EXCLUSIVE: On the eve of Remembrance Sunday, WWII veterans from the Greatest Generation have won an emotional pledge.
Dorothea Barron, 101, who joined the Women’s Royal Naval Service in 1943 and taught semaphore to soldiers ahead of the D-Day landings, is among Second World War veterans celebrating a major Remembrance Day victory.
These heroes have secured a permanent guarantee that all costs for battlefield commemorations will be fully covered. On the eve of Britain’s most significant day for the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defence has given a “cast-iron” promise that all future overseas trips for veterans will be funded, ensuring they can continue to honour fallen comrades across the Channel for as long as they are able.
Speaking about her dedication, Dorothea said: “At my age, people often ask why I still travel to Normandy and the Netherlands. But it’s not about me – it’s about those who never came home. It gives us a chance to stand together, honour our friends where they fell, and say, ‘You are not forgotten.’
“On Remembrance Sunday, I feel it more deeply than ever. We don’t go to the continent to remember the war itself, but to remember the peace they gave us and to ensure their names live on in the hearts of future generations.”
Heroic 99-year-old Henry Rice will lead the annual Remembrance Day parade past the Cenotaph, as King Charles heads the nation in honouring its war dead during the wreath-laying ceremony and march through Whitehall.
Among the Second World War veterans taking part are D-Day veterans and “lionhearts” former Royal Marine Jim Grant and Mervyn Kersh, both 100, who served with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, alongside Royal Navy veteran Henry Rice, 99. Many hope to continue travelling to Europe to pay tribute next year, though with most veterans now over 100, their numbers are dwindling.
The Ministry of Defence’s top-level funding pledge is a landmark victory, allowing veterans to attend key commemorations, including Dutch Liberation, D-Day, and Operation Market Garden — the latter immortalised in the 1977 film A Bridge Too Far. For many, next year’s trio of events may serve as a final salute.
The funding boost also benefits charities, which rely entirely on fundraising and donations, to support the trips. The Spirit of Normandy Trust and the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans plan to take 20 veterans to mark the 81st anniversary of Dutch Liberation in May, the 82nd anniversary of the Normandy Landings in June, and Operation Market Garden in September.
Despite their advanced age and mobility challenges, the veterans view these cross-Channel pilgrimages as yearly highlights, long-established in their diaries. The combined cost — including travel, accommodation, food, carers, and medical support — is approximately £500,000.
Richard Palusinski, Chairman of the Spirit of Normandy Trust, said: “This is a right and just decision and is warmly welcomed by the veteran community. My sincere thanks go to the Express and its readers for their unwavering commitment and support.”
Heroes Ken Hay, Richard Aldred, Henry Rice, Jim Grant, and John Dennett were pictured on Sword Beach.
The Ministry of Defence’s pledge comes after the government faced criticism for “betraying” the memory of the war dead by initially backing away from a promise to fund overseas remembrance ceremonies.
This year, marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, the cost of veterans’ trips was eventually covered — but only after a humiliating U-turn. In April, Number 10 confirmed money would be available for European commemorations, only for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to contradict the decision, stating funding was not provided for “overseas events.”
Veterans called the reversal the “ultimate betrayal,” and public backlash forced Veterans Minister Alok Sharma into an about-turn. The MoD told the Express it had “listened” to the criticism and reaffirmed its commitment, recognising the “profound importance of enabling veterans to pay respects at the sites where they served and where their comrades fell.”
On Monday, the government will publish its Veterans Strategy, which promises to “transform government support for heroes” and outline plans to recognise veterans as national assets.
Louise Sandher-Jones, Minister for Veterans and People, said: “Having attended the Afghanistan memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, I understand how important these anniversaries are for all veterans, including those of the Second World War. That’s why this government is committed to funding travel for veterans attending overseas remembrance events starting next year.
“This is about ensuring those who gave so much can return to honour the friends they lost while they still can. Our forthcoming Veterans Strategy will put veterans at the heart of this government’s priorities and continue supporting our Second World War heroes.”
Every year, Second World War heroes return to honour the memories of friends who gave their lives for freedom.
With most 1939–45 veterans now over 100, only a few will be fit enough to travel next year and beyond, but they remain determined to pay tribute to their fallen comrades at least one last time.
D-Day veteran Ken Hay, 100, who was captured and held as a prisoner of war, said: “I will return to Normandy as long as I am able. We are the lucky ones who came home, while so many made the ultimate sacrifice. While we can, we will always salute them.”
Don Turrell, also 100, visits each year the graves of friends William Carr, 19, and Robert Bremner, 29, who died fighting with The Cameronians in 1944. He said: “Trips and events with the Taxi Charity are always truly wonderful. They give us the chance to remember, share stories, and feel part of a very special family.”