No help for D-Day veterans

Niccar -
very well said -not being a lottery player I lost out in 2004 - so I paid my own way in 2005 to Italy - but as you write - when demobbed we asked for nothing - BUT - I got 22 pounds 15 shillings for five years service - no idea what that worked out at an hourly rate- notta lot !
Cheers

 

It looks as if the MOD might be changing it's mind.

D-Day veterans will receive 65th commemoration support, says MoD - Telegraph

Nick

 

Nick -
I wouldn't start polishing the boots just yet.....they MIGHT participate which translates that the favoured few will belly up to the bar owing to the fact that the other big wigs from the US - France - Germany - will be there so the UK would look stupid for not being there - no mention of the OR's being there - yet - the holding of breath is not recommended at this point...too onerous a task in the remaining time ----
Cheers

 

Tom

I agree with everything you are say. Merely passing on the news that the MOD's stance seems to be swaying on the matter.

I never hold my breadth for any length of time when Government departments are involved!

Nick

 

let me say this .lately there have been many moans and grans about the Vets not being paid to return to their battle areas.
Like Tom, when I came out, severely injured. We got no help at all Sink or swim.I chose to swim !

I read these pages with a jaundiced eye. The previous Tory Admin did nothing at all for the Veterans. Absolutely nothing. Oh yes they did do one thing...They reduced the old age pension by removing it from the wages comparison to the RPI...A direct income cut/
So what have this admin done?

The gave every service man or woman the chance to have a holiday and return to the scene of their service... 10 million pounds.

They got for every veteran that was a prisoner of the Japanese £!0,000.00each.

They have reduced the fuel VAT to 5%

They reinstated free eye tests.

They brought out the free flu injections

The Winter fuel payments of £400 each household for the 80 year olds

Free TV licenses for the 75 year olds.

Free country wide bus passes for all OAPs

Fair do's lads. They even gave the OAPs free passports.

No I do not think the public should find money to send the Vets back Specially in these times. Besides there are not many that would want to go. the youngest is 84 and travel is not easy then.
Sapper

 

Sapper -
would have to agree with you !

After my trip to the Uk over Christmas - I applied for the full entitlement of pension for the period spent in the Uk - which is normal but they seldom advertise this - you have to find out all by yourself - so months later you are sent the cheque - "for the FULL entitlement portion" of your pension - which is a bit ironic as we never see the FULL entitlement living in the Old Colonies -

So this year - for a bit of a giggle - I applied also for the 400GBP heating
allowance and something else which is allowed for the over 80's -bus pass I guess - now normally we get a letter after a couple of months stating the usual - " we are so busy that it will take another 16 weeks to attend etc....."

This year - NOWT as they must all be in shock in Newcastle...!

My passport cost me $80o - the week before the made them free - can't win them all !
Cheers

 

Cheers Tom. Brian

 

While I sympathise with those veterans who want to return to Normandy, is it fair that just D-Day veterans plight is being highlighted. I have over 30 veterans,(22 of which were not old enough at D- Day but were fighting later in Holland. They have been invited by a Town Council, to attend the 65th Anniversary celebrations of their liberation, in October 2009. They are willing to pay for the veterans accommodation for 2 nights and all transport in Holland. They just (Just?) have to pay for their travel to Holland themselves. Like the D-Day vets no help !!! So should the governments just assist D-Day vets or all vets? If so we are talking millions of pounds and not just (just?) hundreds of thousands.

 

The thing is this.... What about all the other Veterans that fought for 6 long years all around the world? We just cannot have favouritism for one group.
Sapper

 

There will undoubtedly be a similar complaint / Argument in 2010 re VE and VJ days too!!!

 

Damn, I supposed that such thing could be only in Russia but it looks like such uncivilized shit could happen even in UK.

 

So should the governments just assist D-Day vets or all vets? If so we are talking millions of pounds and not just (just?) hundreds of thousands.

