World War 2 veteran tells GB News 'in England we don't remember' as group honoured in the Netherlands

A World War 2 veteran has told GB News that in England, we "don't remember" our service personnel as a group of war soldiers are honoured in the Netherlands.

Speaking to National Reporter Will Godley, WW2 veteran Arnold Walton said although it is "fantastic" to be celebrated by the Dutch, the British only remember their veterans "once a year".

Eleven British World War 2 veterans are being honoured in the Netherlands today, as part of the country's Liberation Day celebrations.

In the city of Wageningen, the British veterans are being honoured with a parade through the streets, where around 100,000 Dutch people are expected to line the path to celebrate those who fought to liberate the country from Nazi occupation.

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Speaking to Will at the parade, veteran Mr Walton expressed his joy at them being honoured on this special day.

He told GB News: "It's fantastic, I've never seen this many people in my life."

Asked by Will why he believes the Dutch are "so supportive" of the role the British veterans played, Mr Walton said: "For what we did in the war and after the war, and we've been friends ever since. It is just amazing that the people still remember."

Asked if he has ever seen a similar scale of celebration back home in the UK, he simply responded: "No."

Mr Walton expressed his disappointment at a lack of recognition for British veterans, stating that we only remember "once a year" in England.

He told GB News: "In England, we don't remember, only once a year, that's all.

"Here we remember everything, it's wonderful."

Speaking to another WW2 veteran, Philip Alcott, he told Will that he's "never seen anything like it" as they were transported through the parade.

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Overcome with emotion, Mr Alcott said: "I've never been anything like this.

"There are so many people all the way down clapping and cheering, wishing us well. To me, it's unbelievable.

Another veteran being honoured in the Netherlands is 101-year-old George Durrant, who played a song for Will on his harmonica from 1936.

Mr Durrant played a song he learnt in Burma, whilst serving with the Intelligence Corps.

The 11 World War Two veterans have been brought to the Netherlands from the UK by the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans.

Dick Goodwin, the Vice President of the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, told GB News they will carry on their work for "as long as they can" while there are still living British veterans.

He said: "This is a fabulous opportunity to bring our veterans to commemorate Dutch liberation with the Dutch people.

"We will carry on doing it for as long as we can and while we’ve got veterans to bring with us."

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