1940 Dunkirk Veterans' Association facts for kids

The 1940 Dunkirk Veterans' Association was a group for British soldiers and sailors. These were people who served during the Dunkirk evacuation in May and June 1940. This included those who were taken prisoner. People who helped at the evacuation ports could also join as associate members.

How the Association Started

The association began in Leeds, England, in 1953. Five veterans who had fought near the Dunkirk beaches met. They gathered at the Queens Hotel in Leeds on September 3, 1953. They wanted to keep the strong feeling of friendship they had during the evacuation. They also wanted to help fellow veterans who were having a tough time.

The first membership card showed a small fee of sixpence. Harold Robinson collected this fee. He later received an MBE award in 1970 for helping veterans. Harold was chosen as the Honorary General Secretary. He stayed in this unpaid job until he passed away in 1988. He was also a schoolteacher.

Pilgrimages and Helping Others

The association started organizing trips, called pilgrimages. These trips went to the beaches and towns where troops were evacuated. Places like Dunkirk, De Panne, Bray Dunes, and Calais were visited.

During the first trip in 1954, 45 veterans went. They saw that the local towns and people were still struggling. Many areas still showed damage from the war. So, members of the association started sending food parcels to the local people.

As the association grew, more veterans joined these trips. Everyone paid for their own travel and stayed in hotels or bed and breakfasts. Some even stayed with families who had helped them during the evacuation. This was a way to thank them.

Remembrance services were held on the beaches and in towns. Many were led by Reverend Leslie Aitken. He was the association's first and only 'Padre' (a military chaplain). He was also one of the founding members.

Royal Support and Growth

In 1956, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother agreed to be the association's patron. This meant she supported the group. She attended the 1957 pilgrimage. There, she officially opened the Dunkirk Memorial. She also watched over 1,000 veterans march in Dunkirk.

At its busiest in the mid-1970s, the association had over 20,000 members. These members came from the UK, other countries, and the Commonwealth. They made the trip each year to honor their friends who had died.

Some famous members of the association included important military leaders. These were General James Steele, General Ashton Wade, and Brigadier General James Gawthorpe. Famous pilot Squadron Leader Douglas Bader was also a member. So was Donald Kaberry, who later became Lord Kaberry.

Royal support continued with Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He took the salute at the 40th anniversary parade in Folkestone in May 1980.

The End of the Association

The official pilgrimages, organized by Harold Robinson, continued every year until 1988. After he passed away, local branches organized the trips.

The main association officially closed on June 30, 2000. This was for its 60th anniversary. Membership was getting smaller, and members were getting older. That year, 52 members met at the Imperial War Museum. The youngest person there was 74 years old. He had been a hidden passenger on one of the Little Ships of Dunkirk. Some local branches kept in touch for a while, but eventually, time took its toll.

At its largest, the 1940 Dunkirk Veterans Association had over 165,000 members worldwide. It had more than 100 branches in the UK. There were also many branches across the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, Gibraltar, Malta, Brazil, and Argentina.

Harold Robinson's Legacy

Harold Robinson helped build connections between veteran groups in France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. He worked to promote peace and friendship among old soldiers.

In the 1970s, British veterans could receive the Dunkirk Medal. Harold checked all the applications. He processed and gave out over 100,000 medals for the Dunkirk Town Council.

When Harold Robinson died in October 1988, his funeral was held in Leeds. Over 2,500 people attended. Many important people were there, including mayors from several towns. Members from many branches of the association also attended. The Yorkshire Regiment provided a guard of honor. The service was led by Reverend Leslie Aitken, the association's Padre.

Harold Robinson received many awards during his life. These included the MBE, the Chevalier D'Honour, and the Freedom of Dunkirk. He also received awards from many other countries for his work helping veterans. He held many other roles, like being Chairman of the Royal British Legion's Headingley Branch for 20 years. He also helped organize the Poppy Appeal. Harold spoke seven languages well and could get by in several more. He taught thousands of children. He was married for 43 years to Eileen Robinson, who passed away eight months after him.

See also

• Dunkirk Medal
• Dunkirk Memorial
• Fylde Memorial Arboretum and Community Woodland
• Normandy Veterans' Association