The thing is this.... What about all the other Veterans that fought for 6 long years all around the world? We just cannot have favouritism for one group.
Sapper
I agree my Granddad fought in North Africa as it stands he would not get any help to return, even if he wanted to at the age of 90.

The only fair way is to treat all Veterans the same which I suspect would make the cost prohibitive as pointed out by 51highland.

Sapper- I had no idea they gave free passports to OAPs!

All the best

Nick

 

Big news chaps a hearty well done to all it worked the lottery are funsing it and also the government as well

Lottery money for D-Day veterans

3 hours 25 mins ago

• Print Story

Veterans who want to attend the D-Day 65th anniversary ceremonies in Normandy will be funded by lottery money. Skip related content
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Lottery money for D-Day veterans



The Big Lottery Fund said it will pay for veterans who want to to take part - whether that is in France or elsewhere.
The news came after Gordon Brown said he wants to be "very much part" of this year's commemorations of the landings in Nazi-occupied France, which marked the beginning of the end of the Second World War.
The Prime Minister also said he hoped there would be a service at Westminster Abbey to mark the sacrifice made by a "great generation of heroes".
His comments came after the Government went back on a previous decision and said it would provide support for veterans who wanted to mark the landings in Normandy.
The announcement was hailed as a victory after Veterans Minister Kevan Jones said last year it was a "long-standing policy" to use public money only for landmark anniversaries 25, 50, 60 and 100 years after major events.
The change of heart came after more than 300 people signed a petition on the Downing Street website urging Mr Brown "to give funding to those war veterans wishing to attend the 65th D-Day anniversary in Normandy".
In a statement, the Big Lottery Fund said: "Following on from our highly successful 2004/5 veterans funding programmes, continued through our popular Awards for All scheme, we are keen to build on both programmes and are proud to be able to announce further financial support for veterans wishing to attend 65th anniversary events overseas.
"Our offer includes Normandy veterans wanting to attend events in June of this year. But we want to extend our offer to all servicemen who saw action in other theatres during the Second World War. Full details will be announced next week."
The Normandy Landings on June 6 1944 saw thousands of Allied troops pour onto the beaches of occupied France and marked a strategic turning point in the war against Hitler's Germany.


Lee F

 

I agree my Granddad fought in North Africa as it stands he would not get any help to return, even if he wanted to at the age of 90.

The only fair way is to treat all Veterans the same which I suspect would make the cost prohibitive as pointed out by 51highland.

Sapper- I had no idea they gave free passports to OAPs!

All the best

Nick

Nick, I think at this stage the latest press coverage off the Normandy Veterans wish to return to Normandy is great for the NVA, but is only because the American President is POSSIBLY going to attend. After months of campaigning and appeals the Goverment all of a sudden possibly is doing a U-turn.

Personally, i have been involved with this appeal since Oct 2008, before any of the big names got involved.

The situation of these Vets is only front page news now because the NVA have worked tiresly since June 7th 2008 to make the 65th a reality.

an appeal for £330k has nearly been realised, so even if the goverment relent its too late

Phil

 

ITN - Lottery money for D-Day veterans

the secret is shame the top brass into doing something....

Sad, after months of tireless work these guys will take the credit

P

 

Di, Peter Hodge (NVA Hon Gen Secetary), has rejected the National Lottery funding offer , as it is too late.


"There is no way in the world I am going to agree with the National Lottery standing up and saying they sent our veterans to Normandy in the 65th anniversary," he said. "The people of this country have put the money together and the veterans this year will be going to Normandy with the blessing and the appreciation of the British people and there is no way, that 10 weeks before the kick-off, that they are going to take the credit for this."

BBC NEWS | UK | Veterans reject D-Day cash offer

Having dealt with Peter quite a lot recently with regards to the fundraising which has become to be known as the Overlord appeal, I can say that he is a man of Honour and this fully backs this up

Phil

 

LITTLEJOHN: This is the BBC Home Service. Keep calm, carry on and don't panic, D-Day is cancelled | Mail Online

Made me chuckle