I read the letter from Scott Elliott saying how lucky he was to witness the Veterans’ Day march past in Southend (Echo, July 17).

I was on the pier for the first day of the event, but was unable to be there on the Saturday owing to another appointment.

If there had been publicity for this event given out much earlier, I could then have changed my other appointments. I am 89 and was in the Dunkirk evacuation and took part in the D-Day landings.

My company was 107-strong and just 31 of us got back from Dunkirk.

Let’s hope there will be more enthusiasm – from the town and council – for the veterans’ event next year.

Alfred Smith
Caulfield Road
Shoebury