Tri-Service

Carol Vorderman Starts Petition To Knight The Last Surviving Dambuster

Carol Vorderman has joined the bid to get the last surviving Dambuster a knighthood, branding the decision to leave him off the honours list as "disgraceful".

Vorderman launched her own petition after hearing about the campaign, which is also backed by the Sun, to get George “Johnny” Johnson a knighthood for the part he played in raids on German Dams in 1943.

Carol said that she cannot think of anyone who deserves a knighthood more.

Mr Johnson, 95, who was part of the Royal Air Force 617 Squadron, is the last surviving member of the Bomber Command crews who used Barnes Wallis's revolutionary bouncing bombs.

But despite being nominated for the accolade, the former Squadron Leader was not recognised in this year's New Year's honours list.

Vorderman’s petition has now attracted more than 80,000 signatures within 24 hours.

The TV personality, who is an honorary Group Captain with the RAF and who met Mr Johnson last year, has spoken of her disappointment that the veteran has not received a knighthood:

“Really, the reason he is the last surviving Dambuster should be enough (for the knighthood), but it is what he has done since then that is quite incredible."

"I hadn't realised someone had nominated him, which they had. Then to be snubbed I thought was absolutely disgraceful.

"He is already 95 and when he was asked to step forward he had no hesitation, just as all those in Bomber Command - none of them had any hesitation.

"If you were part of Bomber Command you had more chance of surviving the Battle of the Somme - that is how many died, it was about half, a 50/50 chance and they were all volunteers. They were incredibly brave and they have been treated disgracefully since then - even today they haven't got a medal."

The former Countdown presenter said she has felt motivated to start the petition because there is a personal connection between her and the Second World War veteran, and has suggested that she will personally be submitting a nomination for George to be included in next year’s honours:

"If Olympians, quite rightly, can get theirs so quickly then there's no reason why Johnny can't. I will be putting in a formal nomination with all the letters of support"

But Mr Johnson told the BBC that, if he were to receive the honour, he would dedicate it to his fellow bomber crews:

“It won't just be for me. It won't be for me at all. It would be for the squadron and for those who gave their lives on the dams raid.

"I shall make it quite clear, if it comes off, I shall ask with due humility of Her Majesty, if I can dedicate it to the 55,573 bomber air crews that gave their lives during the war.”