August 15th 2025 is the 80th anniversary of VJ Day and the effective end of World War Two. It was a war like no other in human history and cost millions of lives across the globe. Britain was at the centre of the war, being the only fighting country in Western Europe not to have succumbed to the Nazi invasion (along with their Italian allies). We honour below just a few of the stories of the "greatest generation" who made sacrifices and endured hardships that enable us to enjoy better lives than they did. Britevents Northwest thanks the family of the listed honourees for providing their photos and information.
Joseph W. Roundhill was a dual citizen of the UK and USA. During World War Two, JW (as he was fondly known) served in both the British Royal Air Force in pilot training and then the 379th Bomb Group of the US Eighth Air Force where he flew on 35 missions over enemy occupied Europe, as a right-waist & nose gunner on a Boeing B-17G aircraft. After his missions he then returned home to American soil on December 31, 1944 after successfully eluding the U-boat packs at a speed of 17 knots across the Atlantic Ocean in the famous hospital ship Marine Wolf. His decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, four Air Medals and he has received the French Legion of Honor. JW was an active member of the Seattle Brit Meetup group until his death, aged 97, in 2021. He remains the only person to be appointed a lifetime Honorary Member of Britevents Northwest.
Ruth volunteered after her friend was killed on HMS Hood. She became a leading Wren and served for 4 years. The majority of her time was spent at HMS Quebec, a land base in Scotland which was part of the Combined Operations unit where approximately 250,000 troops got amphibious training. Ruth recently celebrated her 101st birthday in England. You can find more about her wartime experiences by clicking HERE.
Nominated by Elaine Barnwell (daughter)
Ron was drafted into the Navy when he was 19. He became an electrical wireman and worked on the D-Day landing craft during training. He was actually sent to the Far East before D-Day and remained over there until 1946. He was in the Battle of Rangoon. He met Ruth (see above) when they were both at HMS Quebec and they married in 1947.
You can find more about his wartime experiences by clicking HERE
Nominated by Elaine Barnwell (daughter)
John Spratt was a navigator in the RAF 179 Squadron from 1940 to 1946. He flew Wellington Bombers on U-boat patrols out of Gibraltar, protecting the Western entrance to the Mediterranean, and merchant fleets crossing the Atlantic. He flew in the D-Day Brest Blockade, pinning 50 U-boats in the port of Brest and protecting the allied fleet and landing forces from submarine attack. After two tours, he was posted to RAF Silloth as a navigation instructor, where he met his wife of 67 years WAAF Officer June Williams (see below). After VE Day he was deployed to the Far East to fight the Japanese. Click HERE to find out more about John's wartime service. Nominated by Sue Alemann (daughter).
Section Officer June Williams enlisted in 1941 as an Aircraft Woman 2nd Class. She was posted to RAF Limavady in Northern Ireland as a Torpedo Attack Training Supervisor. The training dome where she served was restored in 2025, and features exhibits about her service. SO Williams quickly rose through the ranks and was commissioned in 1942. She served as a Section Officer and Adjutant to the Commanding Officer at RAF Silloth, where she was responsible for both WAAF and RAF personnel. She resigned her commission in 1946, retaining her rank. Nominated by Sue Alemann (daughter).
Prior to D Day, Louis was in the Somerset Light Infantry, then , Churchills secret underground army, the Auxilliaries. Based in Northumberland , the unit were designed to resist German occupation after expected invasion of England. Commanding Officer was the actor Anthony Quayle. Louis then joined the SAS. Louis' section (Troop) parachuted into Normandy at night 4th June 1944 to disrupt enemy communications, supply etc. In July his 7 man team were inserted into southern Normandy (behind the lines) to observe Panzer Grenadier movement. Radio dispatches subsequently resulted in RAF hitting Grenadiers hard. He also operated in Germany and Norway (Bergen) in 1945, interrogating German POW's, and searching for war criminals. He was discharged October 1945, with "exemplary character ". Nominated by Steve Furneaux (Grandson).
Paratrooper James Tofield, pictured giving the salute, was a serving member of the British Army and a member of the Pegasus Brigade during World War Two. He was active in the D-day landings. He also went on to serve in the Korean War, a war he refused to ever talk about. Paratrooper Tofield is buried in the Paratroopers cemetery in Putney Vale Cemetery, London. Nominated by Paula Shrimpton (Granddaughter).
Quarter Master Sergeant Charles “Alfred” Gallagher served in the 133rd Mixed Heavy Anti-aircraft Artillery (Ack-Ack) Regiment. Some of the locations he served at were Tregantle Fort guarding the Navy docks at Plymouth, Easton in Gordano, Norton Malreward near Chew Magna, Grimsby, and Bristol (Radar site with American Mk 5 radar and UK Mk3 Radar). Nominated by Dave Gallagher (son).
Private Arthur Baxter was a member of the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders landed on D-Day with 27 officers and 565 men. He was a prominent battalion footballer. He died, age 33, in service to his country on September 5th 1944 in Italy and his grave is at Gradara War Cemetery, Italy. Nominated by Avril Ferguson (niece).
