IMPORTANT: Battle of Britain Vets Need Your Help!

[Dave Homewood]

Hello All,

This is a very important posting. As many of you will know by now, the new Battle of Britain London Memorial will be unveiled in September 2005, and there are some important functions for the remaining few veterans of the Battle of Britain being held in London.

Of the 14 survivng veterans living in New Zealand, 11 of them very much want to return to Britain to attend the unveiling and the commemorations, marking 65 years since the Battle of Britain.

They have a tour planned, and all the accommodation and events are taken care of, as well as transfers, etc. However, the group is struggling to find funding to actually get to the UK from New Zealand.

The Government of New Zealand, through it's Department of Veterans' Affairs, has said it can give each New Zealand born veteran a sum of NZ$2000 towards the cost of the journey. As they have decided due to their age (none is younger than 85) that they definately require the comfort and convenience of business class rather than economy for the long trip of up to 24 hours flying , this money does not go anywhere near towards covering their own tickets.

On top of this, they all feel they need either spouses or other caregivers to be with them for this trip, as none are confident of making such a journey and tour by themselves without some younger blood with them.

However Veterans Affairs has made no allocation for caregivers.

Another problem is, a couple of the men living here in New Zealand were British born, but now live in NZ. The NZ Govt won't pay anything to these men, saying it is Britain's responsibility. I'm told that Britain has also washed their hands of these men, stating they are not Britain's responsibility.

THESE ARE THE MEN WHO SAVED BRITAIN!!!!

THEY SAVED THE WORLD FROM TIRANNY!!!

And now no-one wants to help them with, what to any Govt Dept is petty cash, a little funding. I feel this is an utter disgrace, when you see the millions of dollars wasted by Governments every month.

These 11 men and their spouses/caregivers need our help. I have no money to give, but I am trying to help by spreading the word and making people aware of the tour and the situation these heroes are in.

The tour organiser, veteran Alan Gawith, is a very nice chap, and I really want to help him and his comrades. They are not corporate go-getter types, they are old men, and thus they don't really know really where to seek sponsorship or support. I am attempting to help them with this, but I appeal to you all for your support, sponsorship, ideas, suggestions...

Do you work for an airline or a company that might be able to help in some way?

Are you in a club or organisation that could help with raising funds or awareness?
ie - something like the...
Air Training Corp? Boy Scouts? Guides?
Royal Aeronautical Society?
Battle of Britain Historical Sociaty?
Royal New Zealand Air Force Association?
Royal New Zealand Returned Services Association?
An Aeroclub? A Historical Society?
Brevet Club? Kings Empire Veterans? British Legion?

If so, can you let your members know about this and try to get some fundraising going?

I am creating a page on my website for this group and am currently awaiting information from Alan so that it can be put online. Once it is up I shall post here again (probably within the next week or so)

I don't think we should stand by and let these men, these extremely brave men, miss this vital opportunity. Think what they did for us - now it's our turn to do something for them.

CAN YOU HELP? IF SO, CONTACT ME!

[Bruce]

Man! $2000.00 is a feeble effort by the Government - but then the problem with WW2 vets is that they don't study Hip - Hop or other useful things.
In the UK, (For UK residents) there is a scheme to sponsor war veterans, be they ground crew, airmen, soldiers, sailors whatever, to visit any one location in thier wartime service, accompanied by 1 caregiver, with about 80% of thier costs covered (actual payouts depend on the theatre of operations to be visited) Although I am not sure of the exact details, funding is from lottery money and Governments fund approximately equally. Applicants do need to submit an application but virtually every WW2 serviceman is eligible. I think that this sort of scheme is admirable and I wouldnt mind my extra 5c Liter petrol "Auckland" tax going that way, but of course that may mean glorifying war, and unless Helen and the Press corps go, our Govt wouldnt be interested!

[Dave Homewood]

"Man! $2000.00 is a feeble effort by the Government - but then the problem with WW2 vets is that they don't study Hip - Hop or other useful things."

Amazing Bruce, tour organiser and veteran Alan Gawith sited the exact same comparison when I spoke with him tonight, he too said the money that those two idiot hip-hoppers got would have paid for their whole party!

He also lamented the fact that the RNZAF won't take them because the PM isn't going. I'm surprised she's not going as it happens, it is a BIG event, and very pertinent to this country, and we all know she loves free trips.

[DragonflyDH90]

I agree Dave, I think the Government needs to look at things in perspective.
Without these men and all the others that served the world would be a very different place.
The only stumbling block I see is time, its a shame more wasnt done sooner as there are only a few months to go and it can take time to get things moving.

My first thought would be to contact the media, get an item placed with TVNZ, TV3, Prime (its the type of thing Paul would probably run with).
Contact local MP's and try and get things moving that way.
Try the RNZAF again but go to someone higher, the comment about not going because the PM isnt is rubbish, it would be an absolute crime if there wasnt the RNZAF in attendence in one form or another. And if they do go it would be only right that the veterans attended also.

There are so many avenues that could be persued, but one thing is for certain, move quickly.

Media first, I think you may be surprised as to what could happen.

I will be in the UK in Sept and will make every effort to be at the ceremony.