A VETERAN of the "forgotten" Suez Crisis campaign has finally been presented with a medal for service nearly 50 years ago.

Former flight engineer Brian Wilkie, who lives in the Harrogate area of North Yorkshire, was invited to RAF Leeming, near Bedale, for the ceremony.

He was presented with the General Service Medal with the Suez Canal Zone Clasp by the commanding officer of 100 Squadron, Wing Commander Wayne White.

Mr Wilkie was a flight engineer on the Avro Lincoln 2B bomber aircraft, and his involvement with the Lincoln began when he started the basic engineer course at RAF Scampton, in Lincolnshire.

After training, he was sent to RAF Shallufa, at the southern end of the Suez Canal, in 1952.

Although flying hours were restricted because of a fuel shortage, the main task of 100 Squadron was to be on standby to bomb vital targets in the region.

It was initially a one-month detachment, but he was out there for three and returned to the region after that, serving on the last Sunderland aircraft to fly up the Suez Canal at the end of the crisis in 1956.

Mr Wilkie has retained close links with 100 Squadron and RAF Leeming through the RAF Association's Harrogate and district branch, of which he is chairman.