Veterans Call for 2.2 Million National Servicemen To Be Honoured

Published on: 17 Jun, 2023
Updated on: 22 Jun, 2023

By Hugh Coakley

Military veteran Mike Homer was in Guildford on Friday (June 16) to publicise his plan to visit all 50 county towns in the UK in less than 150 hours between June 27 and July 10 to raise £22,000 for plaques for the 2.2 million men who did compulsory National Service between 1945 and 1963.

He said: “The plaques will say ‘May those who gave their lives never be forgotten’.”

Veterans Mike Homer and Roy Hunt publicising the Plaqueathon to raise money to commemorate the 2.2 million National Servicemen.

Mike, 84, with his veteran colleague Roy Hunt both served in the Royal Army Service Corps, and were in full uniform in North Street talking to passers by about the planned “plaqueathon”.

Mike is the chair of the National Service Veterans Alliance. He said he planned to spend about half an hour in each station meeting army, navy and air force cadets.

Veteran Roy Hunt with the National Service Veterans Alliance flag.

Mike said: “If you have contacts with cadet forces in any of the county towns, please contact me. You can also help by sponsoring me and encouraging others to do the same.

“We want to honour all those who served, many who were killed. Others suffered life changing injuries including PTSD and radiations induced cancers.”

£3,000 has been raised so far but the rest is needed to cover the cost of the 50 brass plaques which will “commemorate the contribution made by all the young men of the borough who were conscripted under the National Service Act to serve in the Nation’s Armed Forces throughout the World during the years 1945 to 1963”.

Roy Hunt, 83, drew attention by stopping the young men in the street with a barked “Get your hair cut”, followed by a laugh on both sides.

Roy was evacuated from Hackney in London to Guildford during the war. He survived a near miss VI bomb which landed and exploded on the edge of the recreation ground off Recreation Road in 1944.

“Oi you horrible lot. Get you hair cut” boomed veteran Roy Hunt to passers by in the time honoured army fashion which would be recognised by those serving as National Servicemen.

If you want to be part of the reception party which greets Mike Homer on his tour when it comes to Guildford, you can contact him by email at mamjh@yahoo.com or phone him on 07886 883 905

You can donate on the gofundme page here or scan the QR code below.