This badge

Britain's nuclear veterans are embroiled in a fierce battle over the use of the Royal Crown badge symbolising its organisation Trustees of the British Nuclear Veterans Association charity fired the opening shot when it said i own President, Ken McGinley was not allowed to use the bad on letterheads.

They said Mr McGinley, who founded the BNTVA in May 1983, only holds the 'honoury' position of President and shoul not use the crest when writing letters.

Mr McGinley fired back: "Who do these people think they are? I started this organisation and helped design the badge It was bought and paid for by a small group of my compatriots "

The row blew up when Mr McGinley wrote a letter of support to BNTVA Chief Executive Officer Ceri Marsh after she was sacked for "gross misconduct"over allegations o financial mismanagement, allegations which Ms Marsh vehemently denies Ms Marsh hit back with a serie allegations of sexual harrassme and bullying, and called in the police to investigate Mr McGinley, who was chairman of the BNTVA for 17 years used the crest on his letter of support in which he called for the immediate resignation of four BNTVA Trustees

He has now been accused of "fakery" in an on-line attack by a "special adviser" brought in by the BNTVA Trustees after the Charity

Commission suspended operations and the organisation's bank account frozen.

The BNTVA charity claim the Royal Crown Crest is copyrighted and have threatened was called Tom Birch, a Christmas Island veteran like myself.

"He did all the work and paid for it himself If the badge belongs to anyone its him. The BNTVA e no right denying Ken McGinley from y produced ntation proving that Mr had paid for the badge the emblematic design, well other araphenalia

Action For Misuse

But last night many nuclear veterans, including the group that applied and received permission to use the Royal Crown on its badge, hit back.

Christrmas Island veteran Mike Rubery said: "The man responsible for getting the badge

He also revealed the original standard of the BNTVA was also bought by the association's West Midland branch, of which Mr Biirch was a prominent member Mr Rubery said: "We had the BNTVA standard, which was our property, laid up in Birmingham Cathedral after we left e main BNTVA anisation in 2012." Birch in his submission Royal College of Arms ain's nuclear veterans ed allegiance to the n they were in service to adopt it as a symbol of their cause.

Out of his own pocket he paid the £150 application fee which records show wqs sent to Sir Colin Cole, Principal King of Arms representing the heraldic authority of England.

Normally the application would have to be approved by the Home Secretary before going to the