Second World War veterans will travel to Europe this summer to attend major commemorative events marking the Normandy Landings and the Battle of Arnhem, with the trips funded by the
UK Government in partnership with the Royal British Legion.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) confirmed it will provide financial support to ensure surviving veterans can return to the sites where they served and honour those who lost their lives during the war.
The funding will be distributed through the Royal British Legion (RBL), which supports serving personnel, veterans and their families. The charity will work alongside organisations including The Spirit of Normandy Trust and The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans to organise the commemorative visits.
Defence Secretary John Healey said the initiative reflects the nation’s duty to honour the generation that secured peace and freedom during the Second World War.
Speaking ahead of VE Day commemorations, Mr Healey recalled standing on Utah Beach during previous D-Day ceremonies and witnessing the enduring impact of the events of 1944.
“Those young men faced unimaginable danger to defend the freedoms we enjoy today,” he said. “While we can never fully repay their service, we are determined to ensure their contribution is properly recognised.”
The announcement follows the Government’s recently published 10-year Veterans Strategy and the Strategic Defence Review, both of which emphasise greater national support for veterans and stronger community recognition of their service.
As part of that commitment, the Office for Veterans’ Affairs is rolling out a £50 million support programme known as VALOUR across the UK.
Minister for Veterans and People Louise Sandher-Jones said commemorative visits remain deeply important for former servicemen and women.
“We are renewing the nation’s contract with those who serve,” she said. “I have seen firsthand how meaningful these commemorations are to veterans and remain committed to supporting their attendance.”
With the number of surviving Second World War veterans continuing to decline, ministers said preserving their legacy and enabling future generations to hear their stories remains a national priority.
Richard Palusinski, chairman of The Spirit of Normandy Trust, said many veterans return to Normandy not for recognition, but to remember fallen comrades.
“As veterans reach a great age, the cost and complexity of organising safe and meaningful pilgrimages increases significantly,” he said. “This funding is vital in allowing them the opportunity to honour their friends.”
Steve Baynes, the Royal British Legion’s Head of Grants, said: “The freedoms we enjoy today would not have been possible without the courage and sacrifice of the Second World War generation, and as the nation’s champion of Remembrance, the RBL is dedicated to ensuring their legacy is always remembered.
We’re proud to be working with the Office for Veterans’ Affairs to ensure those who served can attend commemorative events across Europe, and delighted to be collaborating with the Spirit of Normandy Trust and the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, whose long-standing experience in organising these deeply meaningful visits is invaluable”.
From the beaches of Normandy to battlefields across Europe, the commemorations are expected to bring together veterans, families and supporters in tribute to those who served during some of the most significant operations of the Second World War. Photo by Chris Nyborg, Wikimedia commons.
