Government to fund Second World War veterans’ travel
If you’re teaching or learning about remembrance this week, here’s the news in plain terms. On Remembrance Sunday, 9 November 2025, the UK government announced it will pay for overseas travel so Second World War veterans can attend commemorations while they still can. This comes just before a new Veterans Strategy due on Monday 10 November. According to a Ministry of Defence press release on GOV.UK, this is positioned as a renewed promise to those who served.
What’s actually being offered right now is a commitment, with travel support beginning in 2026. Officials say the aim is to help veterans return to the places where they served and where friends were lost. We’re still waiting for practical details such as who qualifies, how to apply, and which events are covered; ministers say those points will follow alongside the Veterans Strategy.
Why this matters is simple to explain to a class: place helps memory. For veterans in their nineties and beyond, standing on a beach, in a town square, or at a cemetery is not history as an idea-it’s a moment with people they knew. The government frames this support as enabling that act of remembrance while veterans are still able to travel.
Two ministers set the tone for the announcement. Louise Sandher‑Jones, the Minister for Veterans and People, drew on her own experience of marking anniversaries at the National Memorial Arboretum and said the government will fund travel “starting next year.” Her message centres on dignity, timing and making sure good intentions translate into trips that actually happen.
Defence Minister Lord Coaker highlighted recent European ceremonies he attended, including events in Poland, the Netherlands and Germany that marked the Polish role in Operation Market Garden, the Battle of Arnhem and the liberation of Bergen‑Belsen. He said the government has listened and will back veterans who wish to travel next year and beyond, noting that such visits honour Allied courage while also strengthening ties with today’s NATO partners.
We also hear directly from a veteran. Jack Mortimer, 102, from Leeds-who landed on Sword Beach on D‑Day-welcomed the plan. In his words, “Going back to Normandy means everything,” and the promise of funded travel could make that possible while time still allows. This first‑person perspective is useful in class discussions because it connects policy to lived experience.
What this means for you and your class is a chance to join policy with remembrance work you may already be doing. Start by asking why governments support travel like this and invite students to balance reasons of respect, learning and diplomacy. Encourage them to think about accessibility too: what makes a long journey safe for a 100‑year‑old, and who needs to be included in planning?
Media literacy reminder: this is a government announcement, not the application form. Promises often arrive before the fine print. Until the Veterans Strategy is published on Monday 10 November 2025, avoid giving families definitive answers about routes, carers or costs. Point learners to official updates on GOV.UK and make a note to revisit the topic once guidance is live.
A quick explainer for context helps. Operation Market Garden was a major Allied airborne push in September 1944 that included a crucial Polish contribution. The Battle of Arnhem saw intense fighting and heavy losses. Bergen‑Belsen was a Nazi concentration camp liberated by British forces in April 1945. Knowing these places clarifies why returning to them holds deep meaning for veterans.
What happens next is straightforward: look out for the Veterans Strategy on Monday 10 November 2025. Once published, we’ll finally see eligibility rules and how travel will be arranged from 2026. If you want a simple classroom task in the meantime, ask students to draft a short, respectful note that explains why remembrance is about real people and real places-and why getting there matters.