96-year-old veteran Colin Thackery reflects on fading importance of VE Day among younger Britons: ‘It’s a shame’

96-year-old veteran Colin Thackery has said it is a “shame” that the importance of VE Day appears to be fading among younger Britons.

The Chelsea Pensioner was speaking to GB News after a new poll revealed that two-thirds of Generation Z were unaware of the day commemorating the end of World War Two in Europe.

“It's a shame,” Mr Thackery said simply.

The 96-year-old served in the Royal Artillery, seeing service in Malaya and the Korean War.

Mr Thackery compared the situation in the UK today to what he saw when visiting South Korea two years ago.

“I hadn't seen the place for 70 years, and it was extraordinary.

“Every child knows exactly when the war was, what we were there for.

“I was told by a nine-year-old that: ‘if you didn't come, we would be living the same as North Korea,” he recalled.

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