HUNDREDS of veterans have launched a campaign to locate a 1960s military flag that got lost in the post.

A 55-year-old flag of the Junior Tradesmen Regiment (JTR) never arrived at Whitby, where it was to be used for a funeral.

Over 500 veterans have taken to social media to locate the missing flag, offering a £100 reward.

A spokesperson from the JTR Veterans Association said: “We recently had the sad news of a comrades passing and as is the way we made arrangements for our regimental flag to be made available for the escorts and standard bearer at his funeral service.

“The flag had to be collected from North Wales and delivered to the standard bearer at Whitby.

“The regimental flag is, as veterans know, a one-off and had previously been blessed and re-dedicated by the former Bishop of Rhyl.

“The flag was entrusted in to the care of the parcel delivery company Hermes who duly collected the flag parcel along with a smaller parcel containing standard bearer gloves, sling and mourning bow.

“The smaller parcel arrived safely but the larger flag parcel did not.”

The regiment was created in 1962, and ran for 14 years at Kinmel Park Camp, Bodelwyddan, near Rhyl, North Wales.

It trained boys aged 15 to 16 for around 15 months before sending them to army regiments around the world.

Alan Griffin, who was the standard bearer at the funeral, said: “The flag and poles were sent to me in Whitby from Rhyl via Hermes transport and I followed its progress on the internet and it was last scanned to a depot in Boldon.

“The JTR veterans use the original flag for reunions, Remembrance Day services and it is also taken to funerals of veterans around the country.

“There is a campaign on social media which service personnel have launched. We have had brilliant support.”

The JTR Veterans Association said Hermes refunded the delivery costs of £108.99.

However, they say the replacement flag complete with poles, gold rope, and tassels cost £430.80.