Was It All Worth It? A 100-Year-Old War Veteran Shares His Thoughts on Remembrance Sunday
World War Two veteran Mervyn Kersh reflected on Remembrance Sunday and shared lessons he believes remain vital today. Speaking with LBC's Henry Riley, Mr. Kersh, who served in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, emphasized the importance of remembering the past.
"We've learnt nothing," said Mervyn Kersh. "I think it's very important, because if you don't remember you're not alive. You learn nothing.... Not we learnt much anyway."
Lessons From the Past
Mr. Kersh highlighted a crucial lesson learned from history:
"The main lesson that I would teach is that bullies don't attack anyone who is stronger than them. Strong defence should be first."
He stressed that the priority should always be maintaining strong defense:
"The most important thing is to be strong. It should come before anything else. It should before cheaper this, or freer that... the main thing is to have stronger defence than anyone else."
Reflections on D-Day and Age
Approaching his 101st birthday, Mr. Kersh reflected on the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the role of governments in learning from history:
"And by 'we', I mean governments - the successive governments."
Importance of Remembrance Traditions
He reaffirmed the significance of Remembrance Day traditions as a vital connection to the sacrifices made during the war.
Author's summary: Mervyn Kersh, a centennial war veteran, underscores the enduring importance of learning from history and prioritizing strong defense to prevent future conflicts.