Taxi Charity escorts veterans to Netherlands for Remembrance and Liberation Day commemorations

Twenty volunteer cabbies from the Taxi Charity escorted WWII and Korean War veterans and their carers to the Netherlands for the Dutch Remembrance and Liberation commemorations. The veterans were chauffered to Harwich Wednesday 2nd May for the overnight ferry to the Hook of Holland. As they disembarked on Thursday morning, the veterans were welcomed by Defence Attaché Col. James Phillips and then received a police escort to the Dutch Cavalry Museum at Amersfoort.

After lunch at the barracks, they were driven to their hotel at the Wageningen International Congress Centre, where the 34 veterans later had dinner.

On Friday 4 May, Remembrance Day in the Netherlands, the veterans were driven to Bronbeek Royal Home for Retired Military Personnel for lunch. The veterans then paid a short visit to Oosterbeek CWGC to pay their respects to their fallen comrades buried there.

In the evening, the veterans were invited to attend a remembrance service at Heteren. On the following day the veterans took part in the Liberation Day parade at Wageningen. They joined the parade in golf carts and a London taxi. After the parade, the veterans were invited to attend a gala dinner before heading home the next day. 

The Taxi Charity For Military Veterans (formerly known as the London Taxi Benevolent Association For War Disabled) was formed in Fulham in 1948. Its object then was to help war veterans, in their homes and hospitals, throughout London and the home counties, by providing entertainment, outings and much needed specialised equipment. 

To this day the objective remains simple; to work for the benefit, comfort and enjoyment of military veterans.