With Remembrance Day just around the corner, many people will begin to reflect on how many WW2 veterans are still alive today, both in the United Kingdom and around the world.
WW2 ended 79 years ago, in 1945. The youngest conscription age in Britain was 18 years old*; however, some even younger managed to successfully lie about their age and slipped through the cracks. As a result, any surviving WW2 veterans in Britain are likely to be between the ages of 95 and 112**.
As expected, only a few WW2 veterans are still alive today in 2024. With conflicts and political instability in many parts of the world acting as a constant reminder that war is never far away, some may argue that it’s more important than ever to retell the stories of surviving WW2 veterans in an effort to prevent future wars and remember the sacrifices they made for their country.
As of 2024, estimates of the number of WW2 veterans still alive today vary from 300,000 to 500,000↾. The exact number is difficult to predict, as hundreds of WW2 veterans likely pass away each day around the world. A majority of countries involved in WW2 also don’t hold up to date records on WW2 veterans.
In the United Kingdom, as of 2024, it’s estimated that under 70,000☨ British WW2 veterans are still alive.
Nine of our members at Blesma are surviving WW2 veterans, some of whom were involved in the D-Day landings.
Blesma is a unique association of approximately 2,697 Members, with a defining commitment to help war veterans live independent and fulfilling lives after suffering the loss of limbs, use of limbs, sight, speech or hearing.
Meet some of Blesma’s members who served in the British Armed Forces during WW2 and are still alive today.
Henry Harley, 98
Henry, now 98, served with the Highland Light Infantry and was involved in ferocious fighting across Belgium and the Netherlands, helping push the Nazis back into Germany.
At just 18 years old Henry was ordered to enter a house on his own to flush out German soldiers before moving forward to check on enemy gun positions.
He managed to help a number of comrades to safety in the German town of Kleve, near the Dutch border, before he and five fellow soldiers were hit by a shell.
Henry recalled: "I remember turning to my right and seeing these shells come over. One blew my left arm almost clean off above the elbow and left shrapnel in my face. The guys around me all dropped like stones – they were all killed in the blast. I was lucky but had to retreat quickly as I was losing lots of blood. I kept hold of my arm, which was dangling down, and managed to get back to safety before I passed out. I don’t remember anything else until I woke up in the hospital with my arm having been amputated."
Henry was safely transported back home to England where he spent some time recovering at Dudley Hospital in the West Midlands before being discharged.
“I was glad to be back and safe, but lots of things had changed. I couldn’t get my old job back and had to get used to using a prosthetic limb.”
Fortunately Henry became a Member of Blesma and is still a Member today. Our Members and their families have access to financial assistance, advice on prosthetics, social activities with other veterans who have suffered a traumatic injury, as well as a Support and Outreach Officer for advice and emotional support.
Henry went on to work in security sector for 37 years and married his childhood sweetheart Marjorie.
Larry Morgan, 102
During The Blitz in 1941, Larry Morgan and his family were bombed out of their home in London’s East End. They were re-homed, and Larry went on to work as a builder, but was soon called up and trained as a signaller attached to the 8th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment.
During WW2 Larry was sent to fight in Burma against the Japanese forces. While serving in Burma, a grenade fell between Larry and his comrade and exploded. Shrapnel from the explosion was left lodged in his left knee and thigh.
The fight was relentless.The Japanese launched a bayonet attack and each side threw grenades like cricket balls.
Larry Morgan, Blesma Member and WW2 Veteran
Due to the severity of Larry’s injuries, he was treated at an evacuation hospital constructed out of bamboo before being airlifted to a hospital in Calcutta.
Whilst in Calcutta, he contracted malaria. He was then transported onto Hyderabad, where his leg developed gangrene (death of body tissue). Larry ultimately made the difficult decision to have his leg amputated above the knee.
After the war Larry went on to work in photography until 1986. Larry recently recalled: "I still think of the lads from Burma. I’m the only one left and always remember them on VJ Day.”
[Blesma have] helped me with welfare since the beginning when at least twice a year, someone would call on us. Recently, these visits have resulted in Blesma fitting me up with a three-wheeler trolley to get about and on one occasion they fixed me up with an electric bike.
During and after WW2, Blesma worked tirelessly to ensure that veterans who had lost a limb were provided with prosthetic limbs and financial aid to restart their lives. The Association also campaigned for better work and employment support for amputees.
It’s estimated some 12,000 men returned from WW2 having lost limbs. With resilience and determination, as well as the support of Blesma, a great many severely injured veterans went on to live independent and fulfilling lives after the loss of a limb.
We are proud to support injured veterans for life. Your donation to our Remembrance Day Appeal will help us support WW2 veterans like Larry and Henry, and other injured veterans in desperate need of support.
Remembrance Day Appeal 2024
*Source: Conscription: the Second World War
**Source: John Tinniswood is recorded as the oldest living WW2 veteran in the UK at the age of 112. BBC News: World's oldest man: 'No special secret to long life'
☨Source: Mark Felton Productions: How Many WW2 Veterans Still Alive 2024?
↾Source: Mark Felton Productions: How Many WW2 Veterans Still Alive 2024? And History On The Net.
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Blesma was founded in the aftermath of the First World War. Since 1932, Blesma has worked tirelessly to provide practical, emotional and financial support to injured military personnel, their families and widow(er)s as they rebuild their lives.
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