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)
That Was the Month That Was - Sep 2025
NEWS FROM THE UK YOU MAY HAVE MISSED: Several times a week we publish news stories that either impact British ex-pats, their families, or just off the beat news stories that are truly British. Here are our selection from August 2025!
ALL LINKS ARE TO THE BBC NEWS WEBSITE AND ARE THEIR COPYRIGHT MATERIAL:
Reeves warns of harder choices to come as she hints at tax rises
How the King’s vision is shaping next wave of new towns
What is the plan for digital IDs and will they be mandatory?
The small English town that changed global travel
Labubu dolls make up 90% of fake toys seized at UK border
Gatwick second runway plan approved by transport secretary
End of the road for manual drivers? More learners opt for automatics in tests
'Freddie would have loved it': Queen wow at Last Night of the Proms
Kenneth Branagh returns to Royal Shakespeare Company
Contactless card payments could become unlimited
Rise in illegal meat trade a danger to UK – report
Emotional farewell in Tour de France winner's home city
Criminal damage to historic buildings on the rise
Energy drinks to be banned for under-16s in England
FAMOUS BRITS WHO PASSED AWAY OR DEATH REPORTED IN SEPTEMBER 2025 (Courtesy Wikipedia)
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1 September - Jimmy Bone, 75, Scottish footballer.
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Joe Bugner, 75, Hungarian-born British-Australian boxer and actor
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3 September – Bobby Graham, 80, Scottish footballer (Liverpool, Motherwell).
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4 September - Jamie Harvey, 70, Scottish darts player.
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Katharine, Duchess of Kent, 92, British royal.
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Barrie Thomas, 88, English footballer (Scunthorpe United, Newcastle United, Mansfield Town).(death announced on this date)
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6 September – Rick Davies, 81, English musician (Supertramp), and songwriter ("Bloody Well Right", "Goodbye Stranger")
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7 September – Stuart Craig, 83, English production designer (Harry Potter, Gandhi, The English Patient), Oscar winner (1983, 1989, 1997),
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8 September - Robin Glendinning, 87, Northern Irish playwright and politician.
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Chris Steele-Perkins, 78, British photographer.
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10 September - Mark Hine, 61, English footballer (Darlington, Peterborough United, Doncaster Rovers).
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Alan Howarth, Baron Howarth of Newport, 81, British politician, MP (1983–2005) and member of the House of Lords (since 2005).
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Roy Parnell, 81, English footballer (Tranmere Rovers, Bury, Everton).
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11 September - Chris Hill, 80, British disc jockey.
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Viv Prince, 84, English drummer (Pretty Things).(death announced on this date)
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12 September – Jay Wynne, 56, British weather presenter.(death announced on this date)
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13 September - Eddie Hunter, 82, Scottish football player and manager (Queen's Park).
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Stephen Luscombe, 70, English musician (Blancmange) and songwriter ("Living on the Ceiling", "Don't Tell Me").
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14 September - Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, 85, English architect.
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Ricky Hatton, 46, English professional boxer.[339]
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15 September - John Jameson, 84, English cricketer (Warwickshire, national team).(death announced on this date)
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Antony Maitland, 90, British children's author and illustrator.
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Norman Toynton, 86, British abstract painter.(death announced on this date)
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17 September - Roger Climpson, 93, British-born Australian television newsreader (Nine Network, Seven Network) and host (This is Your Life).
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Barry Seal, 87, British politician, MEP (1979–1999),
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18 September - Sir Gerald Gordon, 96, Scottish lawyer.(death announced on this date)
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Charles Guthrie, Baron Guthrie of Craigiebank, 86, British field marshal, assistant chief (1987–1989) and chief (1994–1997) of the general staff, chief of the defence staff (1997–2001),
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19 September – Ian Monk, 65, British writer and translator.(body discovered on this date)
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JD Twitch, 57, Scottish DJ (Optimo).
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20 September – Matt Beard, 47, English football manager (Burnley F.C. Women, Liverpool F.C. Women).
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21 September – John Stapleton, 79, English broadcaster (Nationwide, Watchdog) and journalist (ITV),
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22 September - Dickie Bird, 92, English cricket player (Yorkshire, Leicestershire) and umpire.
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David Hirst, 89, British journalist (The Guardian, The Irish Times, St. Petersburg Times), cancer.
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23 September - Iain Coleman, 67, British politician, MP (1997–2005). (death announced on this date)
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Danny Thompson, 86, English bassist (Pentangle, Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated).
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24 September - Patricia Crowther, 97, British Wiccan occultist.
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Ann Granger, 86, British crime writer (Cold in the Earth).(death announced on this date)
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25 September – Billy Vigar, 21, English footballer (Chichester City),
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26 September - Menzies Campbell, Baron Campbell of Pittenweem, 84, British politician and Olympic sprinter (1964), MP (1987–2015), member of the House of Lords (since 2015), and chancellor of the University of St Andrews (since 2006).
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Tony Harrison, 88, English poet ("V").
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Ken Houghton, 85, English football player (Rotherham United, Hull City, Scunthorpe United) and manager.
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Norman Kember, 93, British biophysicist and peace activist.(death announced on this date)
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27 September – Martin Neary, 85, English organist and choral conductor (Westminster Abbey, Winchester Cathedral),
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28 September – Sir Terry Farrell, 87, British architect and urban designer.
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29 September - John Lucas, 88, British poet, critic and publisher. (death announced on this date)
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Patrick Murray, 68, English actor (Only Fools and Horses, Scum, Quadrophenia)
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Brian Patten, 79, English poet and author