Have not been on my blog for a while. Technical problems. Actually it was me who was the problem. Anyway James has fixed it. This was the last column I wrote for the local newspaper. It’s about the centenary of the Armistice, which seems years go. All this Brexit uncertainty drives every other issue into the shadows. Anyway, here’s the article.
As we approach the centenary of Armistice Day, I reflect that my generation has been blessed with good fortune. I write this from a personal perspective, but it applies to all of the generation into which I was born. I was a war baby, conceived when Britain was at war with Germany, and born at Welshpool Hospital just before atom bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which effectively ended hostilities. Soon afterwards, the Second World War, which had wrought utter devastation and cruelty on an epic scale was declared over. I was just a one year old when the tyrants, Mussolini and Hitler perished. I was just one when the world discovered the horrors visited on innocent Jews in the Holocaust. It’s hard to believe such crimes against humanity actually happened in my lifetime.
As we approach the centenary of Armistice Day, I reflect that my generation has been blessed with good fortune. I write this from a personal perspective, but it applies to all of the generation into which I was born. I was a war baby, conceived when Britain was at war with Germany, and born at Welshpool Hospital just before atom bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which effectively ended hostilities. Soon afterwards, the Second World War, which had wrought utter devastation and cruelty on an epic scale was declared over. I was just a one year old when the tyrants, Mussolini and Hitler perished. I was just one when the world discovered the horrors visited on innocent Jews in the Holocaust. It’s hard to believe such crimes against humanity actually happened in my lifetime.
But
such appalling events did happen and we British have not been involved in such
horrors since. Yes there have been wars and sadly they will continue. We must
not forget the awfulness, because we do not want to see the like again. There’s
been a Spanish Civil War, a war in Vietnam, the wars in Iraq. Today there’s the
awfulness of Syria, Afghanistan and the Yemen. But there has been nothing like
the devastation of the two World Wars centred on Europe. When millions of
mothers and fathers saw their sons leaving for unknown battlefields. When they
dreaded opening the door to a uniformed man bringing them the news that their
son (usually but sometimes daughters too) had been killed in action. How did
they all recover? Some didn’t of course. We have four children and five
grandchildren. It’s just not possible to bring such scenarios to front of
mind.
Over
the next few days, many of us will be joining in acts and services of
remembrance. Last Saturday I joined the British Legion and cadets as they sold
poppies in Newtown, raising money to help those injured in warfare. Today I
visited the new statue of the First World War poet, Wilfred Owen at Oswestry.
On Friday I look forward to the official opening of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Garden in Machynlleth and on Sunday I will join the Parade and Church Service
in Welshpool. There will be many other commemorations and much remembrance
across our County. And there will be hundreds, maybe thousands of
Montgomeryshire people turning out to acknowledge the commitment and sacrifice
of our young people who have joined the armed forces.
Over
recent years, I’ve joined the parade at Welshpool and Newtown on alternate
years. This year, on Sunday I will be at Welshpool, and at the service at St
Mary’s Church. Many old friends will be there. I do hope Ted Jones and Jack
Ellis are well enough to be with us. Both are confined to a wheelchair and
elderly. Ted is almost 99 years old now.
One
old friend who will not be with us is John Gwilt, a long standing political
opponent and one of the nicest men I ever met. The word, Welshpool was printed
on his heart. John died recently. I hope I can attend his funeral. I will
forever associate him reciting the Kohima Epitaph before the Last Post:
“When
you go home, Tell them of us and say, For your tomorrows, We gave our
today”
And
the Exhortation after the Last Post
“They
shall not grow old, As we that are left grow old, Age shall not weary them, Nor
the years condemn, At the going down of the sun, And in the morning, We will
remember them.”