John was born in August, 1925 in London, England and served in the Royal Air Force overseas in India as a lorry driver during World War Two. He was sent home in 1945 after Japan surrendered. Nominated by Lee Capell (nephew).
Reginald Simcox was one of the lucky ones evacuated from Dunkirk Beach earlier in the war. He also served for a time in North Africa. He was on active service in Sicily on 6th June 1944 with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. Records show he was there from 29/8/43 to 2/7/44. He was injured in Italy after D-Day. A piece of shrapnel entered his back, and it was 3 days before they could get him out for full medical treatment. If the shrapnel had been 1/2” nearer his spine he would have been crippled for life. Nominated by Stephen Caldwell (Grandson)
NON PROFIT PARTNERSHIP - DONATION OPTIONS
As an approved nonprofit partner, we want to find the most suitable ways for your organization and ours to raise money for you and raise our profile in your community. No option is exclusive and there can be a mix and match process.
Once you make your initial choices, we do require at least one month notice to remove or add an option. Event options cannot be removed whilst an event is actively being promoted or held.
In relation to donations managed by us, such as the "Donation Pot", there is a quarterly review of our accounts by our independent trustees and verification that the total and distribution of the pot are accurate.
ON YOUR SIDE:
Your nonprofit is currently licensed in your State OR
Your crowd funding site is able to provide details of how it performs financial due diligence;
You carry current General Liability Insurance (corporate or individual);
Your nonprofit has a mainly British theme and/or is managed by a British citizen, in full or in part.
ON OUR SIDE:
We are licensed in the State of Washington as Northwest B.O.S.S. dba Britevents Northwest. We carry General Liability Insurance through Farmers Insurance;
We provide the necessary services and publicity that allows your chosen donation option(s) to be active 24/7;
Verified information on donation funds held by us are available on request (accurate to the prior quarter)
OPTION 1 - THE DONATION POT
A portion of all our Online Sales is moved into a Savings Account known as the Donation Pot. Sources of online sales are: Paid Brit VIP Club membership, eBay sales, advertising sales. Each nonprofit earns a share of the Pot, assessed quarterly, based on the number of full calendar months the partnership with us has existed in that quarter. The first assessment will be for the quarter ending June 30th 2026. Checks will be paid following a published and verified assessment of the Pot's earnings. Interest on the savings account and a $5 admin charge per nonprofit per quarter is retained by Britevents Northwest towards general overheads.
ON YOUR SIDE
It is in your financial interest to promote our ticketed event sales, eBay site and VIP paid memberships. We will supply marketing materials as necessary.
ON OUR SIDE
We will provide details of each fundraising scheme to you. Some may vary over time, especially membership sales. We will pay your donation share within 30 days of the verification document being published. We will answer any questions about the scheme.
OPTION 2 - AN IN-PERSON EVENT YOU HOST
The event must meet our mission statement - it must have primarily a British theme (public event) or it can have any theme if it is targeted at Brits and Britophiles via publicity restricted to our subscribers or affiliated Brit ex-pat social media partners (marketing scope). The event may be ticketed or not. You may ask for donations at the event or hold a raffle or competition with profits going to your cause
ON YOUR SIDE
You supply the host and publicize outside the Britevents Northwest marketing scope if a public event. You arrange any ticketing and event organization. You supply the venue and event resources. You place information on your publicity stating "Supported by Britevents Northwest" with an accompanying link if online.
ON OUR SIDE
We will provide publicity to our restricted marketing base. We can provide generic event ideas based on our 8 years experience of hosting Brit themed events. We can also provide advice on organizational arrangements and resources.
OPTION 3 - AN IN-PERSON EVENT WE HOST
The event theme is chosen by us, in consultation with you. The event is always ticketed and allows for a minimum $5 per ticket going to your cause. We also take $5 per ticket to cover administration costs. Otherwise the overall ticket price is determined by other overheads and variable costs. Publicity scope is agreed between us depending on the event. There is often publicity phases starting with our VIP Club members always first. These events attract our underwriting guarantee - see across.
ON YOUR SIDE
You publicize within your organization at the second phase of publicity. You place information on your publicity stating "Organized by Britevents Northwest" with an accompanying link to our website landing page for the event.
ON OUR SIDE
We will provide publicity to our restricted marketing base. We will provide the venue and host. We will promote your organization as our exclusive event partner. We will provide an event breakdown of accounts, including the amount raised for you. We underwrite this amount to $75 if $75 is not raised by ticket sales or the event is cancelled by us.
OPTION 4 - SPECIAL DONATION PROJECTS
This covers any other fundraising idea that you or we suggest and it benefits us both to partner. A classic example of this in the wider NGO world are the water projects in Africa or sponsor an orphaned animal in a shelter.
ON YOUR SIDE
Provide us with a plan for your project and how Britevents Northwest might be able to help. Please give us at least three months notice due to our limited staffing and busy calendar
ON OUR SIDE
We will provide a response to your suggestion within 14 days unless we have questions. If agreed, we will work together on detailed planning. On occasion we may supply a case study from another organization's project to see if it is a fit for your fundraising