A HORLEY war veteran will be one of 58
Second World War servicemen leaving on
the last official trip to Singapore and
Malaysia.
Alfred Lonsdale, 85, will be heading for
the Far East on the trip for veterans of the
British Pacific and East Indies Fleet.
The commemorative journey is being
funded by the Big Lottery Fund's Heroes
Return 2 programme.
The programme is awarding grants to
World War Two veterans for commemora-
tive visits throughout this year.
New grants totalling �82,925 are being
shared between veterans, spouses, widows
and carers in the South East towards their
travel costs for the commemorative visits to
mark the British operations in the Indian
and Pacific Oceans.
Alfred was just 17 when he volunteered
under-age and joined the Royal Navy in
1942. He served in operations throughout the
Mediterranean and the Atlantic and towards
the end of the war served as part of the
British Pacific Fleet.
Alfred said: "I was a Seaman Gunner and
served in the British Pacific Fleet after it
was formed at the end of 1944.
"We were first sent out to Sydney but we
were not there for long as we were then off
up to Brisbane, and from there up to the
East Indies.
"We were actually out in the Pacific when
the atomic bombs were dropped and fol-
lowing that we were one of the first ships
into Japan.
"Our ship, a former Merchant Navy ship,
carried 670 troops and took them ashore to
Japan."
The British Pacific and East Indies Fleets
are known by some as the forgotten fleets
because although the war officially ended
on VJ Day on August 15, 1945, there was
still lots of work for the Allied forces out in
the East Indies.
Many servicemen did not return home
until almost a year later.
Alfred said: "We came back in June 1946
into Portsmouth and were then taken up to
Scotland.
"There weren't any end of war celebra-
tions still going on when we returned."
Due to many of the veterans now being in
their late eighties and nineties, this trip is the
last official trip that will be made, and the
veterans intend to make the most of it.
Alfred said: "I think it is important to
make the trip back and we will be holding
memorial services, including a service at
Georgetown in Penang, Malaysia.
"We lost lots of shipmates and friends out
there and it is important that we remember
them."
The veterans' return is being described as
their "Last Hurrah" to mark the battles and
the loss of men experienced.
Alison Rowe, the Big Lottery Fund head
of region for the South East, said: "A huge
debt of gratitude and recognition is owed to
these men and women and we are delighted
to be making these awards to Second World
War veterans in the South East, that enable
them to attend commemorative events at
home and abroad."
Life NNeewwss rreeddhhiillllaannddrreeiiggaatteelliiffee..ccoo..uukk
Wednesday, February 3, 2010 Life 5
Fundraiser
JUNIOR pupils at the Royal
Alexandra and Albert School
in Reigate raised �400 for
the Help For Heroes cause
recently after turning up for
school in army dress.
The youngsters and staff
paid �1 each to dress up in
combat gear after a special
assembly was held in which
Nigel Jones from Help For
Heroes explained how the
charity provided help to
wounded servicemen and
women by building rehabili-
tation centres, and giving
money to other projects that
made life better for them.
The children were asked to
write letters to soldiers who
were admitted to hospital.
The letters will be includ-
ed in bags given to injured
service people when they
arrive at hospital.
Headmaster Paul Spencer
Ellis said: "We have 400
boarders at this school and
around a third have parents
in the forces, so we are par-
ticularly keen to support this
charity.
"The children have
embraced the cause and
have already started writing
letters to the wounded."
War veteran
to join the
`Last Hurrah'
Donor sessions
BLOOD donor sessions will be held in
Copthorne Social Club in Copthorne
Bank, Copthorne, on Monday, February
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unit at The Plough Inn, High Street,
Godstone Road, Bletchingley, on
Wednesday, February 17.
In all cases, the sessions will be held
from 2pm to 4.30pm and from 5.30pm
to 8pm.
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