THE largest celebration of veterans of the Second World War in Wales in recent years was held in the Towy Valley recently.

On October 4, 2023, 120 people who served in the Second World War or experienced the war and went on to serve during National Service, gathered at Myddfai Community Hall near Llandovery for an ‘Our Greatest Generation’ event.

Among the guests were nine Second World War veterans including D-Day veterans and Betty Webb MBE. Ms Webb worked as an ATS and was involved in Bletchley Park.

Some of the attendees included those who were children and witnessed the bombing of Pembroke Dock, Swansea, Cardiff and Newport, with some going on to serve in the Armed Forces in later life.

The event was opened by the Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed, Sara Edwards, and Colonel James Phillips, the Veterans Commissioner for Wales, introduced the veterans.

Among the veterans introduced was a signalman who lives in Cardigan.

Bill Shepheard who now lives in Cardgan was born in 1923. He learnt Morse Code at a young age from his father who was an expert signaller in the Royal Corps of Signals in the First World War.

He joined the London Home Guard, spending his time firefighting after bombing raids by the Luftwaffe. He was called up to the Army in 1942 and was posted to the Special Signals Regiment within the Royal Corps of Signals, joining a detachment assigned to support units of the US First Army in Northern Africa, preparing for the invasion of Italy.

But the ship he was travelling in was hit crossing the Tyrrhenian Sea and after hasty repairs, he left the ship in Tarranto. His detachment was called forward to support troops against the German infantry where as he advanced through Italy, he survived a close engagement with a retreating Panzer battalion.

As they advanced to the Austrian border, Mr Shepheard was tasked with crossing into Greece to help the 7th Indian Gurkha Rifle Regiment who were forcing out the advancing communist brigades from Greece.

He returned to his detachment in Italy and then spent two years in Austria helping with post-war efforts to consolidate freedom and peace in the former Third Reich nation.

There was music provided by Kirsten Orsborn, the Royal Marines ambassador and Forces Sweetheart and Greg Lewis, a producer of ITV Wales’ Greatest Generation and Lest We Forget documentaries presented Lest We Forget: Filming the Stories of the Veterans.

Speaking before the event, Simon Wright, CEO of Age Cymru Dyfed, said: “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.”