LONDON — For the past two years, Michael Woods has made the daily trip to see his wife, Mary, at the nursing home where she resides. However, this Sunday is different; the 100-year-old Royal Air Force veteran will forego their usual visit to commemorate his fellow service members from World War II.
For the first time since his discharge from the RAF in 1947, Woods will participate in the national Remembrance Day service in Britain. He will join thousands of veterans marching past the Cenotaph, a war memorial located in central London, to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the world wars and subsequent conflicts. “It’s a great privilege for me to do this,” Woods expressed, reminiscing about his time as a mechanic who ensured Lancaster bombers were operational during the war. “And I suppose I’ll never do it again.”
The annual service is a deeply solemn occasion, attended by the king and representatives from Commonwealth nations that fought alongside Britain during the world wars. They lay wreaths at the Cenotaph, marking the event that culminates in a parade of up to 10,000 veterans. Many participants proudly sport their medals and regimental berets as they march past the memorial.
Previously, Woods would watch the ceremony unfold on television from his home in Dunstable, approximately 30 miles (50 kilometers) away, accompanied by Mary, who would share in the moment with him. Much weighed on his mind over the years; he juggled family responsibilities, raising two daughters, a son, and relishing in the company of eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Recently, he dedicated himself to caring for Mary, his wife of 68 years.
Woods also harbored feelings that he didn’t truly deserve to participate in such a momentous occasion, as he considered himself “just” a mechanic responsible for maintaining the 12-cylinder Rolls-Royce Merlin engines powering the Lancaster bombers. However, his perspective shifted after he connected with fellow veterans through Blind Veterans UK, a charity that has supported his battle with macular degeneration and glaucoma.
It became clear to him that he needed to honor the memories of those who did not return after taking off in planes he deemed airworthy. Each Lancaster was crewed by seven individuals, most of whom were in their early twenties, leading to significant losses that weighed heavily on Woods. “It’s very, very upsetting when a Lancaster takes off and it doesn’t return,” he confided. “I couldn’t forget it if I wanted to. It’s just imprinted on your mind, you know.”
The RAF’s Bomber Command faced the steepest attrition rate of any Allied force during World War II, with 44% of aircrew members ultimately killed in action, according to the International Bomber Command Centre. Approximately 55,573 of the 125,000 individuals who served on the aircrews lost their lives during the war.
Adrian Bell, the CEO of Blind Veterans UK, noted that many World War II veterans see themselves as mere cogs in a vast machine, but their contributions were vital in the fight against fascism. “Everyone was needed,” he remarked.
On Sunday, Woods will take to the streets to march. His determination to maintain his independence at the century mark means he will not rely on a wheelchair, a device he has never used. He will have his son, Eddie, by his side as a guide, along with friends from the charity for emotional support.
Woods is expected to serve as an inspiration. Bell remarked, “I think the most important thing is the fortitude of a man who is 100 years old, who fought in the Second World War and beyond and is going to be there physically on Sunday, marching as a tribute to those who lost their lives. It’s a sign of hope and embodies something truly significant.”