Collaborative VR Project Reunites World War II Veteran With Community he Helped to Save

As we prepare for Remembrance Sunday 2016, it seems that now, more than ever, we need to remember the price of freedom. In such turbulent times — where we the same discourse of isolationism and racial scapegoating that nurtured Fascism in the buildup to the Second World War seems to be taking hold in Britain and America — we would do well to honour people like Frank Mouqué.

Frank is 91, and a Chelsea Pensioner (the iconic charity that provides over 300 veterans with a home and care in recognition of their outstanding service). He was born in Putney and was a corporal in the 263 Field Company of the British Royal Engineers. He participated on the D-Day assault on Sword Beach and in the following weeks joined the action of allied forces that took Pegasus Bridge and liberated several northern French towns from Nazi occupation.

One of those liberated towns — which Frank remembers most fondly — is Armentières. And this week the town used Virtual Reality technology to show how they remembered him too.