Latest news with #RoyalWelchFusiliers
Western Telegraph
18 hours ago
- General
- Western Telegraph
Saundersfoot war veteran honoured by First Minister
Duncan Hilling, 99, from Saundersfoot, was honoured by First Minister Eluned Morgan during Wales' VJ Day commemorations with a letter recognising his service during the Second World War. Mr Hilling served in India, Japan and Malaya after joining the RAF in April 1944, later transferring to the Royal Welch Fusiliers. He was among the first British troops to enter Hiroshima and Nagasaki following the atomic bombings in August 1945. Mr Hilling said: "I went out to Japan and spent a year there, it was a fascinating country. "We arrived before any other troops, we went to Hiroshima and the horrors of the atomic bomb were still there, it was hideous. "We asked people what they remembered about the bomb, and they couldn't remember anything, just a flash. "To me it was horrible, my comrades, six of us, felt the same. "I don't think people can ever understand what it was like. "Let's hope to goodness it never happens again." He was one of 11 siblings, seven of whom also served during the war. All survived. He added: "I was absolutely amazed by the First Minister coming to see me and giving me a letter of thanks. "I think of all the boys who were in Japan with me, nearly all of them gone now as I am nearly 100." The tribute was presented as part of Wales' commemoration of the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, which marks Victory over Japan and the end of the Second World War. VJ Day is observed on August 15 and honours those who served in the Asia-Pacific campaign. First Minister Eluned Morgan said: "It is a privilege to personally thank Mr Hilling for his incredible service and sacrifice. "His experiences in Hiroshima and Nagasaki remind us of the true cost of war and the courage of those who served in Asia-Pacific. "On this 80th anniversary of VJ Day, we honour all veterans like Mr Hilling who helped secure the peace and freedom we enjoy today." Mr Hilling's story was one of many shared for this year's VJ Day events, which included commemorations across Wales to remember those who served and fell in the Far East.
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- General
- South Wales Argus
Welsh veteran Duncan Hilling honoured for wartime service
Duncan Hilling, from Saundersfoot, was recognised by Wales' First Minister Eluned Morgan during an event marking the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan (VJ) Day, which falls on August 15. Mr Hilling, who served in the Asia Pacific during the Second World War, joined the RAF in April 1944 before transferring to the Royal Welch Fusiliers. He was among the first UK forces to enter Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, just weeks after the atomic bombings. Mr Hilling said: "I was absolutely amazed by the First Minister coming to see me and giving me a letter of thanks. "I think of all the boys who were in Japan with me, nearly all of them gone now as I am nearly 100." First Minister Eluned Morgan said: "It is a privilege to personally thank Mr Hilling for his incredible service and sacrifice. "His experiences in Hiroshima and Nagasaki remind us of the true cost of war and the courage of those who served in Asia Pacific. "On this 80th anniversary of VJ Day, we honour all veterans like Mr Hilling who helped secure the peace and freedom we enjoy today."
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
VJ Day veteran says aftermath of atomic bombs was "hideous"
"It really was absolutely hideous."Duncan Hilling was one of the first British soldiers to see the aftermath of the atomic bombs in Japan in 99-year-old World War Two veteran, from Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire, served with the Royal Welch Fusiliers and described the "horror" of the devastation in Hiroshima and he has been presented with a letter of thanks by the First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan to mark 80 years since Victory over Japan, recognising "the sacrifice, the contribution and service" he made. While Germany surrendered on 7 May 1945, the war continued in the Asia-Pacific marked the first use of the atomic bomb in a war when, on 6 August 1945, the American B-29 bomber the Enola Gay dropped Little Boy over the skies of the contained the equivalent of 15,000 tonnes of TNT and devastated an area of five square miles (13 sq km). Mr Hilling, who joined the RAF in April 1944 before being transferred to the Army and serving in India in 1945 before his regiment went to Japan, said: "We went to Hiroshima and saw the horror of the atomic bomb."Blind people were being led around and there were still dead bodies lying in the streets."Japan, however, did not surrender and three days later the Americans dropped another atomic bomb on Nagasaki, before the country surrendered on 14 August. Mr Hilling visited both cities, including going to schools turned into makeshift hospitals."We saw people who were totally blind, and their hands and skin were burnt," he said."To me it was horrible, the newspapers described an atomic bomb, but it doesn't describe the people or what they looked like."I really hope it never happens again." Mr Hilling saw the devastation the bombs had unleashed: "In Japan 90% of the houses were wooden and they were all burnt."He and his regiment stopped to talk to people on the street and described them as "friendly"."We asked them what they remembered of the bomb, they said they didn't remember anything - just a horrific flash and that was it and they'd lost their sight and couldn't remember past that point."The estimated recorded death tolls are thought to be about 140,000 of Hiroshima's 350,000 population and at least 74,000 in Nagasaki. The nuclear radiation released by the bombs caused thousands more people to die from radiation sickness in the weeks, months and years that Hilling said he lost several members of his regiment years later who had taken "souvenirs" from the bomb sites."I didn't take any souvenirs, but nobody ever mentioned the fact that radiation was a problem and three boys from the regiment who were with me at the time took some things away from the site. They all died of cancer in their 30s and 40s." Two days of national holiday were announced for celebrations in the UK, US and Australia after the surrender of Japan, with millions of people taking part in parades and street Hilling celebrated in India before heading to Japan."We sang Cwm Rhondda, it was very exciting to celebrate it in that way," he said."It must have been different to any other regiment, I can't think of anyone else who celebrated by singing hymns."From Japan, Mr Hilling was drafted to Malaya for the so-called Malayan emergency, a communist-inspired revolt against the British."It's an eerie feeling of walking through the jungle and you can't look behind. You just feel at any moment you could get a bullet in your back," he said. Ms Morgan said the letter of thanks, presented to Mr Hilling at his home, recognised "the sacrifice, the contribution and service that Duncan made," adding "he is of course a representative of a whole generation, no longer with us". She added: "It was the end of a really difficult time and it was lovely to hear Duncan talk about the joy when they heard the end of the war had occurred."It is important that we remind the children of today of the cost of war and why it's important to listen to witnesses like Duncan and know why we try and avoid it at all costs."
