WWII hero James Fenton was devastated by the death of the Queen, just months after she sent him a celebratory birthday card when he turned 100 in April, but he says the King will make the UK and its veterans proud
In his first Remembrance Sunday speech as monarch, King Charles will honour the armed forces for their extraordinary sacrifice and bravery today.
The annual Remembrance Sunday ceremony was of utmost importance to his late mother the Queen during her 70-year reign.
She missed the event only a handful of times, mainly due to medical reasons.
Today, His Majesty will lay a wreath at the Cenotaph in London, where there will be a March Past attended by more than 10,000 veterans.
And last night, he attended the Royal British Legion’s annual Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, accompanied by the Queen Consort and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The monarch’s role as head of the armed forces means a great deal to veterans across Britain, and the loss of the Queen will be keenly felt this year.
Here, we meet some of those comrades who will join the King to say thank you…
James Fenton served in the Burma campaign during WW2 (
Charles will do country and its veterans proud
James Fenton was devastated by the death of the Queen, just months after she sent him a celebratory birthday card when he turned 100 in April.
He served in the Royal Artillery in India, Malaysia and Burma from 1942-45 and attended the Festival of Remembrance in London last night.
James, who lives in Port Erin on the Isle of Man, says: “It meant so much to me to receive her letter. I have lived through five monarchs but she has been a particular mainstay throughout my life. But I think King Charles is doing a fantastic job and will do this country and the veterans proud.”
He enlisted into the Army when he was 20 and was sent to India before fighting the Japanese in Burma, now Myanmar, playing an integral role in what is now known as the ‘Forgotten Army’ – the men who fought outside Europe.
Veteran James with a camera he used in Burma
James served with the Royal Artillery in Burma during the Second World War
James, who is originally from Lancashire, recalls: “As millions celebrated VE Day in London, with Winston Churchill declaring victory, we were still being shelled.”
The accomplished painter and poet would send regular letters and photographs of his experiences back home to his parents, but they would take three weeks to arrive.
But James, who went on to open his own photography studio with his late wife Lilian, admits keeping many of his worst experiences from his mum and dad.
He recalls watching one comrade drown and many of his friends suffer from malaria.
Queen Elizabeth II attends the Remembrance Sunday ceremony in 2019
SOURCE: Laura Connor
D-Ample Newspaper 