Defence Secretary Ben Wallace hits out at Russia in Hampshire visit

Mr Wallace made the comments during a visit to Alverstoke House Nursing Home in Gosport where he met World War Two veteran, Geoff Rushton.

The ex-guardsman and defence boss sat down with 98-year-old Geoff this morning to discuss his memories of the war and to learn more about his time in the RAF.

During the discussion, the MP for Wyre and Preston North drew parallels between World War Two and the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

READ MORE: Southampton veteran returns to HMS Collingwood to mark 100th birthday

He told Geoff: “We are always grateful for what you guys did. What we’re doing in Ukraine and helping Ukraine is for the same thing.

“There are people who really want to go after our way of life and we’re not going to let them.

“If you let a bully win, they keep bullying.

“Thank you for everything you do. We’ll keep doing our best by our veterans.”

Bank clerk turned Lancaster Bomber crewman, Geoff, completed 31 missions during his five years in the RAF, having signed up in 1940 at the age of just 18.

Caroline Dinenage and Geoff Rushton (Image: Newsquest)

The MP and veteran spoke of their times in the forces, what support there is for veterans and the reputation of the RAF during World War Two, which Geoff said was “bad”.

“We weren’t just bombing houses. We did a lot of support for the Army. It was a shame but there you go”, he added, also calling for a medal for those who served.

Organised with Gosport MP, Caroline Dinenage, Geoff only got word of Mr Wallace’s visit a short time before via email.

Speaking afterwards he said: “It's quite an honour. A very great honour.

“He told me about his job and what he had done. A very charming chap.”

Geoff Rushton. (Image: Newsquest)

Geoff, who lives at the nursing home in Alverstoke, began his military training at the age of 17.

Mr Wallace added: “It always strikes me that these veterans, they went back to normality.

“It wasn’t a war of professionals, it was a war of all of us who suddenly stopped being a journalist, stopped being a bank clerk, as Geoff had been, and risked their lives to defend these shores.

“At the moment, what we see in Ukraine is Ukraine doing that. Being invaded by effectively a despotic regime evoking ethnic nationalism and all the things we thought had been long extinct on the shores of Europe.

“I went to see some Ukrainians training. They are fighting for their country, and we’ll do everything we can to help.

Ben Wallace and Geoff Rushton. (Image: Newsquest)

“It’s the same ethos that took Geoff from being a bank clerk and joining at 17 to defending our shores so I think it’s always important.”

Caroline Dinenage told the Echo: "Gosport has such as deep-rooted military history and it’s important for the Defence Secretary to understand our proud past and see how vital our area remains to the future of our armed forces and global security. 

"It was a pleasure to introduce Ben to WW2 Veteran, local hero and former Mayor of Gosport, Geoff Rushton.

"Geoff joined the RAF aged just 17, when, like Ukraine today, people from across our country were facing the intimate threat to our freedom and liberty."

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