Second World War veterans to join the King for VE Day tea party
Second World War veterans, aged from 98 to 104 years old, are to meet the King at a Buckingham Palace tea party in a special event to help mark VE Day, the Royal British Legion has said.
A 98-year-old former prisoner of war, a 99-year-old who served in the Desert Rats and took part in the D-Day landings and a 100-year-old woman who worked in the Special Operations Executive (SOE), known as Churchill's Secret Army, are among 30 veteran guests of honour, according to the Royal British Legion (RBL), who helped organise the event.
They will have prime spots to watch the military parade and flypast in central London as the nation's VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations begin on Monday.
RBL director general Mark Atkinson said the charity was 'proud' to be taking a place 'at the heart of these national celebrations and commemorations as this really will be one of our last opportunities as a nation to pay tribute to those veterans still with us today'.
British and Commonwealth armed forces veterans from the Royal Navy, the British Army and the Royal Air Force, plus Wrens, Special Operations Executives, D-Day veterans and Desert Rats are among those who are attending the tea party with Charles and other members of the royal family.
They will be joined by veterans who were still in active conflict in other parts of the world after VE Day and people who contributed to the war effort on the home front, plus their families and carers.
Evacuees are also among some of the other 20 Second World War generation guests who are set to attend.
It will be a return to Buckingham Palace for Joyce Wilding, 100, and Ruth Bourne, 98, who was a Wren at Bletchley Park where Nazi messages were intercepted. They were both in the huge crowds outside Buckingham Palace 80 years ago that celebrated VE Day in 1945.
Ms Wilding enlisted at the age of 18 in to the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY), worked in the SOE, transported forged documents and helped agents behind enemy lines.
Ms Wilding, who recalls VE Day as being filled with joy and celebration, said: 'We went to Piccadilly where there was a stream of people singing and dancing. We joined a crocodile and did the Palais Glide down Piccadilly.
'There were soldiers up lampposts, it was extraordinary. We were outside Buckingham Palace and you could hardly move there were so many people cheering and singing.'
Olga Hopkins, 99, is also among the 10 female veterans who served as codebreakers, drivers and mechanics that are looking forward to the tea party.
She remembers hearing about VE Day as she was lying in bed in a Nissen Hut and listening to the American Forces Network radio.
Ms Hopkins, who was a wireless mechanic in the WAAF, said: 'Suddenly the programme was interrupted by a tannoy announcement saying, 'The war is over. The war is over. It's been signed'.
'We all jumped out of bed and put our battledress on over our pyjamas.
'We went to the sergeant's mess where there was a party going on, so we joined in.
'I remember me and some other girls singing the Cole Porter song Don't Fence Me In, and I had a whale of a time.'
Gilbert Clarke, 98, who was in Jamaica in 1943 when he lied about his age to respond to a call to join the RAF, is also among the guests.
Within days Mr Clarke was kitted out, receiving basic training and being sent on a troop-carrying ship to Britain via the United States, the RBL said.
He eventually arrived in Britain in 1944, despite German U-boat-launched torpedo attacks which hit several ships that were travelling alongside his on the route.
D-Day veteran Bernard Morgan, 101, is also looking forward to the tea party.
He was a codebreaker during the war using equipment that was so sensitive he could not risk it being captured by the enemy.
Two days before VE Day, he received a telex to say 'German war now over, surrender effective sometime tomorrow' but kept it secret.
Another veteran guest is Norman Trickett, 98, who joined the Army aged 18, was captured by Germans at the beginning of May 1945 leading an advance scouting patrol, and ended the war as a prisoner in Bremerhaven.
He was also part of the D-Day landings and served at Arnhem, helping airborne troops beat back German counter-attacks.
Alan Kennett, 100, who was in the RAF with the Mustang Squadron and was in Celle near Belsen on VE Day, said he was 'honoured' to be the procession torch bearer on Monday.
Mr Atkinson added: 'To think that in 1945, after six years of devastating war, they were rejoicing that VE Day had finally come – and here they are now, 80 years later, proudly meeting our patron the King and Queen on this very special day.
