On 4 October 2023, in Myddfai Community Hall nr Llandovery, a celebration is being held for veterans who experienced WW2 either by fighting on the front-line in the Armed Forces or as children including evacuees who witnessed the bombing of Swansea, Cardiff, Newport, and Pembroke Dock.
This event which starts at 11am will be the largest single gathering of the WW2 generation to be held in recent years in Wales and is likely to be one, if not the final such event to held in Wales of this size. 9 WW2 veterans are attending aged between 97 and 101yrs of age and at least 12 who experienced the War as children (now themselves in their 90’s) .They will be welcomed by a ‘full house’ audience of 100 guests including family members, younger veterans, service personnel and charities.
The Lord-Lieutenant of Dyfed Miss Sara Edwards will provide the welcome and the Veterans Commissioner for Wales, Colonel James Phillips, is introducing the veterans who fought in WW2 including at D-Day, in Bletchley Park, the Battles of The Atlantic, Pacific, and the war in the Far East.
The ‘children at war’ group will be introduced by the MC for the day Jessica Phillips. This group includes many who then went into National Service in the immediate post war years, including three Korean War veterans, veterans of the Malayan conflict, and saw service in many other areas in the world.
Greg Lewis, Producer of ITV Wales’ ‘Greatest Generation’ and ‘Lest We Forget’ documentaries will be presenting ‘Lest We Forget: Filming the Stories of the Veterans’.
Music from the era will be sung by Music from the 1940/50’s sung by Kirsten Orsborn, Royal Marines Ambassador and Forces Sweetheart.
Simon Wright CEO of Age Cymru Dyfed says: Age Cymru Dyfed supports older veterans across west Wales. As such, we are looking forward to welcoming a number of WWII veterans – Our Greatest Generation – and their families to Myddfai Community Hall to celebrate their contribution to this country in its hour of need. It may be nearly 80 years since WWII raged around the world, but their part in ensuring a free world is not forgotten through events such as this and, through the West Wales Veterans’ Archive held as part of the People’s Collection Wales at the National Library of Wales.”
