Older veterans mark longest campaign
Eight Australian veterans of the Battle of the Atlantic will travel to the UK later this month to attend commemorations to mark the 70th anniversary of what was the longest military campaign of the Second World War.
Eight Australian veterans of the Battle of the Atlantic will travel to the UK later this month to attend commemorations to mark the 70th anniversary of what was the longest military campaign of the Second World War.
The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Warren Snowdon, said the Battle of the Atlantic, which spanned from 1939 to the Victory in Europe in 1945, was pivotal to the success of the Allied campaign against Nazi Germany.
“Australians were involved in many facets of the battle, as members of the Royal Navy, Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Royal Air Force (RAF), Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the Merchant Navies of several allied nations,” he said.
“The Battle of the Atlantic came at a tragic cost, with some 65,000 Allied and merchant seamen lost, some 6,000 RAF aircrew killed and about 5,000 British and Allied ships sunk.”
The Battle was crucial to the Allied victory in the Second World War, with supply routes in the Atlantic Ocean vital in allowing the Allies to accelerate the build up of air forces, the transportation of troops, food, medicine and equipment for the invasion of continental Europe.
The veterans, aged between 86 and 95 years, are from New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria. They represent the RAN, RAAF and Merchant Navy.
The veterans will attend commemorations marking the anniversary including a service at the Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool. The service will be followed by a march through the city – both activities form part of month long commemorations in the United Kingdom.
“In addition the veterans will also attend Australian-led services commemorating RAN, RAAF and Merchant Navy, including wreath-laying ceremonies at the RAF Coastal Command plaque in Westminster Abbey, the Merchant Navy Memorial at Tower Hill and on-base at Her Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth.
“This visit will be one of high emotion for this group of men. They will get the chance to meet with old mates and gather with Allied friends to remember the thousands who never made it home,” Mr Snowdon said.
