The 99-year-old war veteran has raised more than £23m for the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic by walking 100 lengths of his garden before his birthday.
Capt Tom Moore, originally from Keighley in West Yorkshire, initially planned to raise £1,000 through the challenge.
His story, and his positivity captured the hearts of thousands who dug deep to support Capt Tom’s efforts, he gave a message to the world “remember things will get better!” he says and for many watching his noble cause for just one instant they did.
As a result he has now raised a staggering £23million for the NHS, and the donations are continuing to pour in. His Just Giving page has sometimes crashed as people clamour to donate.
The Second World War veteran completed his 100th length live on BBC Breakfast earlier this week, complete with a guard of honour from the 1st Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment. However the donations just keep flooding in.
Capt Tom Moore was born in Keighley, West Yorkshire, on April 30 1920. His mother was a head teacher while his dad worked in the building trade.
After attending Keighley Grammar School he completed an apprenticeship as a civil engineer.
In 1939, when Tom was 19, the Second World War broke out. He was conscripted into the army and joined the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment 8th Battalion under Lieutenant Lord George Saville.
His army career started in Otley, West Yorkshire, with his battalion moving to Wadebridge in Cornwall for training and coastal defences against a feared German invasion.
Tom was selected for officer training in 1940 – he celebrated his 21st birthday during this time – and eventually rose to the rank of Captain.
After completing his officer training he was posted to the 9th Battalion of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, which was converted to the 146th Royal Armoured Corp, soon after his arrival.
Tom, along with his unit, was posted to Bombay, India, in October 1941, which involved a six-week journey by sea, as well as stops in Sierra Leone and Cape Town.
In 1942 they were ordered to move to Calcutta – a three week journey which took place in monsoon conditions, before taking part in the Arakan Campaign of 1942-1943.
The battle saw the Allies push back to recapture the Arakan area of south west Burma from Japanese forces.
Towards the end of the war, Tom and the 146th Royal Armoured Corp also went to Sumatra, Indonesia, after the Japanese surrendered.
Those medals have proudly adorned his blazer every day during his fundraising walks.
Tom’s war service earned him three medals: the 1939-1945 Star; the Burma Star and the War Medal 1939-1945.
He told LBC : “It’s important. It shows that I was part of a very important and super army at the time who were all battling for our country, which we’re all so proud of.”
After the war he returned to the UK and went to Bovington, Dorset, where he became an instructor at the Armoured Fighting Vehicle School.
He didn’t leave the the armed forces until the 1960s, when he took a job as sales manager for a roofing company back in his native Yorkshire.
This amazing motivational hero deserves to be awarded a knighthood.
The public have raised a petition to have Capt Tom knighted in appreciation of his great achievement in raising such a large amount of money for our NHS. LINK
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