Britain’s Wartime Generation Given More Than 500,000 Free Passports

More than half a million people who helped Britain through the darkest years of the country’s history have taken advantage of scheme to recognize their sacrifice. Figures published by the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) today show that 519,000 people from Britain’s wartime generation have benefited from a free UK passport.

Since October 2004, every British citizen born on or before 2 September 1929 has been exempt from application or renewal fees for UK passports in recognition of the bravery of both veterans and civilians during World War II.

After meeting with James Woolley, the recipient of the 500,000th free passport, Home Office Minister Lord West said:

“It gives me great pleasure to announce this milestone in a scheme which honors every adult who helped defeat the evils of Nazism.

“This is a generation which faced incredible hardship and loss and demonstrated tremendous bravery both on the battlefield as well as on the home front.

“It is entirely right that those who endured these times to guarantee our liberty and security should be given the privilege of free passports.”

Mr Woolley said:

“I am pleased the Government has thought to recognize the hard work and sacrifices my generation made during the war in this way and would encourage as many people as possible to take advantage.”

Source: Home Office

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