Customer Jack, honoured to join Voyage of Remembrance
Customer Jack, a decorated D-Day veteran has spoken of his honour at being invited to take part in the ‘Voyage of Remembrance’ to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings!
20/06/2019
Customer Jack, a decorated D-Day veteran has spoken of his honour at being invited to take part in the ‘Voyage of Remembrance’ to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings!
Jack is 101 and recently returned from the remembrance cruise to France which was organised by the Royal British Legion.
The oldest former combatant sailing on board Boudicca, Jack joined up to 300 D-Day veterans on the cruise to Normandy, which took in ports on both sides of the English Channel for a series of commemorative events.
Aboard the ship, Jack rubbed shoulders with royalty and leading politicians from the UK, including HRH Prince Charles, Prime Minister Theresa May and Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn.
The 'Voyage of Remembrance' was funded by the Royal British Legion, in conjunction with the Ministry of Defence.
It was a tremendous honour to take part in the Voyage of Remembrance celebrations and I am very grateful to have been given the chance to visit France again and pay tribute to my fallen comrades, who paid the ultimate sacrifice to help us achieve victory.
Jack, Customer
Jack joined up in 1939 aged just 21 and served with the Royal Artillery Regiment throughout the Second World War, leaving the army in 1946.
A demolitions expert, Jack was sent into France ahead of the D-Day landings to clear a path for the Allied advance.
He was awarded a host of medals for his service, including the 1939-45 Star, the France and Germany Star, the Defence Medal and the War 1939-45 medal.
Jack is such an inspiration and it was an honour to speak with him about his experiences. His generation gave up so much to win the freedom that so many of us take for granted today and we are all indebted to their service and bravery.
Nathan, Community Liaison Manager
After the war, Jack worked for a printer in Fleet Street, London publishing leading national media titles including The Sun and The News of the World. He married his wife Florence and had a son, John.
Jack retired in 1983 and moved to Maidstone to live with his son four years ago when his health deteriorated following a fall. Jack has since received regular home care visits from Bluebird Care Maidstone.
