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| Capturing war-time memories, before it is too late | Capturing war-time memories, before it is too late |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Neil Flanigan travelled from the Caribbean to join the war effort | Neil Flanigan travelled from the Caribbean to join the war effort |
| With every passing year, fewer of the men and women who helped defeat Nazi Germany and liberate Europe remain alive to share their stories. Before Remembrance Sunday - when the service and sacrifice of those who defended the country's freedom is commemorated - BBC News's Allan Little spoke to three veterans. | With every passing year, fewer of the men and women who helped defeat Nazi Germany and liberate Europe remain alive to share their stories. Before Remembrance Sunday - when the service and sacrifice of those who defended the country's freedom is commemorated - BBC News's Allan Little spoke to three veterans. |
| In 1943, an advert in the Daily Gleaner newspaper , "Britain needs you," caught the eye of a teenager growing up in Jamaica, Neil Flanigan. | In 1943, an advert in the Daily Gleaner newspaper , "Britain needs you," caught the eye of a teenager growing up in Jamaica, Neil Flanigan. |
| "As loyal members of the Empire, we thought that it was good to go and help the mother country at a time when they were in distress," he says. | "As loyal members of the Empire, we thought that it was good to go and help the mother country at a time when they were in distress," he says. |
| And he sailed across the Atlantic, in a group of ships, to join the Royal Air Force (RAF). | And he sailed across the Atlantic, in a group of ships, to join the Royal Air Force (RAF). |
| "The German U-boats were picking us off, sinking us," Neil says. "We thought nothing about our personal lives." | "The German U-boats were picking us off, sinking us," Neil says. "We thought nothing about our personal lives." |
| Neil is one of the last surviving members of the generation whose youth was defined by World War Two. | Neil is one of the last surviving members of the generation whose youth was defined by World War Two. |
| Another, Christian Lamb, 102, from London, was in France when war broke out. | Another, Christian Lamb, 102, from London, was in France when war broke out. |
| Christian Lamb is one of the last surviving Wren officers to have served throughout World War Two | Christian Lamb is one of the last surviving Wren officers to have served throughout World War Two |
| "I'd gone there to improve my French," she says. "I got a telegram from my father, saying, 'War declared. Return home.'" | "I'd gone there to improve my French," she says. "I got a telegram from my father, saying, 'War declared. Return home.'" |
| Back in the UK, Christian joined the Women's Royal Naval Service, known as the Wrens, and was posted to Belfast. | Back in the UK, Christian joined the Women's Royal Naval Service, known as the Wrens, and was posted to Belfast. |
| She worked as a plotter in a map room, tracking the progress of the North Atlantic shipping convoys as they tried to evade U-boat attacks. | She worked as a plotter in a map room, tracking the progress of the North Atlantic shipping convoys as they tried to evade U-boat attacks. |
| One day, Royal Navy destroyer HMS Oribi arrived in Belfast for repairs. | One day, Royal Navy destroyer HMS Oribi arrived in Belfast for repairs. |
| "Half a dozen of us went down to have a drink on board - and there I met John Lamb, my future husband," Christian says. | "Half a dozen of us went down to have a drink on board - and there I met John Lamb, my future husband," Christian says. |
| Over the course of the Oribi's 10 days in port, John and Christian fell in love and became engaged. | Over the course of the Oribi's 10 days in port, John and Christian fell in love and became engaged. |
| But when Lt Lamb's ship left Belfast to join a convoy, Christian wondered whether she would ever see her fiance again. | But when Lt Lamb's ship left Belfast to join a convoy, Christian wondered whether she would ever see her fiance again. |
| Ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in 2025, the BBC is trying to gather as many first-hand accounts from surviving veterans as possible, to preserve them for future generations. | Ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in 2025, the BBC is trying to gather as many first-hand accounts from surviving veterans as possible, to preserve them for future generations. |
| Working with a number of partners, including the Normandy Memorial Trust and the Royal British Legion, the BBC has already spoken to many men and women who served during the War - you can watch their testimonies here. | Working with a number of partners, including the Normandy Memorial Trust and the Royal British Legion, the BBC has already spoken to many men and women who served during the War - you can watch their testimonies here. |