'We owe them, and the entire Second World War generation, our eternal thanks and gratitude.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
3 hours ago
- Metro
In pictures: How the D-Day landings unfolded on June 6, 1944
Today – June 6, 2025 – marks 81 years since the the D-Day landings began on the Normandy beaches of France during World War Two. D-Day in 1944 was an important turning point during World War Two and to this day is one of the biggest seaborne invasions in history. Considered a key component in the defeat of Hitler and his forces during WWII, the D-Day operation against Nazi Germany was a combined effort, and included support from the UK, US and Canada. Planning for the D-Day landings, codenamed Operation Overlord, began several months in advance. British forces used military deception to mislead the German army of the date and location of the operation, so that what took place on June 6 1944 held some element of surprise. D-Day on June 6 1944 marked the date when approximately 156,000 British, American and Canadian forces landed on five different beaches along the coast of France's Normandy region. The coastline invaded by the Allied troops stretched over 50 miles and was heavily fortified by Nazi forces at the time, who had occupied France. The invasion of Nazi-occupied France began before dawn on June 6 1944, with paratroopers and glider troops landing in the country from the air in order to secure bridges and roads for Allied forces. The D-Day landings on Normandy beaches began at 6:30 a.m with troops wading from the sea to the land whilst battling German resistance from the shore. The term D-Day is used by the Armed Forces to refer to the beginning of an operation. The 'D' itself actually stands for 'Day', meaning it's short for 'Day-Day' – as it connotes the first day in a major military operation. D-Day was the start of 'Operation Overlord', which was the official codenamefor the Battle of Normandy, The Allies utilised over 5,000 ships and landing craft over the course of the day to land over 150,000 troops and gain a foothold on the five beaches – codenamed Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. It is estimated that 4,000 Allied troops lost their lives during the D-Day invasion, while thousands more were wounded or reported missing after the attack. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The genealogy website Ancestry found in 2019 that only 25 per cent of the 61,715 soldiers who took part in the Normandy landings ever spoke to family members about the invasion. The study showed 31 per cent of veterans didn't want to discuss their role in the historic WWII invasion with family members because they lost too many friends during the battle. 81 years after the historic landings and very few of the veterans who participated are still alive to share their stories. More Trending Of the 150,000 troops who took part in the landings, only around 1% of them are still thought to be alive. Many of the surviving veterans were in attendance at the 80th anniversary celebrations last year, although sadly 100 year-old veteran David Teacher died just days before he was planning to attend the celebrations. Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Share your views in the comments below. MORE: I went to Cannes Film Festival on a £30 daily budget — here's what happened MORE: Your favourite places to eat in Europe that aren't the usual tourist traps MORE: Second World War bombs discovery in Cologne forces 20,000 people to evacuate their homes
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
What is an LGBTQ+ ally and how to serve the community this Pride Month
Pride month has arrived in the UK so here's a refresher on why supporting the LGBTQ+ community is so important in 2025 and how exactly to be a good ally Pride month is finally here and its time for a refresh on how best to be an ally to the LGBTQ+ community. Despite it being 2025, members of the queer community still suffer prejudice and hate, only made worse now by the UK Supreme Court ruling excluding trans people from the definition of "woman," and further the need of"third spaces" as a result. Deloitte's 2023 LGBT+ Inclusion at Work report surveyed 5,474 LGBTQ+ people in the workplace, across multiple sectors in 13 countries and found that 49% of UK employees hesitate to discuss any aspect of their private life, compared to the collective 37% elsewhere. The study also found that British workers showed more concern of being treated differently, scoring 43% to the global 39%. Whilst this may be initially concerning, Deloitte also stated that more than half of the UK LGBTQ+ employees surveyed felt more comfortable being 'out' in their work environment than all other countries asked; 52% happy to be out versus 43% not in Britain. The community in Britain shared that this also extended to their feelings around more senior colleagues in their organisation. Covering all levels of seniority, UK respondents are more likely to be 'out', the data showing "45% in UK junior roles vs 37% globally; and 60% in UK senior roles vs 51% globally". Though 59% of employees chalked this positive result down to ally-ship and support, an additional 12% in Britain admitted to fearing the affect being queer would have on their career opportunities and 25% claimed they would face discrimination/harassment if out. Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We'd love to hear from you! At the time, Jackie Henry, Deloitte's managing partner for people and purpose, stated: "The findings show that organisations still need to do more to provide a safe environment in which LGBTQ+ employees feel able to be themselves at work". What is an ally? Two years on, the community have continued to celebrate Pride month and its festivals, encouraging others to learn and show support, but being a good friend and being an good ally or two different things, says Reach Out - a mentoring and support collective for young people. They define "ally" as "someone who stands up for, supports equal rights for everyone," and in the case of the LGBTQ+ community, refers to them as someone who does "what you can to call out discrimination and fight for equality, trying to make the world a better place for anyone who identify as LGBTQIA+". How to be a good LGBTQ+ ally Reach Out also state the importance of being a visible ally, whether that be attending rallies and events, "calling out homophobia, transphobia or queerphobia wherever you see it, and supporting businesses, charities or other initiatives owned or operated by LGBTQIA+ people". Listening to learn and being respectful: Take the initiating to educate yourself on LGBTQ+ history, listening actively and not downplaying or invalidating people's experience. Being open to, and engaging with, these conversations helps ensure you and others treat those around you with respect. Using inclusive language and accepting gender diversity: We can do this by respecting names and pronouns chosen by members of the community, and opting for words that don't assume genders and relationship roles. For example, terms such as "partner" is inclusive. Uplifting diverse voices: Often, the community's experience is also effected by other factors such as religion, ability, culture and race. Seek these diverse stories out for a more well-rounded understanding of the complexities being LGBTQ+. Seeing the whole person: It is easy to label someone by one characteristic or factor. Its important to acknowledge people are layered and complex, with many interests, passions and skills that and should be celebrated.