Leader Live
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Leader Live
A view from Wrexham MP, Andrew Ranger, on Armed Forces Week
This week is Armed Forces Week and a chance to show our support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: from currently serving troops to Service families, veterans and cadets. The week culminates in Armed Forces Day on Saturday, June 28. Hightown Barracks is always a focal point for the history of the armed forces in Wrexham, dating back to 1877. Many people in Wrexham have links to the barracks, perhaps through relatives who enlisted for World War 1 there or through the commando unit based there in World War II. Others remember it as a battalion headquarters and Company location for the 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion of the Royal Welch Fusiliers. Today, its role is varied as I learned from my recent visit and tour with Colonel Lock and today's armed forces face real difficulties not only after years of cuts but also in the context of a rapidly changing global situation and have my full support to meet their needs. The Armed Forces Commissioner Bill continues its progress through Parliament and will establish an independent Commissioner to serve as a direct point of contact for Armed Forces personnel and their families. The Commissioner will consider, investigate and make recommendations to address welfare issues faced by serving personnel and their families during their service life. Latest news I am privileged to have been on the Bill Committee and to therefore be part of tangible and important change for our armed services and their welfare, which has been neglected for too long. The upcoming Strategic Defence Review will tackle the state of Armed Forces accommodation. Wales's 800 forces family homes are in line to benefit from the significant investment uplift, as part of an overall £7bn in funding during this parliament. According to the House of Commons Library, there are an estimated 3,450 households in Wrexham who have at least one military veteran. Veteran support is crucial, which is why the UK Government has launched the VALOUR system to ensure easier access to essential care and support. As ever, if you have any queries or concerns or you have an issue that you would like me to try and assist you with, please do not hesitate to contact me on 01978 788854 or
BBC News
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Powderham Castle's attic 'treasures' make £540k at auction
Unusual "treasures" from a Devon castle's attic have been sold at auction for more than half a million Earl of Devon detailed some of the items discovered at Powderham Castle, which were auctioned on Tuesday, including canon and some pieces from Charlie Courtenay said: "We had a famous uncle who was the commander of the Royal Welch Fusiliers in about 1900, [he] went off to Peking during the Boxer Rebellion and managed to bring back a bunch of treasures from China including the carrying poles of the sedan chair of the last emperor of China." The chair poles were expected to receive between £8,000 and £12,000 at auction but achieved £40,000, auctioneers Dreweatts said. Lord Courtenay said the process of deciding what would stay and what would be auctioned had been "really fun".He said it was "giving old objects new life". "These things will be really interesting and will be an absolute star of the show in their home, whereas at Powderham they've been sitting sort of undisturbed in an attic for 60 or 70 years." Of the sedan chair poles, Lord Courtenay said: "We figured it's probably about time that they returned either to China or to some Chinese enthusiast rather than being hidden away in the corner of a castle in Devon."He added: "There are so many things squirreled away in the castle attics and in the tops of the towers. There are a few real treasures."He said items that would not be auctioned included a crusading coin of Jocelyn de Courtenay, which was found in a picture frame, and a banyan silk dressing gown that had belonged to the third viscount. The auction on Tuesday achieved a total of £540,890, which will go towards restoring parts of the castle."We reroofed the castle during the pandemic, built the new welcome centre but there's a whole bunch of rooms that sort of require refreshing," Lord Courtenay added the upstairs library "got quite damaged a couple of years ago but [we] managed to do the major repairs and now we need to do the interiors."It's jobs like that, where you are sort of restoring heritage. And you know if we raise sufficient funds we'll be able to put some of those projects in place."
