A cafe owner in Lincolnshire whose taken thousands of veterans back to Normandy and Dunkirk says he can’t find anymore to help.
Harold Payne from the Anglia Motel and D-Day Cafe is looking for any surviving veterans of Second World War conflicts before they’re all gone.
He says “Veterans are getting very few and far between. We know veterans are getting older now.”
The cafe is hosting a special ceremony for veterans and the local community this Remembrance. Thousands of red poppies will be fired from an artillery gun to mark the ultimate sacrifice armed forces veterans have made.
Harold Payne is urging any surviving Second World War veterans to contact him
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June 6 next year will be the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. Harold wants to give out commemorative medals to anyone who served on Remembrance Sunday.
“If we get them together, have a nice cup of tea and talk about what we’ve done over the years it will be fantastic.
“People like me, it’s our duty to remember them. Because we should never forget.”
Around 383,000 British soldiers died in the war, including members of crown colonies. Of the men that made it home, its thought only a few thousand are still living and aged in their 90's or 100's.
The Anglia Motel in Lincolnshire is hosting a special ceremony for veterans and the local community
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Harold has regularly taken veterans to Normandy
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Harold, who is 83-years-old, was a child during the Second World War. His memories of an uncle who served but struggled with alcohol after the war inspired him to do something to help.
For the 75th anniversary of D-Day he spent £60,000 of his own money restoring a DUKW amphibious landing craft. Nicknamed a ‘duck boat’ by soldiers, he took veterans out to sea at Normandy to honour the historic landings.
Anglia Motel stands out along the A15 near Holbeach because of the food, flags and huge army tank outside. It’s been popular with travellers and armed forces for fifty years.
Since 1990, the cafe has raised more than a million pounds for veteran trips and charity causes through donations and events.
The charity cafe has also taken hundreds of school children to Normandy to place roses on war graves
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Harold noticed some veterans getting upset because they couldn’t afford to visit their friends’ graves in Europe.
“Seeing veterans visit my cafe who couldn’t go back to Arnhem, couldn’t go back to Normandy and Dunkirk because they haven’t got enough money. We’ve done it for them.”
“I've always told people over the years when I took them back, they all seem to be ten years younger. When they get off the coach, they’re a completely different kind of person.”
The charity cafe has also taken hundreds of school children to Normandy to place roses on war graves.
With only a few Second World War veterans left, Harold is turning his attention to other conflicts including Iraq and Afghanistan. He is already raising £250,000 for a memorial garden in their honour.