A blind second world war veteran from Bedfordshire is set to march for the first time at the Cenotaph in London this Remembrance Sunday (10/11) with the charity Blind Veterans UK.
Michael Woods, 100 and from Dunstable, will be marching at the Cenotaph as part of the national Remembrance Sunday commemorations with more than 40 other blind veterans supported by Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
Michael was called up for war service in 1943, joining the Royal Air Force. He passed through RAF Cardington and underwent basic training at Skegness, before being selected for training as an aircraft mechanic. He served at RAF Coningsby and at RAF Skellingthorpe, where he was with 61 Squadron. He worked primarily on Lancaster bombers.
Michael says:
“I used to service all the engines and run the Lancaster out. I remember one night we were all ready to go and then after one of the Lancasters had taken off he fired a red ferry light which is the sign of danger. He landed straight away but as soon as he did it blew up with about 10 tonnes of bombs on it. There was a great crater but the miracle of it was that the rear gunner survived.
“As a mechanic I wasn’t meant to be in the planes flying but used to do so quite often. It was illegal of course but I remember that the crew would always say that if the mechanic is happy to fly with us then he must be pretty confident in the plane!”
After the war Michael was sent to Palestine where he saw out his service. He is particularly proud of having driven down to Egypt to have a very intimate tour of the pyramids and Valley of the Kings. He was discharged in 1947 with the rank of Leading Aircraftman (LAC).
Michael lost his sight much later in life due to age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. He says:
“My sight started to go gradually because of the glaucoma at first but I remember having just driven back from the west country, I got pneumonia and had to go to hospital and after that my vision had got a lot worse.
“I was driving until I was 94 but couldn’t do so after that. That’s the thing I missed the most. I’d driven since I was a young man in the RAF and it felt like I’d lost my independence.”
Fortunately, he found out about Blind Veterans UK and started receiving support from the charity in 2020.
He says:
“Joining Blind Veterans UK has been ever so helpful to me. Every month or so we meet up as a group in the local area and all the staff are so helpful and kind.
“But being given the opportunity to march at the Cenotaph with Blind Veterans UK will be the best thing they’ve done for me. It will make feel ever so proud.”
Michael will be marching for the first time with his fellow blind veterans at the Cenotaph this Remembrance Sunday.
He adds:
“I’ve never marched at the Cenotaph before. My wife and I would always watch it and the Festival of Remembrance on television but it’s so special that I’ll be there marching at 100-years-old.”
Chief Executive of Blind Veterans UK, Adrian Bell says:
“During Remembrance, we honour the courageous sacrifice of all those who gave their lives for their country. We also acknowledge the significant challenges faced by veterans living with life-altering injuries from their service.
“I am honoured to march alongside Michael and our group of over 40 blind veterans at the Cenotaph this year. I know many others will be participating in poignant ceremonies in communities nationwide.”
“This year marks important anniversaries for our veterans, not least the 80th anniversaries of key battles that turned the tide of the Second World War and 25 years since Kosovo. With these in mind, we will be particularly thinking of all those tragically lost and wounded in these conflicts, and of their families.”
Blind Veterans UK supports thousands of blind veterans like Michael but knows there are many thousands more who still need its support to rebuild their lives after sight loss.
Michael says: “If you have served in the armed forces and are experiencing vision problems, even if your service was many years ago like mine, I would really encourage you to get on to Blind Veterans UK.”
If you, or someone you know, served in the Armed Forces, including National Service, and are now struggling with sight loss, then please get in touch. Call 0800 389 7979 or visit blindveterans.org.uk/apply
