VE Day Betrayal: Has Britain Forgotten Its Heroes?
VE Day: Forgotten Victory? Are We Doing Enough for Our Veterans?
Every year on May 8th, we mark Victory in Europe (VE) Day, a day that once echoed with national pride, remembrance, and the gratitude of a country saved from tyranny. But as the decades pass, those echoes are fading — and with them, perhaps, our sense of duty to those who sacrificed most.
For the few remaining World War II veterans, VE Day is not just a historical footnote. It is personal. It is visceral. It is the memory of friends lost in Normandy, of liberation battles waged, and of a nation rebuilt from ruins. And yet, in 2025, many of these veterans are being left behind — literally.
The UK government's decision to end financial support for veterans to travel to Normandy
The very beaches where their comrades fell are not just a logistical oversight. It feels like a betrayal.
“I walked off that beach in 1944 with blood on my boots and friends buried in the sand. Now I can’t even afford to go back to say goodbye.”
— Frank Ainsworth, 99, D-Day veteran
Let’s be clear: most of these veterans are in their 90s or older. For many, this year's anniversary could be their last chance to say goodbye — not only to their fallen brothers but to the land that became sacred through sacrifice. Should cost-cutting trump conscience?
We live in a country that commits billions to defence contracts, ceremonial events, and political pageantry. Yet, we cannot fund a handful of seats on a plane to France? The optics are grim. And for veterans, the message is starker: "Thank you for your service — but you're on your own now."
This raises a broader question: Is the UK doing enough for its veterans?
From homelessness to mental health struggles, from inadequate pensions to bureaucratic battles over benefits, our treatment of ex-service personnel is increasingly at odds with the rhetoric of “honour” and “gratitude” trotted out on remembrance days.
Conclusion
VE Day should remind us not just of a victory, but of a promise — to remember, respect, and repay. That promise must be more than a wreath laid once a year. It must be action.