A homeless former soldier, age 82, died hours after being evicted from a squat in the city centre of Manchester.
The ex-serviceman, known only as George, was taken to Salford Royal Hospital on Monday 16 November by other former soldiers named his ‘band of brothers’ who had lived in the squat alongside him.
He was thought to be suffering from bronchial pneumonia at the time of his death.
George had been living with up to 12 other ex-soldiers a the disused building in Manchester city centre, before a court ordered their eviction.
Salford Veterans Action Network (SAFVN) brought the matter to the press as a way of highlighting the way that former serving soldiers are still poorly treated in Greater Manchester.
Paul Morville from SAFVN say they know very little about George at this stage.
“We don’t know the full circumstances, we just know it shouldn’t be happening.
“It’s very sad, it really is.”
The group say they are now in contact with Salford Royal Hospital, trying to trace George’s relatives and arrange the funeral.
Earlier this year SAFVN was set up to support armed service personnel, veterans and their families.
It operates a drop-in centre every Monday from 10am to 2pm at Swinton Gateway to help signpost ex-servicemen and women to benefits and housing advice, training, education and jobs.
Manchester City Council announced plans to open in December formerly empty buildings to homeless people amid rising public and political concern over the issue. From December Hulme library – which closed following the first round of town hall cuts in 2011 – and the former Beach Mount children’s home in Harpurhey will be opened to the homeless starting from December.
Paul told SalfordOnline.com: “We think it’s a brilliant idea but it should have been done a long time ago, way before now.
“It’s just a shame it’s taken so long.”
