As D-day approaches, it is time to remember Britain’s forgotten Burmese allies
In the run-up to the 75 th anniversary of D-Day, the moving account by Alison Campsie highlights how many lives were lost to spare us the horrors of Nazism and fascism and to build a stronger, safer Europe (Heritage, 3 June).
It makes me sad to think that we are on the verge of severing our hard-fought relationship with Europe. My father fought in France, surviving Dunkirk, to be posted across the world for four years to fight the Japanese in Burma. He fought alongside the brave Burmese, who gave their lives to support their overlords, the British. Yet, like the Gurkhas, these veterans received no pensions or recompense for their loyalty.
The Gurkhas were fortunate to have Joanna Lumley champion their cause. For some years a small British charity H4FA (Help 4 Forgotten Allies) has supported the Burmese veterans and their families, in the absence of any recognition by the British Government.
The veterans have welcomed regular visits by H4FA trustees, bringing money and basic medicines to ease their harsh living conditions. Money is now directed to assist their descendants with education and work programmes. Next week, I will be fortunate to attend a world film premiere in London of a special film, The Forgotten Allies, made by Grammar Productions, a young British film company, about the situation. Lest we forget.
FIONA GARWOOD Ormidale Terrace, Edinburgh
In the week of D-Day, we should not forget that President Trump is merely the present occupier of the office; our blood and joint heritage bond with the USA is infinitely deeper than a single man. The hate-filled anti-trump marches are shameful and the Mayor of London’s remarks, in particular, were uncalled for.
The US people stood by us in the Second World War. Shoulder by shoulder, our forefathers together fought the scourge of fascism and totalitarianism, both of the left and right. Without US help we would have been overrun by the Nazis or, later, by Stalinist USSR. We should not forget 400,000 Americans died.
Any reservations about the present US president should be put aside. Blindly hating another leader, refusing invites or marching in demonstrations says more about the protestors than it does about the president. We should be above such infantilism.
ALEXANDER MCKAY New Cut Rigg, Edinburgh