The Netherlands

In September 1944, at the age of 19, Frank Ashleigh was the youngest airman to take part in Operation Market Garden. Frank Ashleigh from Kingsbury, who served in WWII with the Glider Pilot Regiment died on 18 June 2023 after a short stay in hospital, he was 98. Frank is survived by his wife Mavis…

Fifteen cabs driven by Taxi Charity volunteers took a group of veterans to the Netherlands for Dutch Liberation. The London based Taxi Charity has been taking veterans to the Netherlands for Dutch Liberation since 2012. The liberation event begins on 4 May when the Dutch remember the civilians and members of the armed forced who…

WWII veteran Marie Scott 96 became the first female veteran to light the flame of liberation at midnight on 4 May in the Netherlands. Marie Scott who transmitted messages to and from the beaches on D Day in WWII was given the honour of lighting the liberation flame in Wageningen at midnight on 4 May…

WWII Veteran Roy Smith’s passport renewal was collected just in time for him to travel to the Netherlands for Dutch Liberation. It was touch and go whether WWII Veteran Roy Smith from Sittingbourne would be able to travel to the Netherlands with the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans when his passport renewal got held up…

Born on 21 June 1924, WWII veteran Robert ‘Robbie’ Larnach from Lybster near Caithness in Scotland died on 26 February 2023 aged 98. One of seven brothers he was conscripted  in 1942  and served with the 25th Field Regiment Royal Artillery. He landed on Sword beach on D Day +15 on his 20th birthday and…

The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans was delighted to receive an £18,000 grant from ABF The Soldiers’ Charity to fund its programme of special trips and activities. ABF The Soldiers’ Charity supports partner charities which improve the wellbeing of armed forces veterans, especially those who are elderly or disabled. The £18,000 grant will go towards…

2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans 2023 will mark the 75th anniversary of the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, a remarkable milestone for a small charity which supports veterans throughout the UK. Founded in 1948 by three London Cab drivers who wanted to arrange for friends who had been…

On 13 December WWII Veteran Henry ‘Harry’ Rawlins was presented with the Liberators Thank You Medal at a ceremony at the Netherlands Embassy. On 13 December, Chelsea Pensioner Harry Rawlins, 97,  made the short journey from The Royal Hospital Chelsea to the Netherlands Embassy in South Kensington, where he was presented with the Liberators Thank…

WWII Arnhem veteran Peter Colthup had a very special 100th birthday celebration when he was presented with two medals for his part in Operation Market Garden. On 18 November, the day after Peter’s 100th birthday, friends joined him at his home in Whitstable as he was presented with the Dutch Liberators Medal and the 75th…

The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans was delighted to take 103-year-old Arnhem veteran Ray Whitwell to the Netherlands for the Operation Market Garden Commemorations. WWII Veteran Ray Whitwell who served with the Royal Army Service Corps Ray flew over to The Netherlands in a Glider carrying a jeep and a trailer packed with ammunition and…