The Midlands wife of a soldier killed in a road accident on his way to an emergency at work won her fight to receive a war widow’s pension.
Tina Thompson had been told she was not entitled to any compensation because her husband Mick was not working when he died in a collision in Cyprus in 2005.
Supported by the Royal British Legion, the 37-year-old fought against the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and was due to have her case heard before the Court of Appeal in November.
But after a decision yseterday by the MoD not to contest the action, Mrs Thompson will be awarded a full and backdated payment.
Mrs Thompson, who featured in the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal campaign last year, said: “I’m so happy with the decision.
It has taken a huge weight off my shoulders and will make a big difference to me.
“I think it just goes to show it is worth persevering and hope other people in my position will take strength from this.”
The couple’s three-year-old son Aidan will receive a child’s payment.
Sgt Thompson’s older son Lewis, 16, will be awarded under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.
Sgt Thompson, from Stourbridge, served in the Army from 1980, including tours of Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Iraq.
An MoD spokesman said: “The Ministry of Defence is pleased to confirm that a compensation award will be made to the dependants of Sgt Thompson following a review of this case.
“We regret the time it has taken to provide Mrs Thompson with a conclusion to this matter.”
James Bond, the Royal British Legion’s pensions and benefits service manager, said: “This is fantastic news for the Thompson families and we are extremely pleased to have positively influenced the outcome for them.”
A spokeswoman for the Royal British Legion said final figures for the payment were still being finalised.
