No help for D-Day veterans

Government won't help WW2 veterans attend 65th D-Day commemoration - Telegraph


Second World War veterans have criticised as "disgusting" the Government's refusal to help them travel to France to attend the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings.


By Stephen Adams
Last Updated: 2:32PM GMT 13 Feb 2009


World War 2 veterans: Ministry of Defence has told them that the next time public money will be used for a commemoration will be the 100th anniversary in 2044 Photo: SWNS


While America and Canada are paying for their veterans to travel to the event, British war heroes are having to stump up the cash themselves.
Thousands of them are hoping to travel to Normandy for the commemoration in June, which for many will be their last.
But the Ministry of Defence has told them that the next time public money will be used for a commemoration will be the 100th anniversary in 2044, when they will all be dead.
Bob Conway, 83, chairman of the Wiltshire branch of the Normandy Veterans' Association (NVA), said: "I think it's disgusting. Surely they can do something to help us old boys go over? We are pretty upset about it. We're all over 80 now and for many this will be the last time."
He and his comrades have taken to fund-raising in the cold in the middle of Trowbridge, where he lives.
He added: "It's a struggle to raise all the money we need but it's just a few thousand pounds. All our comrades from the US and Canada get their expenses paid for by their Governments but ours won't give us a penny."
He said it would cost £18,000 for all 30 from the Wiltshire branch to attend.
Some 156,000 British, American and Canadian troops surged on to the beaches of northern France on 30 June 1944, starting the Allied invasion of Normandy. More than a million were involved in the campaign that followed.
But their numbers are dwindling fast.
James Gray, Conservative MP for North Wiltshire, described the Government's decision not to support them as "pathetic and an insult".
He said: "It's quite wrong that these old men have to do this."
A spokesman for the MoD said: "The MoD provides funding for the official commemoration of the 25th, 50th, 60th and 100th anniversaries of events of national importance.
"Funding was provided to the Normandy Veterans' Association to mark the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings when it was acknowledged that this would be the last commemoration using public money."

 

Shame!

Never have so many done so little to honour such a few who remain. Bless 'em.

 

Disgraceful attitude. These men deserve better than that. Their comrades who lie in Graveyards in Normandy deserve better too.

 

Bloody disgrace, but is anyone really that surprised with the muppets that are running our country?

 

No doubt for some Politicians to say look our wonderful we are But the Ministry of Defence has told them that the next time public money will be used for a commemoration will be the 100th anniversary in 2044, when they will all be dead.


The sixty year commemorations-Bit of a odd year.....Was a Polititian looking to win votes in 2004?
A spokesman for the MoD said: "The MoD provides funding for the official commemoration of the 25th, 50th, 60th and 100th anniversaries of events of national importance.


They should all get together and boycote the event or this years Rememberance Service and shame the government.

It always pissed me off when we'd parade on the first Sunday in November with the 'old boys' and then we'd all get together afterwards for a beer and as soon as the food was served the Officers, the Mayor and all the other free loaders did one to the Officers Mess and just left the people for who the day was all about.....Bastids !

Sorry Rant Over
Andy

 

The comments made so far have been very British and restrained.

I am therefore calling on the Dutch blood coursing through my veins.:rant:

It is disgraceful enough to send you on a mega daily mail type rant about our government and what they do waste money on.

If all MP's were to make a one off charitable donation, say the costs they get for their second home, which no one else gets, they could send all the vets who are able to go with plenty of change left over.

When the 100th Anniversary comes around, even the youngest children of a WW2 vet are not even likely to be around to commemorate it.

God bless our vets and the sacrifice that their generation made.

 

Rob,

Did you think mine was restrained? I even used explitives to push home my point

Cheers
Andy

 

We could make a application to the National Lottery or some other national funding body. It would need some work to do the paperwork but it could be a possibility.

 

Surely no one can expect any help from this disreputable rabble we have running the Country at present.

When I approached them regarding funding for the Children who were left Fatherless by WW2 to make a Pilgrimage,the answer was, "Not Practicle and Not affordable".

 

We could make a application to the National Lottery or some other national funding body. It would need some work to do the paperwork but it could be a possibility.