| Growing up in a Jewish family in south London, Mervyn Kersh, now 97, had been following news of Hitler and the growth of Nazi Germany since before the War. | Growing up in a Jewish family in south London, Mervyn Kersh, now 97, had been following news of Hitler and the growth of Nazi Germany since before the War. |
| Mervyn Kersh was awarded France’s highest honour, the Légion d’Honneur, for his role in World War Two | Mervyn Kersh was awarded France’s highest honour, the Légion d’Honneur, for his role in World War Two |
| "We knew what was happening to Jewish people under the Nazis - that was a big part of why I wanted to join up," he says. | "We knew what was happening to Jewish people under the Nazis - that was a big part of why I wanted to join up," he says. |
| Mervyn joined the Royal Army Ordnance Corps - and soon after his basic training, was heading to Normandy alongside an invasion force. | Mervyn joined the Royal Army Ordnance Corps - and soon after his basic training, was heading to Normandy alongside an invasion force. |
| Meanwhile, the RAF had trained Neil in avionics - the electronic systems used on aircraft. | Meanwhile, the RAF had trained Neil in avionics - the electronic systems used on aircraft. |
| And he was stationed at bases across England, keeping bomber crews in the air. | And he was stationed at bases across England, keeping bomber crews in the air. |
| "The Germans bombed us, day and night," Neil says. "People from the Empire and Commonwealth died - many of my colleagues who had volunteered to be aircrew and rear gunners and engineers | "The Germans bombed us, day and night," Neil says. "People from the Empire and Commonwealth died - many of my colleagues who had volunteered to be aircrew and rear gunners and engineers |
| "It was ghastly as a young person watching death - but I had a job to do, to get out and maintain my aircraft to make sure they'd fly safely." | "It was ghastly as a young person watching death - but I had a job to do, to get out and maintain my aircraft to make sure they'd fly safely." |
| Neil joined the RAF and was trained to maintain bombers | |
| In Belfast, Christian was tracking her fiance's convoy across the Atlantic, when it came under attack from German U-boats. | In Belfast, Christian was tracking her fiance's convoy across the Atlantic, when it came under attack from German U-boats. |
| "They were involved in this terrible battle," she says. "My friends urged me to go home - but I couldn't possibly leave the scene. It was a matter of life and death for me. So I stayed, waiting for information, hoping." | "They were involved in this terrible battle," she says. "My friends urged me to go home - but I couldn't possibly leave the scene. It was a matter of life and death for me. So I stayed, waiting for information, hoping." |
| Christian learned HMS Oribi had collided with a U-Boat and been damaged. | Christian learned HMS Oribi had collided with a U-Boat and been damaged. |
| But she knew nothing of the crew's fate - until the ship eventually arrived in Boston and John was able to ring to tell her he was safe. | But she knew nothing of the crew's fate - until the ship eventually arrived in Boston and John was able to ring to tell her he was safe. |
| "There was nothing for either of us to say - just, 'Thank goodness, thank goodness, thank goodness,'" Christian says. | "There was nothing for either of us to say - just, 'Thank goodness, thank goodness, thank goodness,'" Christian says. |
| Christian played a crucial role in planning the D-Day landings | |
| When Christian was posted back to London, she was given a top-secret role planning the D-Day landings, working from a windowless basement office in Whitehall. | When Christian was posted back to London, she was given a top-secret role planning the D-Day landings, working from a windowless basement office in Whitehall. |
| "This was going to be the most extraordinary, enormous invasion ever seen in history," she says. "The whole of my office was covered with enormous maps of France. | "This was going to be the most extraordinary, enormous invasion ever seen in history," she says. "The whole of my office was covered with enormous maps of France. |
| "I didn't realise how important it was. I was sworn to secrecy. It was ingrained in us that we didn't even talk about it after the War - I didn't tell John till about 50 years later." | "I didn't realise how important it was. I was sworn to secrecy. It was ingrained in us that we didn't even talk about it after the War - I didn't tell John till about 50 years later." |
| Mervyn was in the last phase of the war, when occupied Europe was freed from Nazi rule | Mervyn was in the last phase of the war, when occupied Europe was freed from Nazi rule |
| Mervyn crossed the English Channel three days after D-Day. | Mervyn crossed the English Channel three days after D-Day. |
