BRITAIN MUST NOT ABANDON OUR LAST WW2 HEROES

THE EXPRESS CALLS FOR URGENT FUNDING SO VETERANS CAN ATTEND MEMORIALS

- By Jon King and Martyn Brown

THE Daily Express stands with veterans today in urging Sir Keir Starmer not to abandon the few Second World War heroes left but to pay for them to honour lost comrades.

Our plea to the Prime Minister comes after funds from an earlier Government scheme dried up. The old soldiers fear they might miss events this summer — the 80th anniversary of VE Day falls on May 8.

D-Day veteran Ken Cooke is among those backing the Respect Our War Heroes crusade. The 99-year-old, who was seriously wounded in the Normandy landings, said it is a “very emotional experience” to visit the last resting place of friends who “didn’t come home”. Falklands hero Simon Weston, below, said simply: “These are extraordinary people, they must be helped.”

During commemorations to mark 80 years since D-Day last year, Sir Keir said its veterans “represent the very best of us”.