SHAMEFUL

Now John Whitbread, 72, is horrified that an organisation which helped him out in a crisis may be forced to fold - because of a lack of volunteers.

The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association in Southampton has seen staff numbers plummet so low that they may not be able to cope with the increasing number of people needing their help.

Treasurer Tim Wood said: "It's ironic that here we are marking the 60th anniversary of D-Day, yet we're struggling to help the very people who were there."

The news has stunned war veterans in the city - and has sparked an urgent plea for more volunteers to come forward.

More than 200 Army, Royal Navy and RAF veterans, as well as war widows, approach the SSAFA every year. They are people desperately seeking help to buy a new fridge, more furniture, or even a bike, as well as assistance with visiting a sick relative in hospital, or receiving regular help with nursing fees. The organisation targets service charities and other sources of funding to find about £100,000 a year to hand out.

The SSAFA started up nationally in 1885 by an Army Major serving in Sudan who wrote a letter to The Times appealing for people to look after the families soldiers left behind.

Now the charity looks after both servicemen and women, as well as their families by providing a helping hand when they hit dire straits.

Now, almost 120 years later, the Southampton branch is currently limping by with just 15 volunteers - and most of them are veterans aged in their 70s or 80s.

"We're really finding it difficult to attract people who are younger," said Mr Wood, 76.

"As time goes on, we'll be less and less able to manage so well. Already, one of our volunteers is in a wheelchair and is limited as to when he can travel.

"We're feeling the pinch and it's unreasonable to ask the people who are left to take on more work, when they are volunteers. We can see the end unless we get more support."

Royal Navy veteran John Whitbread, who picked up a cheque yesterday to help him buy a new armchair, was appalled by the possible closure.

"It would be a sad day if SSAFA closed," said the 72-year-old from Paynes Road in Freemantle, who served in the Mediterranean from 1949 until 1953.

"When I first moved into my flat they helped me with money to buy second-hand furniture and yesterday I was given £300 to buy a new TV and armchair.

"I would never be able to afford this on my own, as I'm on income support. It makes a huge difference to me having this kind of organisation to help."

Bosses at the Royal British Legion are also horrified by the threatened closure - and say the disappearance of SSAFA from the city could put pressure on their own services.

Southampton branch secretary, Archie Parsons, said: "We would be very sorry to see them close and it's sad that they find themselves in this situation.

"They carry out such an important function in helping people who probably don't know where else to turn for assistance. It would mean those people would come to us instead. They are more than welcome, but it will increase our workload and put more pressure on our services."

The SSAFA has seen its caseload numbers soar over the last two years, as more and more Second World War veterans reach the age where they need increasing help.

"The veterans who would have been serving at the time of D-Day are now in their late 70s or 80s, and so are their widows," said Mr Wood, who has been a volunteer since 1989.

"At that sort of age, and as they get older, their needs increase and the number of cases a year has gone from about 200 to 250."

Each case takes about a fortnight for one volunteer to deal with. The volunteer visits the applicant, writes a report and taps into one of 300,000 charities in the country. In fact, most of the volunteers are also Second World War veterans, anxious to pay back an organisation that may have helped them in the past.

Meanwhile, commemorative extravaganzas are planned in Netley, Lepe, Southampton's art gallery, Exbury Gardens and around Portsmouth.

Thousands are expected to turn out to celebrate the triumphant invasion which is said to have secured Britain's victory and freedom.

In a letter to the Daily Echo, SSAFA divisional secretary Bryan Wilson said: "Very soon we will be remembering the veterans of D-Day.

"They, and all other ex-servicemen and their families, have been offered help over the years by SSAFA.

"It is a sad reflection on our society that, by the end of this year, SSAFA in Southampton will have to close or considerably reduce its activities.

"May I hope that it is not too late for a handful of people to come forward and show that we really mean it when we talk of remembering our veterans."