http://www.veteranscharity.org.uk/

Veterans Month, Barnstaple (2026)

23/06/2026

Born on this day in 1916, Sir Leonard "Len" Hutton was a soldier, sportsman and one of the finest batsmen ever to represent England. 🇬🇧🏏🪖

Before becoming a cricketing legend, Hutton answered the call to serve during the Second World War.

Joining the British Army, he served with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, where an accident during military training severely injured his left arm. The injury permanently altered the arm's length and mobility, leaving many to believe that his cricketing career at the highest level was over.

Hutton refused to accept that verdict.

Through determination, adaptation and countless hours of practice, he rebuilt his technique and returned to the game. What followed was one of the most remarkable sporting careers in cricket history.

Before the war, he had already made headlines with his world-record Test score of 364 against Australia at The Oval in 1938, a record that stood for nearly twenty years.

After the war, he returned to become the cornerstone of England's batting and, in 1952, became the first professional cricketer to captain England in the twentieth century.

Under his leadership, England regained The Ashes in 1953, ending almost two decades of Australian dominance.

Knighted for services to cricket, Hutton remains one of the game's most admired figures, respected not only for his achievements but also for the resilience he displayed after wartime injury.

Today we remember a veteran whose determination in uniform was matched by his determination at the crease.

23/06/2026

Born on this day in 1912, Alan Turing was not a serviceman, but few individuals contributed more to Allied victory during the Second World War. 🔐💻

A brilliant mathematician, logician and cryptanalyst, Turing became one of the leading figures at Bletchley Park, Britain's wartime codebreaking centre.

There he worked on the challenge of deciphering messages encrypted by the German Enigma machine. The intelligence gained from these efforts, codenamed Ultra, provided Allied commanders with crucial information on enemy plans, troop movements and U-boat operations.

Turing played a central role in developing techniques and machines that dramatically accelerated the process of breaking German codes. His work helped protect Atlantic convoys, support military operations across Europe and shorten the war.

Historians continue to debate exactly how much time Ultra saved, but many agree that the contribution was immense and undoubtedly saved countless lives.

Beyond the war, Turing's pioneering work laid foundations for modern computing and artificial intelligence. Concepts he explored in the 1940s continue to influence technology today.

Although he never wore a military uniform, his service to Britain was extraordinary. The work of Alan Turing and his colleagues reminds us that victory in war depends not only on those who fight on land, sea and air, but also on those whose intellect and innovation help make success possible.

Today we remember a remarkable mind whose contribution changed both the outcome of a war and the future of the world.

23/06/2026

Born on this day in 1910, Commander William "Bill" King DSO & Bar, DSC was a Royal Navy submariner, wartime hero and pioneering yachtsman whose life was defined by courage and determination. ⚓⛵

Few veterans demonstrated such resilience both during and after military service.

During the Second World War, Bill King commanded Royal Navy submarines operating in some of the most dangerous waters of the conflict. As captain of HMS Trusty and later HMS Telemachus, he undertook patrols against Axis shipping and naval forces in the Mediterranean and Far East.

Submarine service demanded exceptional nerve. Operating for weeks beneath the waves, often alone and unsupported, King and his crews faced enemy warships, aircraft, mines and mechanical failures while carrying out their missions.

His gallantry and leadership were recognised with the Distinguished Service Order and Bar and the Distinguished Service Cross.

Yet remarkably, his greatest challenge may have come after the war.

Having lost the use of one eye and carrying the effects of wartime injuries, King embarked on a series of ambitious sailing adventures. In 1968 he entered the first Golden Globe Race, the pioneering solo non-stop circumnavigation of the world.

Despite suffering severe storms, equipment failures and months of isolation, he completed the voyage and became the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world from the United Kingdom.

His achievement inspired generations of sailors and adventurers.

Today we remember a submariner, veteran and yachtsman whose determination knew few limits.

23/06/2026

Born on this day in 1894, Major General Sir Harold Barrowclough was a soldier, lawyer and jurist whose service to New Zealand spanned war and peace. 🇳🇿⚖️🪖

Few New Zealanders have excelled in so many fields.

Having begun legal studies in 1913, Barrowclough put his ambitions on hold when the First World War broke out. Volunteering for overseas service with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, he fought on the Western Front and distinguished himself as a courageous and capable officer.

Awarded the Military Cross, he rose through the ranks and ended the war commanding a battalion of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, NZ Defence Force.

Returning home, he completed his legal studies and established a successful career as a lawyer, while continuing to serve in the Territorial Force.

When the Second World War began, Barrowclough once again volunteered for active service. Commanding an infantry brigade of the 2nd New Zealand Division, he fought in Greece, North Africa and during Operation Crusader. His leadership impressed Major General Bernard Freyberg, who later recommended him for higher command.

Promoted to Major General, Barrowclough took command of the 3rd New Zealand Division, leading it through the Solomon Islands campaign in the Pacific War. Under his command, New Zealand forces played an important role in Allied operations against Japanese forces.

Following the war, he returned to the legal profession and in 1953 became Chief Justice of New Zealand. During his tenure he helped modernise the country's legal system and played a key role in establishing a permanent Court of Appeal.

Today we remember a soldier, leader and jurist whose contributions helped shape both New Zealand's military history and its justice system.

22/06/2026

Born on this day in 1910, Lieutenant Colonel Sir John Hunt was a soldier, leader and mountaineer whose determination helped take humanity to the roof of the world. 🪖⛰️

Before becoming forever associated with Mount Everest, John Hunt built a distinguished military career in the British Army.

