1947 — India
Pakistan (withdrew 1972)
1948 — Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
1957 — Ghana
Federation of Malaya (became Malaysia in 1963)
1960 — Nigeria
1961 — Cyprus
Sierra Leone
Tanganyika (now Tanzania)
1962 — Jamaica
Trinidad and Tobago
Uganda
1963 — Zanzibar (now Tanzania)
Kenya
1964 — Malawi
Malta
Zambia
1965 — Gambia
Singapore (on secession from Malaya)
1966 — Guyana
Botswana
Lesotho
Barbados
1968 — Mauritius
Swaziland
Nauru
1970 — Tonga
Western Samoa
Fiji
1972 — Bangladesh
1973 — Bahamas
Members of the forces of the following countries are eligible for consideration for service pension. An asterisk bracketed beside some of the countries denotes that restrictions apply. Refer to the corresponding alphabetical listing below for eligibility restrictions and more information on that country.
3 September 1939 to 21 June 1940
9 November 1942 to 8 May 1945
Between 22 June 1940 and 8 November 1942 Algerian Forces formed part of the Vichy French Forces. Members of the Algerian Forces who served during this period do not, therefore, qualify as members of the Forces of an allied country not withstanding that they may have also served during a period when Algeria was considered to be an Allied Force.
8 September 1944 to 8 May 1945
Bulgaria formed part of the Axis Forces until 7 September 1944 when it declared war on Germany after signing an armistice with Russia. Bulgarian Forces then came under Soviet Command and took an active role in the defeat of German Forces in Yugoslavia, Hungary and Austria. Bulgaria also signed an armistice with the other allies on 28 October 1944.
8 December 1941 to 2 September 1945
Although China and Japan were at war from 1937 onwards, eligibility can only be conceded to troops of both Mao Tse-tung and Chiang Kai-shek after the declaration of war on Japan by the USA and Australia on 8 December 1941.
31 January 1942 - 8 May 1945
Ethiopia began the war as an annexed state of Italy. Successful British campaigns in East Africa in 1940 -1941 resulted in the withdrawal of Italy from this region and an Agreement and Military Convention between the United Kingdom and Ethiopia was signed on 31 January 1942, in which Ethiopia agreed to support the British forces against the common enemy, Italy.
Ethiopia continued to support the Allies until the end of the war.
16 September 1944 to 8 May 1945
Following the German invasion of Russia on 22 June 1941, the Finnish Parliament declared, on 25 June 1941, that a state of war also existed between Finland and the USSR. Britain declared war on Finland on 6 December of that year.
The USSR-Finnish armistice was signed on 19 September 1944. A state of war existed between Finland and Germany from 16 September 1944.
Service with the Vichy French 'Armistice Army' from 22 June 1940 to 10 November 1942 to be excluded as service with the enemy.
20 January 1945 to 8 May 1945
Hungary adhered to the German-Italian-Japanese Tripartite Pact and supplied troops for Germany to equip. Hungary signed an armistice with the Allies on 20 January 1945, but Soviet Forces did not clear Hungary of Germans until 4 April 1945.
13 October 1943 to 2 May 1945
The Italian armistice with the Allies was announced on 8 September 1943. The Government, however, did not declare war on Germany until 13 October 1943. Thus, the conditions of subsection 5C(1) of the VEA which defines the term "allied country" were not satisfied until 13 October 1943. From that date, the Italian defence forces were fighting with the Allies against the German forces. Meanwhile, the Garibaldi Brigades were engaged in fighting against the German forces in the northern part of Italy. Following an agreement between the Italian government and the Committee of National Liberation for Northern Italy (C.L.N.A.I.) on 26 December 1944, the Garibaldi Brigades formally commenced service in the Italian defence forces. From that date i.e. 26 December 1944, the Garibaldi Brigades became a defence force established by an allied country within the meaning of subsection 5C(1) [5] of the VEA. Individual units/divisions of the Garibaldi Brigades are listed in Section 3 Units/Divisions of the Garibaldi Brigades. The German forces in Italy surrendered unconditionally on 2 May 1945.
22 June 1941 to 8 May 1945
8 August 1945 to 14 August 1945
The German offensive against the USSR began on 22 June 1941 and on the same day Churchill welcomed the Soviet Union as a comrade in war. A formal agreement between the British and Soviet Governments was concluded on 12 July 1941.
