Veterans "dizzy with hunger" have been forced to sell their war medals to put food on the table and are living in fear of how they will pay their bills.
One WW2 hero told the Mirror the "dark days" are still here for his generation, on the 104th anniversary of Armistice Day.
Jack Mortimer, 99, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, fought for the freedom of his country on D-Day aged just 20.