Forty War Veterans And War Widows Have Begun A Unique Pilgrimage To Visit The Graves Of Those Killed During The Second World War In The Far East

Group gather to fly to the Far East for war memorial visits.

At RAF Brize Norton, a large group of veteran servicemen, war widows and former Prisoners of War are gathering at the flight terminal. Anglia TV reporter Owen Spencer-Thomas describes them as war pilgrims with their aim to pay homage to colleagues who never returned from the Second World War in the Far East. Medals and remembrance poppies are worn. One man holds a snapshot camera to his eye. The reporter refers to “The Forgotten Army”, particularly those who fought against the Japanese who did not receive the recognition they deserved. There was a delay before many could return to the United Kingdom. A man recalls being there when the bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the long wait for numbers to be allocated for men to return home. A man was killed in action in 1942 and his widow says she did not hear that he had died until 1946. A man says they will go and see what has changed and will reminisce with colleagues. As members of the group cross the tarmac and board the plane, the reporter mentions that the government at the time was criticised for the lack of celebration when the service people returned home from the Far East. There is a brief glimpse of Lord Trefgarne, Minister for Defence Support who arrived by helicopter to wish the party a safe journey. Organiser of the pilgrimage, Col. Mike Fleetwood says that they do not regard the service people as forgotten, but as a mighty army that did very well. The week’s tour will visit Thailand, Burma, Malaysia and finally Singapore where they will be joined by Michael Heseltine MP, Secretary of State for Defence, for the Remembrance Day service at the Cathedral. The plane is seen taking off. This video was made to be shown in a news story on Anglia Television early evening news / magazine programme About Anglia.

Keywords

Far East veterans; Second World War; Military; Prisoners of War; Widows; Remembrance; Reunions; Forgotten Army

Place

Brize Norton (Other)

Additional Description

Lord Trefgarne had various roles in Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government including as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Trade in 1981, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office 1981 to 1982, at the Department of Health and Social Security 1982 to 1983 and at the Ministry of Defence from 1983 to 1985. In 1985 he was promoted to Minister of State for Defence Support and then served as Minister of State for Defence Procurement from 1986 to 1989 and as a Minister of State at the Department of Trade and Industry 1989 to 1990.

The commentary mentions 230 war pilgrims but the Anglia TV metadata refers to 40 war veterans and war widows – perhaps the East of England region contingent?