Salute our heroes

Britain's oldest WW1 soldier and a brave young Marine join ranks to back our campaign

Exclusive by Douglas Wight & Robert Kellaway

IT WAS just a smile, a handshake, a modest acknowledgement of a special shared bond.

But when Harry Patch met Mark Ormrod it was clear that while their war wounds may be separated by nearly a century, their courage is timeless.

Video: 109 yr old WW1 veteran talks

The News of the World brought together our oldest living war veteran and one of our bravest serving battle casualties for this historic picture to launch our Veterans Day campaign to salute Britain's heroes.

HAVE YOUR SAY: DO YOU SUPPORT OUR VETERANS DAY?

But the 90 years separating their galantry fell away as Mark and Harry joined forces to back our crusade.

Harry, 109, said: "We have a hell of a job to make youngsters understand what we went through. That's why this campaign is SO important—for both the military and the rest of the country."

Honour

So today the News of the World demands we honour our brave service men and women, past and present—and show them just how proud of them we are. We call on the government to:

CELEBRATE Veterans Day properly by moving it to a weekend—instead of the present fixed date of June 27 which this year falls on Friday. And turn it into a community event with parades, marches and barracks open days.

MOVE servicemen and women who have been permanently disabled on duty right to the front of the queue for specially converted homes.

FUND new education grants for serving soldiers and veterans so they can get the training they need.

And you, our loyal army of readers, can help by showing all our heroes how much we owe to their bravery.

Many have been blown up, shot at and crippled in the line of duty. And when they come home some have been abused in the street—just for being in the forces. So when you see them wearing their uniform with pride in the street, give them a word of THANKS and shake them by the hand. For they have served the nation on your behalf.

To help get our message across, Harry and Mark joined forces in the front line for one more important battle—to support our campaign.

World War I veteran Harry—the last surviving Tommy from the trenches—had his stomach ripped open by a German shell in 1917. Royal Marine Mark, 24, had both legs and an arm blown off by a Taliban landmine in Afghanistan last Christmas Eve.

For their emotional meeting at the comfy Fletcher House nursing home in Wells, Somerset, which Harry has called home for the last ten years, Mark wore a blue Superman T-shirt.

Frail Harry donned a blazer and tie with his medals—including France's highest military award, the Legion d'Honneur—glittering on his chest.

Just how much commitment like theirs can cost was shown by the shock on Harry's lined face as he realised that, despite his great age, he could still walk—while Mark's appalling injuries currently confine him to a wheelchair. Choosing his words carefully, with a crack in his voice, Harry said: "War has changed much since the trenches but some things stay the same. Young men and women are still being sent to fight for their country—and sometimes die for it.

"The politicians who make the decisions to go to war should leave their comfortable offices and sample the action for themselves. It'd do them good."

His own brush with death came at the bloody battle of Passchendaele, where HALF A MILLION young men were killed or wounded in the Belgian mud.

Harry was part of a five-man machine-gun crew when suddenly a shell landed among them. He was wounded and three others were blown to pieces. Now he firmly believes the contribution of those who put their lives on the line should never be forgotten.

He says: "Before the First World War there was no respect for the armed forces. That changed, thank goodness. There's better understanding now of the sacrifices, but the youngsters still need to be taught about their military and what they do."

Showing Mark grainy pictures from the time, Harry recounted the horror of life in the trenches. "I was petrified. cold and wet. It was hell on earth," he said. "We had no choice. We either went over the top or we were shot.

"The youngsters of today ought to understand what we went through. That's why Veterans Day is important."

Mark hung on every word. "It's incredible to hear first-hand his stories and experiences and compare them with my own," the young Marine said.

"They seem similar in some ways. Obviously I can't speak about the trenches. It sounds terrifying.

"But when I was out in Afghanistan we felt similar apprehension that at any moment we might come under attack. Harry went into the army because he had to, I went into the Marines because I wanted to.

"But we share a common ground—to raise awareness for the veterans and hopefully help instil a new sense of pride in all our armed forces. It couldn't be more important."

