MORE than 270 Brexit-backing former military officers today tell serving heroes to make sure they have a say in the EU referendum – and vote Leave to save Britain.

Retired sergeants, petty officers and NCOs from all three services issued a last-minute plea for servicemen and women to get on the voting register before tonight’s midnight deadline.

3 Ex soldiers are urging serving personnel to take back control over Britain Credit: Getty Images

Elections watchdog the Electoral Commission is also warning people not to miss the cut-off after tens of thousands tried to sign up a day late for last year’s general election.

Fears have been raised that many forces personnel may not have signed up to cast their ballot as they focus on keeping the country safe.

In a series of messages delivered through the Veterans for Britain campaign group, the former officers urge comrades not to miss out – and to back Brexit to protect the military from being sucked into a European army.

3 Ex armed servicemen want to stop UK forces being sucked into an EU army Credit: Getty Images

Decorated former sergeant George D Cowie said: “Our forebears fought and made terrible sacrifices in two World Wars for the freedom of their families and the sovereignty of our great country.

“It falls upon us yet again to fight for our freedom and sovereignty.”

Ex-RAF sergeant Peter Hall added: “It’s very important for serving personnel to register to vote.

“There is only one way for them to vote that is in the country’s interests and that is to vote to leave, to return democratic control and head off any more plans to merge us in with their plans.”

Retired Navy petty officer Ian Davies said: “Never again will we get this chance to ensure WE make significant changes to our home countries and not faceless Eurocrats.”

3 George D Cowie (left) is one of the 270 decorated former servicemen urging current troops to back Brexit

Ex-Royal Marines sergeant Bruce Green said: “I would urge serving personnel to register and to vote leave.

"We are an island nation, supreme power over our island needs to be in the hands of officials who are democratically elected by the resident population of said island and whom have a vested interest in the economic, political and welfare status of that island.”

Veterans for Britain is also urging everyone who has ever worn a military uniform to back Brexit.

Around 3.4 million people are thought to have served in the armed forces since the Second World War, and a source said: “That number could totally swing the result if those people come out in large numbers.”

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All voters have until midnight tonight to register for a vote in the June 23 referendum – the first say on Britain’s ties with Brussels since 1975.

The Electoral Commission says more than 1.35 million people have signed up online in recent days to have their say in the historic poll.

Under-25s and 25 to 34-year-olds have been the most active groups, making up more than half the online applications with 763,183 submissions in the past few weeks.

Last Friday saw the biggest number of applications in a single day in the period between May 15 and Sunday, with 186,255 submitting an online application.

The Electoral Commission is warning people it is their last chance to register to vote in the referendum on June 23.

Jenny Watson, chief counting officer for the EU referendum, said: “If you aren’t already registered to vote, you need to do it by the 7 June deadline or you won’t be able to take part in this historic referendum.

“Tens of thousands of people applied to register the day after the deadline to register for the general election and were too late to have their say. Don’t let that be you.”

People can apply to register to vote before the deadline of 11.59pm at gov.uk/register-to-vote.