Not Forgotten Association

The Not Forgotten Association is a British Armed Forces registered charity for serving and ex-service men and women that operates throughout the United Kingdom. Whilst major care is provided by state, Ministry of Defence or other charity sources, the NFA provides extras that able-bodied people take for granted.

History
At the outbreak of the First World War, United States soprano Marta Cunningham was resident in London. She undertook charity and canteen work in the East End, which she continued after the cessation of hostilities. In 1919 while visiting her local hospital, Cunningham asked the matron 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 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. Cunningham herself died on June 25, 1937, and is buried in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Cemetery, Hanwell.

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 and TV licences for those whose mobility is restricted or are largely housebound, to excursions, concerts and holidays.

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