Harry then listened as Mark recalled the fateful day he stepped on the buried Taliban mine a few hundred yards from his 40 Commando base in Afghanistan's Helmand Province.

Amazing

Mark said: "There was nothing I could have done about it. All I knew was that there was a massive bang and some black smoke. Then I looked down and saw I had no legs."

Yet as he lay in the dust, blood gushing from the stumps of his limbs, he astonishingly directed the younger Marines with him to mark out a safe route so he could be rescued.

"There were a lot of lads in my section just out of training and they were in shock," he said. "Some think it is all a movie then—bang—reality hits them."

Mark has made an amazing recovery in little over three months, and is learning to WALK again with a pair of £40,000 computerised artificial legs. He is also waiting for a new BIONIC ARM and hopes to return to duty with the Marines in some capacity.

Like Harry, he was horrified that service personnel in Peterborough have been ordered NOT to wear their uniforms in public after being harassed.

Both said it highlighted the need for a better Veterans Day celebration. Harry added: "Anyone who has served their country should be able to wear their uniform without being attacked or belittled."

Mark said: "Even if people are against military action there should always be a difference between the people who make the decision and those who go out there to carry it out."

But both heroes are living proof that wherever they are sent our servicemen and women will always do their utmost to do their nation proud.

So let every one of them, young and old, have your support.

They've given their all for us. Now let's give them ours.

James sings their praise

ARMY officer turned pop superstar James Blunt last night led support for our Veterans Day campaign.

The singer served in the Life Guards, rising to the rank of captain during a four-and-a-half year career—and was in Kosovo as part of Nato's peace-keeping force in 1999.

James said: "This is a great idea for the nation and I give it my full support. It will be a chance to stand up and be proud for what our armed forces are doing and have done around the world.

"We live in very challenging times, where every move our servicemen make is scrutinised. But we must remember they are essentially sent on their way by us, because we elect the politicians, who then deploy them.

"That is why they are the ones who need our support. It is a very interesting time for our military because we question whether they are in the moral right by working in places like Iraq.

"In fact, it's the politicians who should answer if they made the right decisions, as our soldiers act on their orders.

"They don't get a choice on where and why they serve. That's why we must give them a huge amount of support. Campaigns like this make a real difference and help boost the morale of every serviceman and woman, past and present."

Veterans minister Derek Twigg said: "We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to our armed forces and veterans and I welcome the News of the World's efforts to improve recognition of these brave men and women.

"A study of this issue was launched in November and will be published in due course. All of the recommendations will be considered in detail."

Land that's free to hail the brave

TAKE a look across the Atlantic to see what a PROPER Veterans Day could be like—where the whole of America makes time to salute the heroes who fought for their freedom.

Each year, on November 11, Veterans Day is a public holiday—no matter which day of the week it falls on.

The whole country joins in remembering the brave men and women who have served their country and paying tribute to those who are serving right now.

Everyone is encouraged to recognise their honour, sacrifice and courage.

And children learn from an early age to show respect to those in uniform.

Honour

On America's Vets Day there are tickertape parades, red, white and blue balloons and open days.

A law was passed in 1938 granting every American a day's holiday to remember, and every one of the 50 states spends big bucks to make sure its heroes are celebrated in style.

A spokesman for the US Department of Veterans Affairs said: "November 11 is a big day over here which deserves celebrating properly. We make sure our servicemen and women are honoured properly. It's a day of fun and remembrance and to be enjoyed by all."

Millions of Americans line the streets and sit glued to their TVs as a colour guard made up of each of the military branches honours the country's war dead during a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

The President is cheered as he places a wreath while a bugle sounds. It is the signal for the nation's remembrance to begin.

Many Americans gather in football stadiums to sing their national anthem.

Proud

Thousands of others send hand-written notes to the many hospitalised veterans too sick to take part.

Parades take place, where veterans proudly gather and shake hands with throngs of well-wishers who gather to express their gratitude to their fighting heroes.

Shops even celebrate by holding Veterans Day sales. And schoolchildren are asked to remember their brave elders by taking part in Veterans Day poster contests.

When night falls, the sky explodes with fireworks, while picnicking families sit and watch.