Surviving Dunkirk Veterans

Sadly with a lot of deaths of Dunkirk veterans lately there are only three confirmed living are left according to wikipedia. All are over 100.

100 year old David Evans of Leyburn, North Yorkshire according to this. everyday. Albert Johnson, an Englishman who lives in Western Australia, also 100 according to this and 100 year old John Hamilton of Sutton Veny, Wiltshire according to this. John still visits the gym frequently!

If you know of any possible survivors please tell me and I will add them to this post. I will update in case any of these vets passed away. I would say there is probably around 5 to 10 Dunkirk vets we dont know about still left

Number of confirmed Dunkirk survivors still alive - 3

 

Hi, I think there a few more than that list. Vic Bashford is still with us I believe:

Bashford, Vic - Museum Home

 

Sad news. A Dunkirk veteran who I did not know about has died. RIP Les Kersewill. Also a honorable RIP to Jack Hilton, a pilot who got shot down over Dunkirk and also over Normandy. Condolence to the families of these two great men.

 

Without sounding odd or picky and by no means disrespectful to the achievements of the 2 men you mention above but - the second man [Jack Hilton] is stated as

"Following a pit stop in Toronto to visit family, Hilton headed to Europe to fight in 1944."

Dont quite see how that relates to Dunkirk veterans of 1940 and also the Typhoon aircraft was not put into combat service until late 1942

TD

 

Ah. Sorry. I must have misread the article. Still RIP to both.

 

Just a month too late for my friend Harold Norman Woodhouse who passed away 14 February aged 98.

Norman was with the Green Howards and at Dunkirk although everyone was becoming separated he and a few mates from HQ Company 7th Battalion had managed to keep together. Although unsure he believes they were returned home on a minesweeper HMS Dundalk having been ordered to carry stretchers over the mole on to the ship.

Norman wrote a book for his fiends and family and titled it Lucky Norman, an ordinary soldier. A tale of Life, Luck and Loss.

Brian

 

My ex wife's Grandfather
Mr Carbis of Newlyn, Cornwall is still very much with us. He recently celebrated his 103rd Birthday.

Injured in an explosion on the beach, injuring his leg. knocked unconscious, he was hurried aboard a boat, and recovered in Knaresborough in Yorkshire. Originally of Pendeen in Cornwall. Lovely man. Gentleman. Still wears a shirt and tie, wether leaving the house or not.

 

Fascinating ... send him my best if you can. I love that he wears a shirt and tie.

I know Major John Hamilton sadly passed away in January 2024, aged 105. I met him last year - he was such an inspiration. He was on anti-aircraft batteries on the beach. Harry Waddingham survives (aged 107?), as does John Hemingway, RAF, in Ireland (aged 104). I think one or two others I am aware of - will have to track down their names.

 

Here's Harry Waddingham last year

 

107..wow. men of iron!

 

Tye Clarke.

Is Mr Carbis of Newlyn still with us?

Do you think he might be willing to do an interview?

 

Tye has not been on the forum for a number of months

 

Ron Barber 4th Green Howards 105.
(From dreadful Evening Gazette website with dozens of pop up ads.' )

Soldier Ron was ‘killed in action’ during the WW2 – but he’s just turned 105

 

Thank you

 

Wow, great ... thank you for sharing this

 

Very sadly, according to this article, Hugh Carbis passed away only recently - his obituary, which is also online, says on 19 February. He was 104.

Rest in peace Hugh.

Cornwall war hero and Dunkirk survivor dies aged 104

 

Thank you very much for that information.

RIP.

So it looks like there are two remaining known veterans from Dunkirk

 

Hi, I’m new to this forum. But have been following Dunkirk veterans for a long time. The very sad news of John Hemmingways death recently, who flew missions over France and Dunkirk, left me with only 3 dunkirk veterans (not including French and other nationality veterans). These are Harry Waddingham, Cyril Tozer and Ron Barber. It would be great to hear if there are others I’ve missed.

 

Hey, welcome to the forum and to this thread. I didn't know about Cyril Tozer. Whereabouts is he based do you know?

 

I found another living Dunkirk veteran, aged 110 ...

https://supercentenarians.fandom.com/wiki/Maurice_Le_Coutour

And I am also following up on a possible Australian veteran, aged 105