| "That was the first time I really realised what I was going into," he says. "The adventure ceased to be an adventure and I became frightened. | "That was the first time I really realised what I was going into," he says. "The adventure ceased to be an adventure and I became frightened. |
| "I had a prayer book with me, a Book of Psalms, which I did make use of, I must admit." | "I had a prayer book with me, a Book of Psalms, which I did make use of, I must admit." |
| Mervyn took part in the liberation of Europe, as the Allied armies fought through France, Belgium, the Netherlands and into Germany. | Mervyn took part in the liberation of Europe, as the Allied armies fought through France, Belgium, the Netherlands and into Germany. |
| "That was a marvellous feeling," he says. "Our name was the British Liberation Army, then we suddenly changed to the British Army of the Rhine. We weren't liberators anymore, we were conquerors." | "That was a marvellous feeling," he says. "Our name was the British Liberation Army, then we suddenly changed to the British Army of the Rhine. We weren't liberators anymore, we were conquerors." |
| Just days after its liberation, Mervyn arrived at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. | Just days after its liberation, Mervyn arrived at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. |
| "I saw the people who were able to walk out," he says. "I spoke to dozens of them - mostly men in striped clothing. They were as thin as anything, thin faces, the arms just bone. It was very moving. | "I saw the people who were able to walk out," he says. "I spoke to dozens of them - mostly men in striped clothing. They were as thin as anything, thin faces, the arms just bone. It was very moving. |
| "I gave them my chocolate ration - it was only weeks later that I learned chocolate is the worst thing you can give someone who hasn't eaten." | "I gave them my chocolate ration - it was only weeks later that I learned chocolate is the worst thing you can give someone who hasn't eaten." |
| The girl who witnessed Kristallnacht | |
| The tip-off from a Nazi that saved my grandparents | |
| The long echo of WW2 trauma | |
| They are a remarkable generation. | They are a remarkable generation. |
| The courage and sacrifice of their youth bequeathed to those who came later, these veterans shaped the world we grew up in. | The courage and sacrifice of their youth bequeathed to those who came later, these veterans shaped the world we grew up in. |
| But few are still alive. | But few are still alive. |
| The youngest are now in their late 90s, while some - such as Christian - are centenarians. | The youngest are now in their late 90s, while some - such as Christian - are centenarians. |
| It seems more important than ever to listen to their stories and record their reflections for future generations. | It seems more important than ever to listen to their stories and record their reflections for future generations. |
| After the War, Mervyn spent time as a door-to-door salesman - a job he did not enjoy. | After the War, Mervyn spent time as a door-to-door salesman - a job he did not enjoy. |
| Later, he worked for many years as a freelance journalist. | Later, he worked for many years as a freelance journalist. |
| Christian married John, wearing a wedding dress bought by her mother from a war-time catalogue. | Christian married John, wearing a wedding dress bought by her mother from a war-time catalogue. |
| The couple had a family and, in her 80s, Christian began a successful career as an author - writing books on botanical history, as well as a war-time memoir. | The couple had a family and, in her 80s, Christian began a successful career as an author - writing books on botanical history, as well as a war-time memoir. |
| Neil settled in the UK and raised a family here. | Neil settled in the UK and raised a family here. |
| He was appointed an MBE in recognition of his service to his community. | He was appointed an MBE in recognition of his service to his community. |
| "I think I made a contribution in some small way," he says, "to make Britain safe and sound today, a country that I still live in and enjoy." | "I think I made a contribution in some small way," he says, "to make Britain safe and sound today, a country that I still live in and enjoy." |
| Do you or someone you know have memories of World War Two? Please share these experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Do you or someone you know have memories of World War Two? Please share these experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Some of the stories collected may be shared with our partners and used on BBC News platforms. | Some of the stories collected may be shared with our partners and used on BBC News platforms. |
| Please include a contact number if willing to speak to a BBC News journalist. | Please include a contact number if willing to speak to a BBC News journalist. |
| You can also contact BBC News in the following ways: | You can also contact BBC News in the following ways: |
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