Sidney Daw, a 94-year-old WWII veteran from Cardiff reflects on his personal experience of European conflict, the importance of peace this Armistice day and why Brexit is the wrong direction for the country.
Sid talks us through what it was like growing up in Cardiff in the 1920s and 30s. Viewing with worry, the rise of the Nazis in Germany and growing antagonism between European countries. He walks us through his memories of Cardiff ablaze after suffering a bombing raid. Over 300 bombs were dropped on Cardiff docks during the war.
Sid told us: “My main reason for everything is keeping Europe together for peace in the world… If we’re going to separate each other, you’re going to end up in trouble. Why would you want to leave? What do they say? ‘We’re paying this, we’re paying that, we’re paying so much there, we can be Britain as we were’. But I’ll say, never mind what it costs, let’s carry on paying that, let’s stay together. Think about the little ones, looking ahead in years to come, they’re the ones I’m concerned about, the peace that they want.”
Between 50 and 80 million people lost their lives during World War II.
The EU isn’t perfect, but it has helped maintain peace on the continent. A peace we should continue to fight for.
Geraint Talfan Davies, Chair of Wales For Europe said: “Armistice Day will be a day to think seriously about the sacrifice of so many millions in one of Europe’s periodic civil wars. So many nations suffered truly terrible losses. Wales was no exception. On the centenary of a peace, we must never forget that this ended only the first chapter in the bloodiest century in the history of mankind.”
“After the 1914-18 war, many people said never again. There is a tragic irony in the fact that Cardiff’s Temple of Peace, that houses the Wales Book of Remembrance, was opened in 1938, two months after the Munich agreement that failed to prevent a second world war. We must never be complacent about peace.”
Sid’s story will be published on our Facebook page, Twitter page, Youtube page and LinkedIn page from 10:00 on Sunday 11 November 2018.
For more information on Wales For Europe you can contact Peter Frederick Gilbey, Director, by emailing peter@walesforeurope.org.
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