VE stamp series will honour Newtonmore’s mighty WW2 warrior
Badenoch and Strathspey’s late war hero Sir Tommy Macpherson is to feature on a new set of Royal Mail stamps marking the end of the Second World War.
The legendary Commando was known for his audacious actions, including being dropped by submarine in North Africa, where he sabotaged enemy positions.
The Newtonmore legend is among a glittering array of fellow war heroes as explained today by a Royal Mail spokesperson: “Nations wage wars, but it is individuals who fight them.
“The 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War is an opportunity to acknowledge just some of the remarkable men and women who made extraordinary contributions during the war.
“These incredible people were working for the war effort both at home and behind enemy lines, and volunteering from across the Commonwealth.
”It was the courage and dedication of these individuals, and so many more, that led to the eventual victory in 1945.
“Today, Royal Mail unveils a set of stamps to honour the courage and dedication of individuals whose actions saved lives, changed history and shaped Britain’s war effort.”
The Second World War is often called ‘the people’s war’ and the people depicted on the stamps represent some of the diverse individuals who made up ‘the people’ in wartime.
Each of the 10 stamps in the main set features an image of the person being honoured, capturing their wartime role – be it pilot, nurse, Commando, SOE operative, codebreaker, engineer or firefighter.
Others shown on the stamps are:
George Arthur Roberts – a military veteran, activist and the first Black man to join the London Auxiliary Fire Service, in 1938, serving bravely throughout the Blitz.
Mary Morris – her diaries describe how she nursed troops returning wet and wounded from Dunkirk and later travelled to Normandy to care for casualties after the D-Day landings.
Violette Szabó – joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service before volunteering for the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and working undercover in occupied France.
John Harrison – served in the Royal Navy on the destroyer HMS Belfast and was responsible for maintaining ‘A’ and ‘B’ gun turrets at the front of the ship.
Bhanbhagta Gurung – fought in Operation Longcloth in Burma, now Myanmar, and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery under heavy fire.
Thomas Peirson Frank – a civil engineer and surveyor whose rapid-response teams repaired over 100 breaches of the Thames wall during air raids, saving many lives.
Mahinder Singh Pujji – a pilot and Squadron Leader with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Indian Air Force, awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his outstanding courage and leadership over Japanese-occupied territory.
William Tutte – a brilliant mathematician and codebreaker, William (‘Bill’) Tutte’s work was key to decrypting the Lorenz cipher, the German code used for top-level communication and intelligence.
Lilian Bader – after being forced to leave the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI) canteen because of her ethnicity, Bader volunteered to join the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) in 1944, and went on to train as an Instrument Repairer, becoming one of the first members of the WAAF to qualify in this role.
A further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, pay tribute to the late Dame Vera Lynn, her tireless efforts to support the troops and her advocacy for military veterans.
Royal Mail worked with historian Professor Lucy Noakes on the stamp issue. Since 2017, she has been Rab Butler Professor of Modern History at the University of Essex and has served as the President of the Royal Historical Society since 2024.
The stamps have been unveiled to an audience of family members of all the individuals who featured on the stamps, and other guests, at an event held at the Imperial War Museum North.
Royal Mail will be applying a special VE80 postmark on stamped mail in the week of the actual anniversary that takes place on Thursday, May 8.
The business is also supporting VE Mail, a letter-writing initiative connecting schoolchildren with Second World War veterans. Marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Together Coalition - an organisation aiming to build kinder, closer and more connected communities - has arranged for youngsters to receive personal letters from veterans who share their personal experiences of the war and their reflections on victory. The students then write returning letters expressing their thoughts and gratitude of the sacrifices made 80 years ago. It's a unique opportunity to connect generations and encourage children to engage with the past.
Emma Gilthorpe, CEO, Royal Mail said: “Behind every victory of a nation, there are countless unsung heroes whose courage and sacrifice shaped the future of the world. On VE Day, we remember not only the leaders and generals, but the silent warriors whose contributions echo through history. For the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Royal Mail is proud to issue these stamps honouring the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of those who fought for freedom and peace."
The stamps, and a range of collectible products, can be ordered at www.royalmail.com/valour and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 14 stamps is priced at £24.70. The stamps go on general sale from May 1.
