Presiding Officer receives historic folios to mark sacrifice of Welsh airmen
28 November 2012
The National Assembly for Wales’s Presiding Officer, Rosemary Butler AM, has accepted, on behalf of the people of Wales, two historic folios commemorating the sacrifice of Welsh airmen.
They were presented to her by Air Marshal Chris Nickols, Controller of the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, at a ceremony in the Senedd today (28 November).
The two folios called “The Few” and the “The Many” celebrate and remember those airmen involved in the Battle of Britain and Bomber Command respectively.
“I am honoured to accept these documents on behalf of the people of Wales,” said Mrs Butler.
“They were dark days in the summer and autumn of 1940 when Britain stood alone against the Nazis, when brave young men gave up their lives over the skies of Britain in defence of the freedoms we take for granted today.
“Also throughout the Second World War, our brave bomber crews took the fight to the enemy on often dangerous and daring missions over Germany.
“All of us owe a debt of gratitude to these brave men and these folios go some way to commemorating and celebrating their sacrifices.”
A number of surviving airmen have signed these folios, which will be available to view in the Pierhead for a month.
September this year saw the 72nd anniversary of the Battle of Britain and in June a memorial, marking the 55,573 men who gave their lives serving with Bomber Command in the Second World War, was unveiled in Green Park, London.
Air Marshal Chris Nickols from the RAF Benevolent Fund said: “Wales has a proud tradition of supporting the Royal Air Force, as demonstrated by its purchase of Spitfires during the Second World War.
“On behalf of the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, it is therefore my absolute pleasure to present these special limited edition folios to the people of Wales.
“Thousands of young men lost their lives during the Bomber Command campaign and the Battle of Britain, but I hope that by displaying these books in the Museum, the Welsh people can be proud of the part they played.”