World War Two veteran made homeless after eviction

Alfred Guenigault, who served in World War Two as a paratrooper, was issued with a no-fault eviction notice two months ago by the landlord of the Ferndown bungalow he has lived in for the past seven years. 

He is now living in St Gabriels hostel in Verwood with his daughter Deb Dean and her husband Bert and says he feels "terrible" about the situation.

The great-grandfather-of-six-fears he will not be able to see his grandchildren from his new residence.

The family was forced to pack up their belongings and leave Ferndown on Thursday afternoon.

The family had lived in Pickard Road for seven years (Image: Daily Echo)

They turned to the council for help, which told them to go to First Point, a Dorset-based support service.

Deb said: “They were amazing and helped us so much with the forms and explaining things and told us we were eligible for a bungalow. 

“They said there is a duty to house us temporarily, which we understand, but we didn’t think it would be in a hostel.” 

Deb said the one room provided for them is empty, with no beds, apart from one provided by the hospital for the veteran, and has a shared kitchen and bathroom.

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“He also won’t be able to see any of his church friends who come over to see him or the vicar as well; his life is here in Ferndown.

“He told me his medals seem worthless.” 

Deb, a pensioner herself, lives with her father as his full-time carer while he battles cancer and severe kidney disease and said the situation is “very unfair” on her dad in his final years.

She added: “Dad has his carers in three to four times a day and I have to be with him 24 hours a day but because I recently became a pensioner, they have stopped my carer’s allowance which is about £700. 

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“We are told we will be in a hostel for six to eight months and it’s very unfair on him.

“My concern is that in six months, he may not even be here anymore.”

Mr Guenigault, who has been awarded the National Order of the Legion of Honour by the French government, said: “None of my grandchildren will be able to stay in the hostel. I feel terrible, but mostly for Deb. 

“I also have to change my doctor, who is brilliant, as it is outside the area, but I don’t want to do that.” 

A spokesman for Dorset Council said the authority will work with the family to find suitable accommodation in “as short a timescale as possible” but that they “need to be realistic about what is achievable in the current climate”.

He added: “Unfortunately being homeless inevitably comes with disruption and upheaval which we seek to mitigate in so far as possible but it may mean that temporarily a household will face some additional challenges inherent in living in temporary accommodation.

“We have support workers who can provide additional support to the family as we know and appreciate what an anxious time this is.

“The council takes the Military Covenant very seriously and has a former veteran working within the team so really do appreciate the sacrifice our veterans make.”