to recruit civilian flyers.
15. A further change took place in 1943 when the organization became known as the 45 Group of the RAF. Records indicate that there were 269 survivors at the end of hostilities, with a very high number killed during service.
16. Such individuals are considered to satisfy the war service requirements of the CWB Act, if they:
    1. were employed by the Air Ministry of the United Kingdom during World War II;
    2. were domiciled in Canada or Newfoundland at the commencement of that employment; and
    3. served in a theatre of actual war.
17. Individuals may also be eligible per section 2.1 of the CWB Act, if they served in a theatre of actual war as ground crew in support of the Canadian Transatlantic Air Crew.
18. Confirmation of service for this group is available from:
    
    Ministry of Defence
    RAF WWII Transport Command Records
    Bourne Avenue
    Hayes, Middlesex UB3 1RS
    ENGLAND

Newfoundland Overseas Forestry Unit World War II

19. These individuals served in the United Kingdom with the Newfoundland Overseas Forestry Unit during World War II. This group cut the pit props in connection with coal production in the United Kingdom, which was acknowledged as an activity vital to the war economy. Contracts made during the early months of the war were for six months only, while subsequent contracts were for the duration and required each person to agree not to transfer to the Armed Forces. Records indicate that 3,680 members went overseas.
20. Such individuals are considered to satisfy the war service requirements of the CWB Act, if they served:
    1. as a member of the Newfoundland Overseas Forestry Unit; and
    2. in a theatre of actual war during World War II.
21. Confirmation of service for this group is available from:
    
    Department of Veterans Affairs
    P.O. Box 5068
    5th floor, Paramount Place
    St. John's, NL     A1C 5V4

Disability Pension Recipients

22. Persons meet the service requirement for an allowance, if they:
    1. are in receipt of a disability pension under Parts I to X of the CWB Act; or
    2. have been declared to be eligible for, or awarded, such a pension subsequent to the person's death.
23. Parts I to X of the CWB Act recognize service in the following groups for the purpose of awarding disability pension benefits:
    1. Part I, Canadian Saltwater Fishers
    2. Part II, Auxiliary Services Personnel
    3. Part II.1, Newfoundland Overseas Forestry Unit
    4. Part III, Corps of (Civilian) Canadian Fire Fighters for Service in the United Kingdom
    5. Part IV, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
    6. Part V, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Special Constables
    7. Part VI, Air Raid Precautions Workers
    8. Part VII, Injury During Remedial Treatment
    9. Part VII.1, Voluntary Aid Detachment (World War I)
    10. Part VIII, Voluntary Aid Detachment (World War II)
    11. Part IX, Overseas Welfare Workers (World War II and Korean War)
    12. Part X, Ferry Command

Prohibition

24. Any person who is receiving an allowance under the War Veterans Allowance Act as a veteran is prohibited from receiving an allowance under the Civilian War-related Benefits Act, Part XI.
25. Any person who served in enemy forces, in an enemy ship or in any war services' groups associated with forces of the enemy, may not be granted eligibility under this legislation.

References

Civilian War-related Benefits Act, sections 2.1, 56 and 57

War Veterans Allowance Act