The Not Forgotten Association is a United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 Armed Forces

Armed Forces

Armed Forces is Elvis Costello's third album, his second with the Attractions, and the first to officially credit the Attractions on the cover. It was released in the UK by Radar Records and in the U.S. by Columbia in 1979...

 registered charity

Charitable organization

A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...

 for serving and ex-service men and women that operates throughout the United Kingdom. Whilst major care is provided by state, Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)

The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....

 or other charity sources, the NFA provides extras that able-bodied people take for granted.

History

At the outbreak of the First World War

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 soprano

Soprano

A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...

 Marta Cunningham

Marta Cunningham

Marta Cunningham CBE , was an American-born European-based soprano-singer and philanthropist.Born in 1869 in Brazos County, Texas, her parents were Albert Baxter and Martha Minerva Tharp Cunningham, both from DeSoto Parish, Louisiana...

 was resident in London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

. She undertook charity and canteen work in the East End

East End of London

The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...

, which she continued after the cessation of hostilities. In 1919 while visiting her local hospital, Cunningham asked the matron

Matron

Matron is the job title of a very senior nurse in several countries, including the United Kingdom, its former colonies, including the Republic of Ireland, although the title Clinical Nurse Manager has become acceptable as an alternative.-History:...

 if she still had any wounded servicemen under treatment. Horrified to be given the answer 600, Cunningham discovered there were thousands of wounded men lying in hospitals, bored, lonely and in pain.

Cunningham established The Not Forgotten Association, with the object of providing entertainment and recreation for the war crippled that would alleviate the tedium of their lives and give them something to which they could look forward. Through her royal connections, Cunningham persuaded HRH Princess Mary

Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood

The Princess Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood was a member of the British Royal Family; she was the third child and only daughter of King George V and Queen Mary. She was the sixth holder of the title of Princess Royal...

 to become the Association’s first patron, a position she held until her death in 1965. Cunningham devoted the rest of her life to the charity, for which in 1929 she was awarded a CBE

CBE

CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...

. Cunningham herself died on June 25, 1937, and is buried in Hanwell Cemetery

Hanwell Cemetery

Hanwell Cemetery is a cemetery located in Hanwell, Ealing, west London. Originally called City of Westminster Cemetery it is owned and managed by the City of Westminster's Parks Service.-History:...

.

Purpose

In 1926 the Association officially defined its task as being ‘to provide comfort, cheer and entertainment for the wounded ex-servicemen still in hospital as a result of the Great War'.

While the essential needs of the many thousands of ex-servicemen are taken care of by state and the military administration, the NFA provides them extras that able-bodied people take for granted. This ranges from televisions for those whose mobility is restricted or are largely housebound, to excursions and trips for the more able.

Those eligible are ex-service or serving men and women who have a War Pension or are in receipt of compensation from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme or who are currently suffering from some form of ill-health.

Today

The Duchess of Kent stepped down as patron in 2000, when the duties were taken on by The Princess Royal

Anne, Princess Royal

Princess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...

. In 2009, NFA provided “Entertainment” to over 9,000 people.