'I want my generation to understand and respect and women did for us...

THE few Second World War heroes left will always be able to make commemorative trips for free thanks to Daily Express readers.

- By Giles Sheldrick

A fighting fund smashed through its £100,000 target, ensuring the dwindling band of brothers and sisters can go on their poignant pilgrimages for as long as they want.

It will also help the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans to fulfil their dreams in a personal way.

The Our Heroes Fund was the brainchild of businessman Johnny Gallagher, 30, and his heroine best friend Dorothea Barron, 100, and it has been backed by this paper.

It was set up to pay for military veterans' travel wishes, before the Government changed tack amid protests and offered to back trips this year. The sum kept rising and will now fund heroes' ambitions.

Johnny gave £20,000 and said: "I want my generation to understand and respect what these incredible men and women did for us. Their sacrifices secured our freedom the least we can do is listen, learn and support them, however we can." The rest of the total was donated by members of the public.

Johnny and pal Dorothea also helped raise more than £150,000 to help veterans visit France for the D-Day 80th anniversary last year.

Cause

It meant the former Wren and friends including Les Hammond, Doug Baldwin, Don Turrell, Ken Cooke, Peter Smoothy and Mervyn Kersh were able to pay tribute to the fallen on the invasion beaches.