Hi Alan as i remember we had the litte skin colour plug´s ..i tried to claim on hearing loss before i got out i was sent all over the place eventually when i got the answer i had been out over a year ...to late to claim..i have a 50% hearing loss and now wear hearing aid´s which i had to pay myself over 5,000.-.
Nothing at all to protect the ears in the early 60's - I have a 'ringing' in the (L) Ear, all day and night! Trouble is, nothing can be done about it! If you have not tried War Pensions then please do so - you never know!
T)e place you need is the army pensions dept in Norcross Blackpool. As far as I can remember the small rubber ear defenders we were issued were proved inadequate and by applying to Blackpool they should set you up with a hearing test. You need to write to them putting your name rank and number regiment and years served you also need to put the reasons why you think your hearing has been affected ie the ear defenders. I hope this helps .
There is no time limit for applying for a war pension re hearing loss.......but, after a specified period, poss 7 years after discharge I. Think, the onus changes from the MOD proving you were not injured as a result of service, to the applicant proving that they were. This is not too difficult in genuine cases where there is some mention of the problem in your service record. Also, an audio gram can determine both thscale of the hearing loss and the likely nature of its causes.
In my own case I made a successful claim 36 years after discharge.
