Britain’s last remaining veterans have been told D-Day costs will be fully-funded – just hours after the Government refused to cough up cash for their annual pilgrimage to France.
Second World War warriors and the Express forced Labour into a humiliating climbdown after fury erupted over a decision to renege on a cast-iron promise to pay for bed and board.
Veterans Minister Al Carns was forced to issue a humiliating statement addressing the shambles, saying: “For the avoidance of doubt: our government will ensure the support is there for Second World War veterans to attend VE Day and D-Day commemorations overseas this year.
“Veterans will be at the heart of commemorations to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe in May. I’m pleased to confirm that the Government will work with veterans’ charities to ensure Second World War veterans can travel to commemorations this summer.”
His statement was pumped out to try and end the chaos and confusion which came after a pledge by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to honour those who selflessly served to save Britain during her darkest days.
Former Royal Marine Mr Carns was dispatched to act immediately after the Express reported on its front page how the greatest generation had been betrayed when they were told no money would be made available for visits to the Normandy beaches for the 81st anniversary of the D-Day invasion on June 6, or for the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Nazi-occupied Holland on May 5. Both dates have for decades been hugely significant to those who fought as they remember chums who fell.
On April 4 Number 10 told us money would be forthcoming, only for that to be contradicted by the Department for Culture Media and Sport, the department overseeing this year’s VE Day 80th anniversary events, which categorically stated: “Funding is for UK government events and not provided for overseas events.”
The sensational U-turn sparked nationwide anger and outrage and prompted panicked late-night discussions between Downing Street and Ministry of Defence [MoD] officials before a statement was hastily issued by Mr Carns on X, formerly Twitter, shortly before midnight on Tuesday.
It is thought that fewer than 200 British Second World War veterans are still alive, including just a handful who saw action on D-Day, and the bloody three-month Battle of Normandy that followed.
This year around 30 bravehearts are hoping to return, possibly for the very last time, to participate at a service at the British Normandy Memorial overlooking Gold Beach in Ver-sur-Mer which records the names of 22,442 people from more than 30 countries who perished under British command between June 6 and August 31, 1944.
Lord Richard Dannatt, former Chief of the General Staff and Chairman of the Normandy Memorial Trust, said: “I’m delighted the Government has realised that it is important funds are provided for the remaining veterans, who are now very elderly, to be able to come across to Normandy. It means those brave elderly gentlemen can go back to the battlefields and relive the moments where their friends fought and died among them.”
Charities representing our heroes, which survive on public donations alone, have for months raised concerns at the highest level that this could be the last year that many are able to pay their respects and the nation owes them an unpayable debt.
Spirit of Normandy Trust [SONT] is taking seven veterans back to Normandy and described the initial refusing to stump up money for bed and board as “morally unacceptable”, while the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans is taking 25 heroes to Holland for the 80th anniversary of Dutch liberation and to Northern France the month after.
Facilitating the visits will cost the two charities around £150,000.
The chaos and confusion plunged the Government into full-scale crisis mode and has overshadowed what promises to be a glorious spring and summer of commemorative events.
After being told there was no money, Royal Navy hero Peter Kent, who served on HMS Adventure helping troops and supplies on D-Day and who celebrates his 100th birthday on Saturday, said: “I watched friends fall beside me fighting for freedom. We gave everything. To be told the Government would help us honour them this year, only to have that promise torn away, feels like a betrayal. This isn’t just a funding cut – it’s the ultimate snub to those who never came home.”
Number 10 was pushed to issue a fulsome public apology to the veterans and the charities representing them after the volte-face but refused, simply saying the Government’s position “had now been set out”.
The MoD confirmed to the Express that travel, accommodation and welfare costs for veterans, plus a carer each, will be fully funded. This includes official events in London in May, and commemorations in Europe this summer, including the D-Day anniversary.
SONT Chairman Richard Palusinski said: “Thank you to the Express for taking up the case so positively. This is a swift and great result.”