P & O DISCOUNT OFFER TO VETERANS

17 Sep 2003 11:15 AM

Veterans' Minister, Ivor Caplin, today announced that the MOD had obtained a 50% discount on P&O Ferries fares for veterans' groups travelling to Normandy to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the D-Day Landings in June next year.

P&O Ferries are offering a 50% discount to Normandy veterans' groups travelling by coach to France.

Veterans' Minister, Ivor Caplin, said:

"I am very pleased we have managed to secure this offer for the Normandy Veterans. Many of them have travelled to France on several occasions over the years to remember and honour their comrades. Many of them use P&O Ferries to get there and I warmly welcome this generous gesture by P&O. This agreement, I hope, can help towards keeping costs down for the veterans commemorating the 60th anniversary."

Russ Peters, Managing Director of P&O Ferries, said:

"Whilst every D-Day anniversary is an historic event, the 60th anniversary is particularly poignant, and veterans are understandably eager to attend. We hope our gesture makes the journey easier and we will do our utmost to extend the warmest possible welcome to these very special people."

Major General Peter Martin, President of the Normandy Veterans' Association said:

"We are absolutely delighted with this news and would like to thank the Ministry of Defence and P & O Ferries."

Free passports are also available to veterans who wish to travel to the Normandy Landings 60th anniversary and other Second World War commemorations world-wide next year, the Home Office announced on 4 June 2003.

Notes to Editors

1. The 50% discount will apply to group passenger and coach fares on services between Dover and Calais, Portsmouth and Le Havre, and Portsmouth and Cherbourg. It cannot be offered for on-board accommodation on overnight crossings.

2. Applications for the discounted fares should be made on the headed stationery of the appropriate veterans' association and should state the preferred route, sailing times with alternatives, number of passengers and vehicle details.

3. Applications should be sent to Mr Terry Weller, Coach and Contract Services Manager, P&O Ferries Ltd, Channel House, Channel View Road, Dover, CT17 9TJ. Once authorised, the applications will be forwarded to P&O's Reservations Department until the booking can be confirmed.

4. Details of the offer are available on the P&O Ferries website: www.POferries.com.

5. Applications for free passports should be made by veterans, or their spouses, to their local veterans' organisation.

6. The Normandy Landings took place from June to the end of August 1944, during which time more than 800,000 British and Canadian troops and one and a quarter million Americans landed in Normandy. It was the greatest amphibious operation in history, and opened a new front in north-west Europe which was essential to the defeat of Nazi Germany. D-Day was the first day of the landings, 6 June 1944. The 60th anniversary commemorations will take place in France from 4 June to 24 August 2004; the events of particular interest to British veterans are from 5 to 7 June.

7. The Ministry of Defence is working with the French Normandie Memoire 60eme Anniversaire Committee to develop the programme of commemorations for the anniversary. The UK Government to date is also to provide two military bands, be represented at both Ministerial and Senior Armed Forces level in Normandy and assist with a service of remembrance and thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral, London on 20 October 2004.

8. The previous Veterans Minister was Dr Lewis Moonie MP. Ivor Caplin was appointed Veterans Minister on 13 June 2003.