WIDOW OF WATERLOO

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 56, 29 November 1937, Page 6

WIDOW OF WATERLOO

Drawing British Pension - ' •LONDON; Nov. 3. Drawing a widow 5s pension from the British Bbvernment is a - woman . whose husband' f ough't; at the'Battle of Waterloo,' in '1815. ' TJiefe was- at this battle a young bugler of the British -Armv, who,- although appearing older,' Was but 16. - He lived to a -great. agej and when on the verge of *80 'led -.to the altar a bride . of but lv7. - " •' * * - ' . Time passed, and ' she became a widow. ' Her lot! became bard. O'ne day someone brought. to her notice the Widows, Orpbaris and 01d-Age.; Contrib'utory Penslons Act of 1929. The w'oman .learned that under a seetion of that Act a woman over "55 could receive a widow 's pension under certain condilions. One of. them was that her husband 'inust have died before Janu'ary 4, 1926. Another was tliat at soffie time within three years of liis death (or bis 70th birthday) be must bave been engaged ,in an occupation in respect of. wbicb be would bave been paying contributions under the Pensions Act : of 1925, bad tbat Act been in force in' his time. Wben tbe case was first - brought to notico -the officials were incredul6us. But their tests showed that it was "just possible" to fulfil all tbe law's requiremfints.