Only service with the following Forces between the dates indicated:
Country |
Declaration Against |
Date |
Bolivia |
Axis |
7 April 1943 |
Equador |
Germany, Japan |
2 February 1945 |
Iraq |
Axis |
16 January 1943 |
Mongolia |
Japan |
13 August 1945 |
Paraguay |
Axis |
8 February 1945 |
Persia (Iran) |
Germany Japan |
9 September 1943 1 March 1945 |
Peru |
Germany, Japan |
13 February 1945 |
Saudi Arabia |
Germany, Japan |
1 March 1945 |
See:
The following countries were neutral countries during World War II:
Due to the invasion of their countries by the enemy in World War 11, certain allied countries had governments-in-exile. This occurred when the government existing prior to invastion excapted to London (or an allied country) and subsequently directed the “free” forces while in exile and in consultation with the Allied High Command. Countries which had governments-in-exile were:
Belgiumheaded by Monsieur Pierlot and based in London. Forces fought under British Command;
Czechoslovakiaheaded by President Benes and based in London. Several Czech Air Force squadrons fought under British Command. Many Czechs also enlisted in the Soviet Army during 1944 and it appears many were kept in their national groups, eg Czechoslovak Airborn Brigade, while others were simpley members of the Soviet Army;
Franceheaded by General de Gaulie who set up the Free French Movement in London in 1940. This was Merged with General Henri Firand's North Africa (Algiers) Administration in June 1943 to form the French Committee of National Liberation;
Greecebased in Cairo and headed by King George. Greek Forces fought with allies in North Africa;
Netherlandsheaded by Queen Whilhelmina and based in Lond. The Government was presided over by D.J. de Greer, who controlled the Forces of the Dutch Navy and the Forces in the Dutch Colonies of the East and West Indies.
Polandheaded by General Sikorski until his death in June 1943, and then by Mikolajezyk. The Polish Forces were based firstly in Paris, (under French Command) and then when France fell, in London where they fought under British Command. A Polish Army was also formed among the Poles in Russia and fought against Germany under Russian Command.
Yugoslavia — The Royal Yugoslav Armed Forces in Africa and in other places outside Yugoslavia as part of an Allied Force during World War II.
During any period there was a government in exile in respect of an allied country, the forces of that allied country are regarded as the regular naval, military or airforces (including the women's branch, an the nursing of auxiliary services of such forces).
Following the German invasion and occupation of Poland in September - October 1939, a Polish Government-in-Exile was formed. This government commanded the loyalty of surviving Polish military units, and later raised additional forces. The Polish Forces were based firstly in Paris, and then when France fell, in London (under overall British command). Polish troops loyal to the Government-in-Exile (including the so-called Anders Army) fought in the Middle East, the Mediterranean and Europe. The Polish forces in western Europe also included significant Air Force and Naval contingents. Members of the Polish forces who fought under Allied command are allied veterans for the purposes of the VEA.
The Polish Home Army (Armia Krajowa) was a force loyal to the Polish Government-in-Exile which remained within Poland. Although the Home Army's activities were initially confined to sabotage and intelligence gathering, it did stage a major uprising (Operation Tempest), focusing on Warsaw, from 1 August - 2 October 1944. Former Home Army members who can demonstrate that they participated in Operation Tempest are to be considered allied veterans and to have rendered qualifying service. Other claims in respect of service with the Home Army should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Polish units were also raised by the Soviet Red Army. These forces (which included the so-called Berling Army) were known collectively as the Polish People's Army or Polish People's Forces (Ludowe Wojsko Polskie). The Polish People's Army should not be confused with the irregular Polish Communist Gwardia Ludowa (People's Guard) and Armia Ludowa (People's Army) forces, members of which are NOT allied veterans for the purposes of the VEA (see Section 8 of this Library).
Units of the Polish People's Army were distributed among the Red Army's system of 'Fronts' and took part in the Soviet offensives across Poland and into Germany in 1944-45. They were at all times closely integrated with Soviet forces and did not act independently of the Soviet chain of command. Therefore, the Polish People's Army is to be considered part of the defence force of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), which was an ally of Australia from 22 June 1941 until the cessation of hostilities (this date being 8 May 1945 for the European theatre). Accordingly, members of the Polish People's Army are to be considered Soviet, and therefore allied, veterans for the purposes of the VEA.
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