On 29 July, The Veterans Charity proudly joined in marking Buckinghamshire County Day—a celebration rooted deeply in history and honour. The Charity has long-standing ties to this beautiful county, with connections that trace back to the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and our role in establishing memorials commemorating their heroic actions during the Normandy landings on D-Day. Buckinghamshire has also played host to our Headquarters over the years, including a memorable period based at the iconic Pinewood Studios.
County days often commemorate significant military moments—Yorkshire Day reflects the Battle of Minden, Rutland Day honours the Great Siege of Gibraltar, and Middlesex Day marks the Battle of Talavera. In this tradition, Buckinghamshire Day offers a poignant salute to the origins of the Stoke Mandeville Games in 1948 and the achievements of veterans.
Pioneered by Dr. Ludwig Guttmann at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, these early games were created to offer purpose and achievement to wounded WWII veterans. Held on the same day as the opening of the London Olympic Games, the event welcomed just 16 veterans—but its impact was profound.
From this modest beginning, the games grew to welcome international participants, ultimately giving rise to the Paralympic Games—a lasting gift from Buckinghamshire to the world. Today, many Paralympians proudly come from the Forces Family, making this legacy even more meaningful.
We at The Veterans Charity are honoured to support a county day that celebrates such a remarkable story of resilience, vision, and the enduring spirit born in Stoke Mandeville.
