Commemorative VE mints given to Sheffield's Mi Amigo campaigner Tony Foulds

The gesture by the Wigan-based company, which used to supply miners in South Yorkshire with mints, was done because the company directors heard about Tony’s dedication to the memorial in Endcliffe Park and felt his spirit matched that of former employee Tommy Bennett, who helped ensure front line forces had a regular supply of Mint Balls before joining the war effort himself with the RAF.

The Tommy Tin special edition is named after the Uncle Joe’s and also honours the British troops who fought in the war and who were

nicknamed Tommies.

John Winnard, Joint Managing Director of Uncle Joe’s, said: “Here at Uncle Joe’s we are very proud of the role our Mint Balls played in boosting

morale during the Second World War.

“Our sweets were taken to the front line and provided a welcome taste of home.

“We are delighted to be marking VE Day with this, our commemorative Tommy Tin, and donating 20p from each sale to armed forces charities across the UK.

“We also wanted to donate some of the tins to people who continue to preserve the memory of those lost in the war and for whom VE Day will have special significance. After hearing about Tony Foulds, we wanted him to have one of each of the designs.”

This year’s VE Day on May 8 will mark 75 years since the guns fell silent at the end of the war in Europe and 76 years since the Mi Amigo crash. This was where Lt John Kriegshauser and his nine crew all died after their plane was failing and they chose to crash into woods rather than hit children in the field which included Tony Foulds who was only eight at the time.

After receiving the gift the 83-year-old said: “I was not expecting this and it’s really smashing to know that people are thinking about the Mi Amigo crash and anything I can do to keep the memory of those lads alive I will.”