War vets call for bomber memorial

8:30am Thursday 17th July 2008

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TWO Second World War veterans have joined a campaign to get a national memorial for the tens of thousands of airmen from RAF Bomber Command who died fighting over Germany.

Lawrence Godfrey, 84, of Orchard Road, and Jim McGillivray, 82, of South Road, South Ockendon, are campaigning to get the bravery of their fallen comrades recognised, along with their friend Harry Irons, 84, from Romford, who was also in Bomber Command. Of the total 125,000 aircrew from Bomber Command, 55,500 were killed and 8,403 injured.

They were all volunteers who did not even receive a campaign medal. Mr Godfrey said: “All those killed should be remembered, their family should have a place to mourn and people should have somewhere to show respect.”

If you would like to make a donation, send it to Bomber Command Memorial Fund, The Bomber Command Association, Royal Air Force Museum, Grahame Park Way, London NW9 5LL. Alternatively, you can e-mail doug.radcliffe@rafmuseum.org