The Pensions (Polish Forces) Scheme 1964

Definitions

2.  In this Scheme, unless the context otherwise requires—

(1) “the Act” means the Polish Resettlement Act 1947:

(2) “disablement” means physical or mental injury or damage, or loss of physical or mental capacity:

(3) “equivalent British rank” and “equivalent British status”, in relation to a member of the Polish forces, mean respectively the rank or status which the member is, by virtue of Article 7 of this Scheme, to be treated as holding for the purposes of this Scheme:

(4) “injury” includes wound or disease:

(5) “member of the Polish forces” means—

(a) a member of the Polish naval detachment mentioned in the agreement made between His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the Government of Poland on 18th November 1939;

(b) a member of the Polish armed forces organised and employed under British command in pursuance of the agreement made as aforesaid on 5th August 1940;

(c) a member of the Polish resettlement forces;

and, except where the context otherwise requires, any provision of this Scheme relating to a member of the Polish forces shall be construed as relating also to a woman member of the Polish forces and as relating to a person whose service as such a member or woman member has terminated:

(6) “the Minister” means the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance:

(7) “officer” means a male member of the Polish forces whose equivalent British rank is that of a commissioned officer of the British Army, or of a warrant officer or midshipman of the Royal Navy, and includes, unless the context otherwise requires, a woman member whose equivalent British status is the status equivalent to the rank of such an officer, and any reference to a commissioned officer or to a warrant officer (Royal Navy) or to any particular rank or status shall be construed accordingly:

(8) “the Polish resettlement forces” means—

(a) the Polish Resettlement Corps;

(b) the Polish Resettlement Corps (Royal Air Force);

(c) the Polish Resettlement Section of the Auxiliary Territorial Service;

(d) the Polish Resettlement Section of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force:

(9) “the Royal Warrant” means the Royal Warrant dated 19th September 1964(1), concerning pensions and other grants in respect of disablement or death due to service in the military forces during the 1914 World War and after 2nd September 1939, as for the time being in force, or any Royal Warrant substituted therefor:

(10) “service”, in relation to a member of the Polish forces, means service as such a member under British command for any period after 2nd September 1939:

(11) “soldier” means a male member of the Polish forces who is not an officer and includes, unless the context otherwise requires, a woman member of the Polish forces whose equivalent British status is not that of an officer:

(12) “woman member of the Polish forces” means a member of the Polish forces who, being a woman, is—

(a) a medical or dental practitioner employed with the Polish forces with relative rank as an officer; or

(b) employed in the nursing service of the Polish forces; or

(c) enrolled in any women's section of the said forces including the Polish Resettlement Section of the Auxiliary Territorial Service and the Polish Resettlement Section of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force.

(1)

Cmnd. 2467.