Veteran thrown out of Navy for being gay 'elated' by compensation announcement

  • Martyn Hammond speaks to ITV News about compensation for veterans

A man from Plymouth who arrested, detained and thrown out of the Royal Navy for being gay has welcomed a government compensation scheme - saying it's been a long time coming.

Martyn Hammond, 60, was among many service personnel who faced discrimination as a result of the ban on homosexuality in place between 1967 and 2000.

The Ministry of Defence has now confirmed veterans who were dismissed will be eligible to receive up to £70,000 in compensation.

Mr Hammond told ITV News West Country he is "chuffed" by the announcement.

"It's about time," he said. "I'm quite elated about it."

Veterans who were dismissed or discharged because of their sexual orientation or gender identity are to receive £50,000.

Personnel who were “negatively affected” by the ban during their time in the service between 1967 and 2000 will be given up to another £20,000, the ministry said.

Last year, a review found that treatment of LGBT personnel and veterans in the Armed Forces was 'completely unacceptable' and 'highly regrettable'.

"We've lost quite a lot not just in wages but in dignity and liberty and so forth," Mr Hammond said.

He said a huge amount of stress and shame was put on people, adding: "I don't think you can ever really compensate for that feeling of shame that was put on you."

Mr Hammond joined the Royal Navy in 1981 at the age of 17, when being gay in the armed forces was forbidden.

Martyn joined the Royal Navy in 1981 at the age of 17. Credit: Martyn Hammond

Speaking to ITV News previously at his home in Plymouth, Mr Hammond said: "I was good at my job. Very good at my job. I had an exemplary record.

"I kept my private life very private, I didn't involve it in my work at all. But the military police came to arrest me.

"They did the Mr Nice and Mr Nasty routine on me - you've got one person saying 'If you co-operate...' and another being quite direct. In the end I did cave and say, 'Yeah, I am gay.'"

Martyn says he was arrested, court-martialled and held in detention quarters at the Portsmouth Naval Barracks, then sent to a corrective training camp for 40 days.

He was dismissed from the Navy and suffered a mental breakdown. "It's the worst feeling in the world," he said.

Martyn says he feels entitled to the pension he lost when he was kicked out of the Royal Navy. Credit: ITV News

He described the compensation being offered as a "really good figure" but said questions remain about whether people will have the pensions they missed out on reinstated.

"If I got my pension reinstated, I know that I can retire with piece of mind," Mr Hammond told ITV News. "Obviously I got my state pension and a tiny bit of my private pension but by getting some of my military pension, I can retire knowing I'll be okay."

Defence Secretary John Healey said: "The historic treatment of LGBT veterans was a moral stain on our nation. Our Government is determined to right the wrongs of the past and recognise the hurt that too many endured.

"We have listened to veterans and will continue to deliver against the recommendations set out in the Etherton review. We will continue to support our veterans as we work to renew the nation’s contract with those who serve, and have served.

"This work was rightly started by the previous government, and will be taken forward and delivered by this Government."