Commissioned into the King's Royal Rifle Corps, he developed a reputation for leadership, endurance and careful planning. During the Second World War, he served with distinction in India, Burma, Greece and Italy, earning recognition for his command abilities in challenging operational environments.

The skills he developed as an Army officer organisation, logistics, teamwork and leadership under pressure would later prove invaluable in a very different arena.

In 1953, Hunt was selected to lead Britain's latest attempt on Mount Everest, then still unconquered despite numerous expeditions and many sacrifices.

Recognising that success would require teamwork rather than individual glory, Hunt meticulously organised the expedition. His leadership created the conditions that allowed Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay to reach the summit on 29 May 1953, becoming the first confirmed climbers to stand atop the world's highest mountain.

The achievement captured the imagination of millions and remains one of the great moments in exploration history.

Knighted for his contribution, Hunt continued to serve in public life and remained a respected figure in both military and mountaineering circles.

Today we remember a soldier whose leadership helped achieve one of humanity's greatest adventures.

22/06/2026

Born on this day in 1896, Admiral Leonard Warren Murray Royal Canadian Navy served during both World Wars and became one of Canada's most important naval commanders. 🇨🇦⚓

A veteran of the First World War, Murray later rose to command the Northwest Atlantic theatre during WWII, becoming the only Canadian officer to command an Allied theatre of operations.

From Halifax, he oversaw the protection of vital convoys crossing the Atlantic, helping ensure that Britain and the Allied forces received the men, food, fuel and equipment needed to continue the fight against N**i Germany.

After retiring from naval service, Murray settled in the United Kingdom, maintaining the close links between Canada and Britain that had been strengthened through two world wars.

Today we remember a remarkable naval leader whose contribution helped secure victory in the Atlantic.

22/06/2026

Born on this day in 1894, Bernard Ashmole combined distinguished military service with a remarkable career as one of Britain's leading classical historians and archaeologists. 🇬🇧📚🪖

Ashmole belonged to a generation whose lives were shaped by two world wars.

During the First World War, he served as an officer in the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers of the British Army and was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for gallantry and distinguished service. The decoration recognised acts of courage and leadership under difficult wartime conditions and marked him as one of many young officers who demonstrated exceptional commitment during the conflict.

When war returned in 1939, Ashmole once again volunteered his services, joining the Royal Air Force during the Second World War and contributing to Britain's war effort in a second global conflict.

Between and after his military service, Ashmole established himself as one of the foremost authorities on the art and archaeology of ancient Greece. He served at the British Museum, became Yates Professor of Classical Archaeology at University College London and produced influential works that helped shape the study of classical civilisation.

His life was one of service in every sense first to his country in war and later to scholarship, education and the preservation of humanity's shared heritage.

Today we remember a Military Cross recipient, veteran, historian and archaeologist whose legacy continues to inspire.

21/06/2026

Today's final veterans birthday mention is for Joseph Cyril Bamford CBE, born on 21 June 1916 a Royal Air Force veteran, engineer and founder of one of Britain's most successful manufacturing companies. 🇬🇧✈️🚜

Known to generations simply as "Mr JCB", Joseph Cyril Bamford combined wartime service, innovation and entrepreneurship to create a business that became recognised around the world.

During the Second World War, Bamford served with the Royal Air Force, gaining valuable experience in engineering, maintenance and practical problem-solving. Like many veterans of his generation, he emerged from the war with skills, determination and a desire to help rebuild Britain.

In 1945, with just a small workshop and limited resources, he founded J. C. Bamford Excavators Ltd (JCB).

His first machines were built using surplus wartime materials, reflecting the ingenuity and resourcefulness that characterised post-war Britain. From those modest beginnings, JCB grew into one of the world's leading manufacturers of construction and agricultural equipment.

Over the decades, the company became synonymous with innovation, producing machines that transformed construction, farming and infrastructure projects across the globe.

Bamford remained closely involved with the business for many years, helping establish a manufacturing success story that created jobs, exported British engineering expertise and became a household name.

Today we remember a veteran whose service in uniform was followed by a lifetime of innovation, industry and contribution to Britain's economy.

21/06/2026

Today we remember Kazimierz Leski, born on 21 June 1912 — engineer, intelligence officer and one of the most daring members of the Polish Resistance during the Second World War. 🇵🇱🦅

Few wartime stories are as remarkable as that of Kazimierz Leski.

Before the war, he was a talented engineer involved in submarine design for the Polish Navy. Following the German and Soviet invasions of Poland in 1939, he joined the underground resistance and became a key figure in the Polish Home Army (Armia Krajowa).

Operating under the codename "Bradl", Leski carried out some of the most audacious intelligence missions of the war. Using forged documents, impeccable language skills and extraordinary courage, he repeatedly travelled across occupied Europe disguised as a German general.

These journeys took him through France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany itself, gathering intelligence, transporting reports and maintaining vital communications between resistance networks and Allied authorities.

At a time when discovery would almost certainly have meant torture and ex*****on, Leski repeatedly passed through enemy checkpoints, railway stations and military headquarters while posing as one of the very officers he was working against.

He later took part in the Warsaw Uprising of 1944, fighting for Poland's freedom as German forces sought to crush the resistance.

Following the war, despite his service against N**i occupation, Leski suffered imprisonment under Poland's communist regime before eventually being rehabilitated and recognised for his wartime achievements.

Today he is remembered as one of the most resourceful and courageous intelligence operatives of the Second World War.

Veterans Month

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