A NANTWICH counsellor who served for the Merchant Navy in the Falklands War has received a medal for his service – 33 years later.

Henry Maguire, 52, was part of the Falklands Task force of the Merchant Navy, the maritime register of the United Kingdom, in 1982, aged just 19.

But due to the tour being during the immediate aftermath of the bitter conflict, Henry and countless others missed out on being awarded the South Atlantic Medal.

“When I went to the Falklands it was the last couple of weeks of the conflict,” Henry explained. “The rules at the time were that they weren’t giving out medal.

“I think they acted a bit in haste in not awarding them originally, because the Argies were honouring their troops.

“I just accepted it at the time that they were the rules, it’s just nice they changed them because let’s be honest it was a bit unfair. It’s a relief that they changed them.”

Since 1982 nearly 30,000 medals have been awarded to troops.

However late last year, Defence ministers came under pressure to extend the award to veterans and volunteers who missed out on the medal in the immediate aftermath of the war.

In October of last year, Prime Minister David Cameron extended the medal to those who arrived to 'clean up' after the war ended.

Much to his delight, Henry received two very special awards in the post last week, honouring his efforts during the conflict.

Henry received the South Atlantic Medal, awarded by the Ministry of Defence, and the Veterans Badge, awarded by the Merchant Navy.

“It was nice to have the recognition that we actually did something,” Henry said. “We all put ourselves at risk by going down there.

“I can now hand them down to my children. It’s nice that my father can see them as well. He was very proud of me.”