I believe all or the majority of the National Lottery funding is currently being thrown at the London Olympics projects.

 

We could make a application to the National Lottery or some other national funding body. It would need some work to do the paperwork but it could be a possibility.

If anyone would like for information on the appeal that the Normandy Veterans association is running please let me know as I have been working closely with Peter Hodge (Normandy Veterans Association general Secertary), and members of the England football Associtaion Supporters club to help raise funds.

Peter is quite calm about the lack of Goverment funding as the association received full funding for the 60th Anniversary on the understanding that there would be no funding for the 65th.

The appeal is to raise £330k (£350 per head) which is a considerable amount of money. In response to Commanderchuff, the lottery have agreed to £100k of funding, but would only do it on the basis of regional associations apply for funding rather than the national association, so the danger is that a few get a lot, and a lot get nothing.

However, all is not bad.

Help for Hero's have joined forces with the NVA and set up the Spirit of Normandy Appeal. The Chester & Wirral Branch have recieved donations for all their members, and had a surplus. As a result, I was able to ensure that my own local veterans are going to Normandy.

I am also aware that a Birmingham business man is funing his local veterans. The Wrexham branch have raised sufficeint funds as have the Notts and East yorks Branches.

If anyone would like details of how to make donations please pm. Donations can be done by:

Online Banking (Direct to NVA Bank)
Cheque (Direct to NVA Treasurer)
Online Donation (Spirt of Normandy)

Phil

 

I concur, this is typical and what scares me is that I ignore it as it its too upsetting, perhaps it's time to react

The majority of people in Gt Britain I feel, do actually respect these Brave men and women who did their duty 65 years ago, after bailing Merchant Bankers in the city (say no more) this cost would be a pittance.<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p

One only has to think of the Legions of people on benefits ( I'm not knocking the genuine) that are now becoming generations of people who do what their Mothers did and their Mothers before them and live a life creaming money from the State.<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p

I don't blame them it's not their fault the system is skewered, rewards failure and hinders aspirations and knocks people who attempt stability in a what used to be normal family unit.<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p

An example is Karen Matthews, she only came to our attention due to her own stupidity & greed coupled with a complete disrespect for the hand that feeds, she was on an estimated 35k just for laying on her back, watching Jeremy Kyle & knocking out feral sprogs that will be brought up & paid for by the rest of us.<O:p</O:p

 

What’s scary about Karen is that her case was only highlighted by her own stupidity; she would have carried on regardless into old age contributing nothing and claiming everything.

<O:p</O:pAnd what is really really scary is that she is just the tip of the iceberg...<O:p</O:p<O:p</O:p

 

These servicemen and Women were born to a generation who survived the Great War and were promised a ‘Home fit for Heroes’ instead they got through the horror of the trenches to suffer the indignity of watching their children queue up at soup kitchens, yet less then 5 – 10 years before they were jumping Sandbags on the Western Front, for King and Country.

<O:p</O:pYet despite this, when their Country called in 1939 they dutifully answered, despite the indignity of broken promises after WW1.<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p
So they should just pay for these Servicemen to go on their pilgrimage, have the decency to realise their stupidity and try to make the event as special as it should be, by showing them in life and death that we will remember them.<O:p</O:p

<O:p</O:p
OK rant over I’d better get the crack pipe going....<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p

 

Best way I can sum it up is to say :
"We got what we voted for".

 

We could make a application to the National Lottery or some other national funding body. It would need some work to do the paperwork but it could be a possibility.

I've looked into this before for Veterans Return events but they don't qualify as it is for an event outside of the UK.

 

I agree James, however I'm not sure that the other lot would any good either!

 

I've looked into this before for Veterans Return events but they don't qualify as it is for an event outside of the UK.


It's quite odd really the Government managed to get them there 65 years ago without any issues!

 

Agreed Soren , it is the downside of voting - either way you feel you will get screwed , it's not as if the other guys have not down similar.

 

I think that we should keep this in perspective. Not all veterans of the campaign in Normandy are impoverished and many have families who could combine a trip with a family holiday if they really wanted to

I'd be quite supportive of help for cases of genuine hardship but a blanket subsidy would not seem to be the best use of resources. Better to give a bit of priority on NHS waiting lists.