Captain Sir Tom Moore pays tribute to fallen soldiers on Remembrance Day and says he was ‘one of the lucky ones’
CAPTAIN Sir Tom Moore has paid tribute to fallen soldiers today - saying he was "one of the lucky ones".
Captain Tom, 100, shared a tweet on Remembrance Day as millions remember the sacrifices made for our freedom.
He wrote alongside a picture of himself: "I was one of the lucky ones.
"So I'll always remember: For all our tomorrows, they gave their today."
Captain Tom was a captain in the British Army during World War Two, serving in India and Burma.
He raised more than £40 million for the NHS by walking laps of his garden in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire at the start of the coronavirus crisis, and was later knighted by the Queen for his efforts.
He wanted to thank staff who had helped his recovery from cancer and a broken hip.
Captain Tom was conscripted to the Army in 1940, serving in the 8th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment.
He was promoted to lieutenant in 1942 and captain in 1944.
While serving in Burma he survived Dengue fever.
Returning to the UK in 1945, Captain Tom trained to become an instructor for Churchill tanks.
After leaving the Army Captain Tom worked as a sales manager and raced motorcycles competitively.
He rose to fame earlier this year for his incredible fundraising efforts.
Captain Tom, then 99, said he was doing his bit "for the sake of the nurses and the NHS" in his attempt to raise £1000 for NHS Charities Together.
His fundraising total quickly surpassed his initial target.
His actions were an inspiration to the British public at a time when they were all under strict lockdown, making him a hero and a symbol of British determination and courage.
His efforts have broken two Guinness World Records - the most money raised by charity walk by an individual, and the most money ever raised by a charity walk.
He was given an honorary promotion to Colonel by the British military, he was presented with a Pride of Britain Award and was awarded the Freedom of the City of London.
The British public inundated him with fan mail, painted murals of him and even made a special bust statue.
The Football Association has awarded him honorary captain of the Lionhearts, which was presented at his home by David Beckham.
Captain Moore said earlier this year: “I remain humbled by the love and gratitude that I have received from the British public, and this honour is something that I will truly value for the rest of my life.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a televised address to thank him for his "heroic efforts that have lifted the spirits of the entire nation".
Mr Johnson said that Captain Tom was "a point of light in all our lives" for the nation in crisis.
There was also a train named after him and an honorary flyover of his house by the RAF and the Army.
Captain Tom's knighthood was the first thing that the Queen did face to face in public after coming out of lockdown.
He was knighted by the Queen with the insignia of Knight Bachelor at Windsor Castle on July 17.
Her Majesty performed the ceremony for the fundraising legend as a special exception.
Before the ceremony, Captain Tom joked: "If I kneel down, I'll never get up again."
He called it "an absolutely outstanding day."
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Captain Tom completed 100 laps of his 25-metre garden before his 100th birthday, beginning on April 6.
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He finished the challenge 10 days later on April 16, having steadily completed ten laps every day.
Then he kept going, walking until his birthday, under the watchful eye of a socially distanced guard of honour from the 1st Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment, which the unit he had served in was merged into in 2006.