WW2 veterans revisit battlefields with Heroes Return grants

11 Nov 2010 02:45 PM

As the nation prepares for ceremonies to commemorate the heroism of a special generation on this Remembrance Sunday (Nov 14th), the Big Lottery Fund announces its latest round of funding made today across the country enabling veterans to embark on poignant visits back to the places they saw action over 70 years ago.

Announcing today’s awards, Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, Alison Magee, said: “As we commemorate the 65th anniversary of the end of the war it is inspiring to hear people’s stories and what they had to endure. Through the Heroes Return 2 programme we want to recognise these sacrifices and allow those that served, along with their families and carers, to reflect on that time, should they wish to do so. We are proud to have been able to play a small part in their story and hope all of these trips help to keep the lessons of the past alive for today’s generation.”

Stanley McColl, 85, from Dundee joined the army in 1943 when he was 18. Just under a year later as a member of 615 Field Squadron, Stanley took part in the D-Day Landings on 6 June 1944. The operation was the largest amphibious invasion of all time with over 160,000 troops landing over a 50 mile stretch of the Normandy coast.

Even all these years later, Stanley can still vividly recall the senses that vividly recall the senses that overpowered him as he stepped off the boat. “The first thing that hit you was the noise, there was so much to take in; it was unbelievable like nothing else I had ever experienced,” he says. “The main thing for us was to get to land as quickly as possible and to try and get even close to where you were supposed to be, forming an orderly group on the shore.”

Stanley has since been back to Normandy to pay his respects at the war graves but his trip in October this year allowed him to take more time and visit the places that he remembers so clearly. He said, “In 1944 everything around me was total confusion. It was very emotional for me to be back there again where so much happened to me in a short space of time and to be able to take the time to remember.”

William Smith, 86, lives in Kilmalcolm, Renfrewshire, and joined the Royal Air Force in September 1942. Six months later he boarded a troop ship and sailed to , arriving in Bombay three months later.

William spent a year in in Jessore, near Bengal , servicing Wellington Bombers. In June 1944 he joined the 79th Fighter Squadron, working on P-47 American Thunderbolt Fighter Bombers. When he had completed his training he was posted to North Burma in September 1944 where he worked servicing fighter bombers until VJ day in August 1945.

William said: “This is my first trip back after all of those years and it will take me back to all those places where I served. I am going back with my son who is a photographer and will be taking a photographic account of my trip. I especially want to visit a graveyard outside Rangoon where thousands of Allied troops are buried and pay my respects to those who fell. This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I am both thrilled and honoured to be going back.”

A veteran from Edinburgh has received a grant towards travel costs for a commemorative visit to and .

Further Information

Big Lottery Fund Press Office
Contact: Lorna McNiven: 0141 242 1451
Heroes Return 2 Helpline 0845 00 00 121
Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030
Textphone: 0845 6021 659
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Notes to editors

The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out half the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
BIG is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the since June 2004. The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to good causes. As a result, over £25 billion has now been raised and more than 330,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.
Heroes Return Launched in 2004 this £17 million scheme provided funding to Second World War veterans, their wives or husbands, widows and widowers and, where required, their present-day carers to visit the overseas areas where the veterans saw active service. By linking with activities funded through the Their Past Your Future scheme, Heroes Return is also helping to give young people a better understanding of the efforts and sacrifices made by veterans.
Home Front Recall provided grants of between £500 and £20,000 for regional and local projects across the in 2004-2005 that commemorated the events of the Second World War and the contributions of different groups in society. The scheme funded a very wide range of projects including special community days; reunions and exhibitions; recordings of the experiences of those who lived through the War; plays and pieces of creative artwork. In addition, the scheme funded a number of national grants to organisations such as the TUC to fund a range of commemorative activities.
Their Past Your Future is an ongoing UK-wide schools and education scheme to give young people the opportunity to learn first-hand from veterans about their experience of war. The Big Lottery Fund is working closely with the Imperial War Museum and the museums, libraries and archives sector UK-wide to help young people to research and learn about the personal experiences and roles played by forces personnel and civilians. Competitions have enabled schools to take part in World War Two related visits with veterans. The Imperial War Museum has a website (www.theirpast-yourfuture.org.uk) with a wide range of resources for schools to use and details of projects delivered by museums across the UK.