Four WWII Veterans Honoured Guests at Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre

Four World War II Veterans, whose combined ages total 397 years, were honoured guests at a unique gathering hosted by Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre for the older person’s charity, Age Cymru Dyfed.

This coincided with an exhibition at the centre marking the 80^th anniversary of D-Day and the invasion of Occupied Europe in 1944.

Royal Navy Veteran Tony Bird, of Freshwater East, believed to be Pembrokeshire’s last surviving veteran of the D-Day landings on 6^th June 1944, served aboard the Flower class corvette HMS Clematis – part of a huge fleet protecting the invasion. Tony recently celebrated his 100^th birthday.

Joining him were 101-year-old Neville Bowen, of Ammanford, a Royal Navy gunner on wartime Atlantic convoys; Duncan Hilling (98), of Saundersfoot, a Royal Welsh Fusilier who served in India and with occupying forces in Japan at war’s end, and Idwal Davies (98), of Llanelli, a Royal Armoured Corps Churchill tank crewman.

They were supported by veterans of other military eras, representatives of the Royal Navy, the Army and RAF, the Royal British Legion, and the veterans staff and volunteer team of Age Cymru Dyfed. Colonel James Phillips, Veterans Commissioner, and Lieutenant Colonel Hayley Edwards, AFC Regional Liaison Officer, were among the guests.

Hugh Morgan, Age Cymru Dyfed Veterans Coordinator, said:  (‘it was wonderful to witness Tony, Neville, Duncan and Idwal recounting stories from 80yrs ago and so obviously enjoying each other’s company. It was also a tremendous privilege for the invited guests to be in the presence of ‘our greatest generation’.

In additional to Tony Bird, the Heritage Centre’ D-Day exhibition features the stories of many local servicemen who took part in the Normandy campaign following the D-Day landings. They include Royal Marine Ted Owens, Army despatch rider Gordon Prime and Maurice Mullins, who arrived in France in a glider on June 6^th.

The Heritage Centre’s D-Day exhibition is on display for the rest of the year. The Centre is open Mondays to Fridays, 10 am to 4 pm.

The four World War II Veterans with guests at Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre. Left to right: Lieutenant Colonel Hayley Edwards, Idwal Davies, Tony Bird, Neville Bowen, Colonel James Phillips, Duncan Hilling and Hugh Morgan, of Age Cymru Dyfed.

PICTURE: Martin Cavaney Photography

The four World War II Veterans at Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre. Left to right: Idwal Davies, Tony Bird, Neville Bowen, Duncan Hilling

PICTURE: Martin Cavaney Photography