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)
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COMING SOON - BUSINESS GIVEAWAY MEMBERSHIP
We will shortly have an online form available where you can give us details of your employer and we will approach them to pay for your VIP Club membership. Once you fill in the form, you will be given free trial period membership (see above) while we communicate with the employer.
BENEFITS OF JOINING THE VIP CLUB....
BECOME VIP NOBILITY*
GUARANTEED EVENT SIGN UP
EXCLUSIVE GIVEAWAYS
You have the OPTION to be awarded a VIP Club Noble title. For most, it will be a knighthood or damehood. You may earn higher nobility status withing the Group through hosting, sponsoring, or attending regularly our events. You will receive a Nobility Certificate, an entry on Nobility Roll on this website. You also have the option to be "dubbed" at an event ceremony, have a Club Nobility badge, and have a link to your social media if desired. The title has restrictions and may only be used in Group communications and certainly not outside the USA or online (unless reference is made to it applies to the Club only) SEE THE DISCLAIMER BELOW
DISCLAIMER
The use of the nobility titles mentioned below is meant to be just some fun in the VIP Club's activities. You may only use the title conferred on you for Group activities. You must not use It outside the Group in any communication, conversation, social media, or other British events. You certainly must not use it outside the USA anyway. You do not have to take a title (you will be an "Honorable Member" instead). The use of nobility titles by Britevents Northwest in no way means any agreement to autocracy or the historical misbehaviors of nobility in dispensing their powers.
For our General Admission events, one VIP Club member will have a guaranteed place even if there is a waiting list (subject to reserved place availability). One guest allowed for this benefit. Examples of this would be the Annual Christmas Party, Brits at the Races, and Food events.
EARLY BIRD EVENT NOTICES
You get first chance to apply for tickets for our events. Some events are free for VIP Club members and some involve a discounted ticket. Once the "Early Bird" period has expired, you can still make a reservation with a discount but only while spots are available. See above for the "Waiting List" guarantee though!
YOUR NONPROFIT PUBLICITY
If you are active in a nonprofit organization, we are happy to help you publicize it to the Brit community in the region. If that nonprofit also has a British theme behind it, then we can for a non profit partnership with additional publicity benefits. Our current partner nonprofits are BABC, Britcon, British Benevolent Society, and Portland Panto Players. For more info, send us details of your nonprofit and your involvement through our CONTACT US page.
PERSONAL BROADCAST MESSAGE*
Do you want to make contact with our subscribers who may have a common interest or common UK heritage? Examples might be: Member of a US nonprofit, same home town, went to College at same time, fan of same British celebrity etc. We will act as a confidential go between. This can result in direct contact with permission from you and the other party. To kick things off, send us details of your message via our CONTACT PAGE. One free message per membership period. $5 per message after that. Max 4 per membership period.
Every Month there is a giveaway raffle only open to VIP Club members. Click HERE for the current Giveaway! This is in addition to TRIPLE TICKETS for our open event raffles.
COMPETITION BONUSES
VIP Members will get a 20% bonus to their prize if they are a winner of one of our quiz or prediction competitions. This could mean at least $30 for a quiz (normally $25), $60 for a prediction competition (normally $50) or $120 for a prediction competition jackpot (normally $100).
ASK THE EXPERTS PLUS*
For some time now, Britevents Northwest has offered its users access to specialist advice for US immigration, UK Pensions, and International tax. We are pleased to extend this for VIP Club members only. We will provide either direct answers or specialist advice when a VIP Club member has an issue impacting their life as an ex-pat in the USA. Some of these questions may be answered by our parent business, Northwest B.O.S.S. owned by our General Manager, Steve Caldwell. This especially applies to questions regarding insurance, business start up, regional travel, landlord-tenant issues, contractor screening, and background screening of individuals. We may also use our Brit network of individuals across the region to answer your question. One inquiry per year is free. Second or additional inquiries will be subject to a research fee, pricing based on the topic. Please use our CONTACT US page to describe your issue or question. We may need to call you to discuss how we go forward with answering your question or issue.
NOTE: If you are in a Trial Period with the VIP Club, the Club Benefits asterisked are NOT available to you. You must be a full paid up member for that benefit.