95-Year-Old War Veteran Ends 14 Miles Walk In Accra

Joseph Hammond

A 95-year-old Joseph Hammond last Monday ended a 14-mile walk which he started a week ago.

With determination and the perseverance of a soldier in the jungle advancing to contact, he finally made it and was received by a colourful reception party of his surviving World War II (WWII) veterans at the Independence Arc.

He took a salute from them and a 'hip hip hip hurray' for a task well executed. His target of £500,000 has raised, as at yesterday, an amount of £17,117, three per cent of the target.

His colleagues, clad in their Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF) uniforms and supported by a detachment of soldiers from the Ghana Armed Forces, gave a befitting colour to the grand finale as it were.

The former Private soldier's £500,000 target is intended to support frontline medical workers in the Covid-19 war and vulnerable African veterans.

Hammond, who saw action in Burma, now Myanmar, began the walk from his residence near the Photo Club in Osu, Accra, at 6am and ended up at the start point after walking to the Kwame Nkrumah Circle area.

The GUBA Foundation, which put the programme together, will purchase PPE for frontline workers and vulnerable African veterans WWII from the funds.

The Veterans Administration Ghana (VAG) provided a vehicle which followed the veteran as he walked along the Ring Road from Danquah Circle to Kwame Nkrumah Circle.

The walk was coordinated by Derrick Cobbinah, a retired British Army soldier of Ghanaian parentage.

The Royal Ex-Services League of the Commonwealth also played a critical role in the walk through the provision of the necessary logistics.

Veteran Hammond represented African veterans a few years ago in Britain for a Global Awards programme arranged for veterans during which, he met the British Prime Minister and other dignitaries. He received recognition from Britain, presentation of which was done at the VAG headquarters a few years ago.

Earlier, it would be recalled a 100-year-old Captain Cook, when he too upon completing his 100 lap behind his garden in Britain, soldiers of his former too honoured him with a quarter-guard. Like his Ghanaian counterpart he too raised funds for frontline medical workers in the Covid-19 fight and received an honour guard from his old unit.

---Daily Guide