Claim: British WW II hero molested boys

LONDON, May 3 (UPI) -- Two men have come forward with accusations that they were molested as boys by British World War II hero Field Marshall Viscount Slim.

Slim, who routed Japanese forces in Burma and was subsequently appointed governor general of Australia, allegedly groped British youths who were sent to a center run by the Fairbridge Society in New South Wales, The (London) Daily Telegraph reported Thursday.

Slim died in 1970.

The children were sent to Australia as part of a plan to populate the British Empire with offspring of working class parents who no longer could, or would, care for them.

Robert Stevens, 63, said he was "9 or 10" when Slim allegedly molested him as they rode in a car.

"There wasn't much room so I sat on his knee," said Stevens. "Before I knew it there was a hand up my leg."

Stevens said he decided to tell his story because the Fairbridge Society refused to acknowledge that children in the program were abused. Another man said he had a similar experience but did not wish to be identified, the Telegraph reported.

The Burma Star Association, an organization of veterans of the Burma campaign, disputed the allegation, the newspaper said.