Scotsman
5 hours ago
- Scotsman
D-Day: Why today's young generation will be just as brave if war comes
In 1933, the Oxford University Union overwhelmingly passed a motion 'That this House will under no circumstances fight for its King and country'. A few years later, many who voted in favour did just that Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Exactly 81 years ago today, at around 6.30 in the early morning light, the first waves of what amounted to some 156,000 Allied soldiers by the end of the day landed on the beaches of Normandy. They had been preceded the night before by roughly 23,400 comrades who landed by parachute and glider. The long-awaited liberation of Nazi-occupied Europe had begun. It was, and still is, the largest seaborne assault in history, never mind the air landings. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The cost was high. Across the five landing beaches – Omaha, Utah, Sword, Juno, and Gold – and in the air assault, the Allies suffered some 10,000 casualties, 4,414 killed in action. US soldiers approach Omaha beach in Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944. They were among the first wave of troops (Picture: Robert F Sargent, US Coast Guard/Galerie Bilderwelt) | Getty Images The beginning of the end The scale of the operation was truly breathtaking. The invasion fleet, drawn from eight different navies, comprised 6,939 vessels, including 1,213 warships and 4,126 landing craft. Most of the fleet was provided by Britain: some 892 warships and 3,261 landing craft. In the air, around 11,600 Allied aircraft of all types were involved, including 5,656 from the Royal Air Force. They achieved total air supremacy over the entire operation and few German Luftwaffe sorties were flown on the day. For the young men involved – and they were mainly young men – the experience must have been in turn exhilarating, frightening, and terrifying all at once. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad And yet they did it. A combination of meticulous planning, lengthy training, and good junior leadership saw them through. Plus an element of luck of course. Nothing can prevent a random bullet or shell finding its mark if you just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The invasion signalled the beginning of the end of the Second World War in Europe. Although there was almost another year of hard fighting to follow, the combination of assault by the Allies in France and the Soviet armies pressing in the east, plus the non-stop bombing campaign over Germany, meant there could ultimately be only one winner. Nazi Germany and her armies, air force, and naval assets were ground down relentlessly until their final surrender in May 1945. Members of the Royal Marines land on Juno beach, Normandy, on D-Day (Picture: Hulton Archive) | Getty Images Fooling the Germans And yet D-Day hadn't been without its hiccups. Bad weather had caused the operation to be cancelled the day before when many troops had already embarked on the landing ships, and the rough seas made it doubtful right up to the last few hours whether it could go ahead on June 6. There was also the fear that the Germans might have known what was coming. Notwithstanding the Allies' complex and masterful deception plan designed to persuade the Germans that the real invasion would take place across the Pas de Calais, the shortest route across the English Channel, nobody was quite sure that they had been fooled. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad On top of this a remarkable series of codewords for the invasion, such as "Utah", "Omaha", "Overlord", and "Mulberry", appeared in the Daily Telegraph crossword in the weeks leading up to D-Day. This raised concerns within the Allied security and intelligence services, as similar coincidences with the Dieppe raid had occurred in 1942. However, further investigation concluded that the crossword compiler, Leonard Dawe, had no knowledge of the invasion and the clues and answers were merely coincidences. Despite these and other sundry issues and scares, the deception plan was remarkably successful and the Normandy landings took the Germans completely by surprise. It was so successful, in fact, that for several weeks after the troops hit the beaches, the Germans still thought what had taken place was merely a diversionary attack and the main invasion would happen elsewhere. When they were finally persuaded that D-Day was indeed the main event, it was too late. Piper Bill Millin, seen later, played 'Hielan' Laddie' and 'The Road to the Isles' as British soldiers landed on Sword beach on D-Day (Picture: Galerie Bilderwelt) | Getty Images An existential threat A military effort of such a colossal magnitude is, of course, beyond Britain's Armed Forces today. Our services have atrophied to such an extent since then that we have but a fraction of the assets nowadays, not helped by what is coyly referred to as the 'Peace Dividend' after the end of the Cold war and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s. In fact, a similar military adventure is beyond the powers of the world's only true superpower, the United States, too. It would now take many years for the former Allies to build up their resources to a similar level. Thankfully, unlike in 1944, we are not facing an existential threat to our national survival and the enemies and potential enemies we face today are few and far away, in conventional military terms at least. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A question that is often asked is whether today's young men and women would be prepared to fight for the UK and put their lives on the line as did previous generations. Polling tends to be ambivalent on the subject, with some saying yes and others no. I am reminded that the Oxford University Union held a debate on the very same topic in 1933, the year Hitler rose to power in Germany. The motion was "That this House will under no circumstances fight for its King and country", and it passed with 275 votes for and 153 against. And yet a few years later, many who voted for it were in uniform. I suspect today's generation would follow the same pattern. It's easy to hold an abstract opinion on war when your only experience of it is online or on TV. But if your family home has just been flattened or your brother or uncle torpedoed and sunk at sea, then I think attitudes would rapidly change. However, thanks to those who landed on the Normandy beaches back in 1944 and fought through to the eventual defeat of the enemy, we do not face a similar dilemma today. Let's hope it stays that way.
