Pensioner 'banned' from hanging St George's flag in memory of her father who was a Japanese prisoner of war

A FURIOUS pensioner claimed she was banned from flying a flag at her home on Victory in Japan Day in honour of her father who was held by the Japanese as a prisoner of war.

Sharon McDermott said she always puts out the red and white St George’s flag, which she wraps round a tree in the communal gardens at Courtlands retirement development in New Street, Lymington, along with a row of Union Flags.

But this year she said the flag was removed by the accommodation manager soon after she put it out.

She claimed to have been told that someone at the flats who was of “German heritage” had complained.

That allegation was strongly denied by the group running the accommodation, which pointed out that permission was required before decorating communal areas.

But Mrs McDermott said: “I was really upset and my neighbour Helen Owen, who is 101 and whose husband was also a Japanese prisoner of war, was absolutely distraught.

“What has being German got to do with Victory in Japan Day?”

She said she has been putting out the flags each 15th August for four years with no problem, normally leaving them out for three or four days before removing them.

She said: “I have never had a complaint before. People like my neighbour like to see the day marked in such a way.

“My father, who was a paratrooper, suffered as a prisoner of war. Towards the end of his life, he would have these terrible nightmares where he thought the Japanese soldiers were chasing him.

“Such brave men as my father and my neighbour’s husband should be remembered.”

Courtlands is run by the Anchor Hanover Group. A spokesperson denied that Mrs McDermott had been told the flags were removed because a resident had complained.

They said: “I can confirm that that was not the case and the manager did not say that had happened.

“To be clear: we do not disclose on their behalf, the personal or confidential information, including ethnicity or heritage, of our residents in any circumstances.”

Andrea Daniel, area manager for Courtlands, told the A&T: “Festivals and celebrations are held throughout the year at our locations and form an integral part of social activities for our residents and colleagues.

“Whilst the communal areas of locations are not extensions of residents’ homes, we recognise residents and colleagues may wish to decorate these areas as part of their celebrations.

“To enable this, we have clear guidance in place which states that residents should always consult the location manager and consider the needs of all the residents at the location before introducing any decorations into communal areas, which on this occasion was not adhered to.

“We have spoken with the residents involved and encourage all residents to follow the guidance on the use of communal areas to ensure all residents continue to enjoy the use of these spaces in future.”