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Remembrance Sunday services being held in Wales Remembrance Sunday services held in Wales
(about 1 hour later)
Services and parades are taking place around Wales for Remembrance Sunday with a national event at Cardiff's Welsh National War Memorial. Services and parades have taken place around Wales for Remembrance Sunday with a national event at Cardiff's Welsh National War Memorial.
A World War Two veteran from Bridgend marched to the Cenotaph, representing the first official recognition of Britain's "Secret Army" in the commemorations. A World War Two veteran from Bridgend marched at the Cenotaph in London, representing the first official recognition of Britain's "Secret Army" in the commemorations.
Although never deployed, men like Dillwyn Thomas, 88, were trained to cause havoc had the Nazis invaded.Although never deployed, men like Dillwyn Thomas, 88, were trained to cause havoc had the Nazis invaded.
"I'm honoured to be asked," he said."I'm honoured to be asked," he said.
A two-minute silence was observed across the UK at 11:00 GMT.A two-minute silence was observed across the UK at 11:00 GMT.
Swansea and West Glamorgan branches of The Royal British Legion organised services at St Mary's Church on Sunday and at the city cenotaph on Monday.Swansea and West Glamorgan branches of The Royal British Legion organised services at St Mary's Church on Sunday and at the city cenotaph on Monday.
In Wrexham, the annual service of remembrance was taking place at the Royal Welch Fusiliers Memorial, Bodhyfryd, on Sunday. In Wrexham, the annual service of remembrance took place at the Royal Welch Fusiliers Memorial, Bodhyfryd, on Sunday.
Wales' national Sunday remembrance event was being hosted by Cardiff Council, the Welsh government and The Royal British Legion. Wales' national Sunday remembrance event was hosted by Cardiff Council, the Welsh government and The Royal British Legion.
Detachments from the armed forces were taking part in a march. Detachments from the armed forces took part in a march.
They paraded from King Edward VII Avenue via Museum Avenue to the Welsh National War Memorial in Alexandra Gardens, Cathays Park.They paraded from King Edward VII Avenue via Museum Avenue to the Welsh National War Memorial in Alexandra Gardens, Cathays Park.
Elsewhere, Sgt Cath Jones, from Llanymynech in Powys, joined more than 100 personnel from 83 Expeditionary Air Group (EAG) at a sunset remembrance ceremony on Saturday while working at a base in the Middle East.Elsewhere, Sgt Cath Jones, from Llanymynech in Powys, joined more than 100 personnel from 83 Expeditionary Air Group (EAG) at a sunset remembrance ceremony on Saturday while working at a base in the Middle East.
It is responsible for UK air operations across the Middle East and Afghanistan.It is responsible for UK air operations across the Middle East and Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, some members of the highly secretive Auxiliary Unit such as Mr Thomas - who would have been the final line of defence in the event of a German invasion of the British mainland - paraded at the London Cenotaph. Meanwhile, some members of the highly secretive Auxiliary Unit such as Mr Thomas - who would have been the final line of defence in the event of a German invasion of the British mainland - paraded at the Cenotaph in London.
'Keeping secrets''Keeping secrets'
The Coleshill Auxiliary Research Team (CART), the group behind the British Resistance Archive which is the largest collection of research into the unit, worked with The Royal British Legion to have the veterans included in the march for the first time.The Coleshill Auxiliary Research Team (CART), the group behind the British Resistance Archive which is the largest collection of research into the unit, worked with The Royal British Legion to have the veterans included in the march for the first time.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm honoured to be asked to march by the cenotaph. I only hope my legs hold out long enough - but it's not something I'd ever say I've missed," said Mr Thomas."Don't get me wrong, I'm honoured to be asked to march by the cenotaph. I only hope my legs hold out long enough - but it's not something I'd ever say I've missed," said Mr Thomas.
"I just accepted that being anonymous was part of the deal."I just accepted that being anonymous was part of the deal.
"After the war, I'd just got so used to keeping secrets that it didn't even dawn on me to tell my own family what I'd done for another 30 or so years.""After the war, I'd just got so used to keeping secrets that it didn't even dawn on me to tell my own family what I'd done for another 30 or so years."
He was just 18 when he was taken aside during a Home Guard drill, and asked to become part of the secret guerrilla force.He was just 18 when he was taken aside during a Home Guard drill, and asked to become part of the secret guerrilla force.
The Coleshill Auxiliaries were Prime Minister Winston Churchill's own invention, and were named after the Oxfordshire base where training took place in the use of explosives, living off the land, and learning to kill.The Coleshill Auxiliaries were Prime Minister Winston Churchill's own invention, and were named after the Oxfordshire base where training took place in the use of explosives, living off the land, and learning to kill.
Yet by day Mr Thomas remained a farmer's son.Yet by day Mr Thomas remained a farmer's son.
"It was the perfect cover really. I didn't get asked any awkward questions because everyone knew how important farming was to the war effort," he said."It was the perfect cover really. I didn't get asked any awkward questions because everyone knew how important farming was to the war effort," he said.
"I was taken at night in an army car. Of course, there were no road signs during the war in case of German invasion, and so I didn't realise until years later that I'd actually trained in a base in Oxfordshire.""I was taken at night in an army car. Of course, there were no road signs during the war in case of German invasion, and so I didn't realise until years later that I'd actually trained in a base in Oxfordshire."
His local knowledge as the son of Margam Estate's home farm manager was crucial.His local knowledge as the son of Margam Estate's home farm manager was crucial.
'Ambushes and booby traps''Ambushes and booby traps'
That stretch of the south Wales coastline was of particular importance to the plan because of the Great Western mainline, Port Talbot steel works, Llandarcy oil refinery, Island Farm prisoner of war camp and many munitions factories.That stretch of the south Wales coastline was of particular importance to the plan because of the Great Western mainline, Port Talbot steel works, Llandarcy oil refinery, Island Farm prisoner of war camp and many munitions factories.
"If the Germans had landed, and it'd looked as though they were making inroads west, we were to blow the steel works, oil refinery, train line, and anything else which could have been of any use to them, then lay low in the countryside," he said."If the Germans had landed, and it'd looked as though they were making inroads west, we were to blow the steel works, oil refinery, train line, and anything else which could have been of any use to them, then lay low in the countryside," he said.
"We weren't meant to fight the Germans head-on - there were nowhere near enough of us to make a difference and we weren't sufficiently armed."We weren't meant to fight the Germans head-on - there were nowhere near enough of us to make a difference and we weren't sufficiently armed.
"But if we could slow up their progress, then the hope was we could have harried them with ambushes and booby traps."But if we could slow up their progress, then the hope was we could have harried them with ambushes and booby traps.
"Of course I'm delighted that it never came to that, but I must admit that there's a tiny part of me which is disappointed that I never got to test my training in battle.""Of course I'm delighted that it never came to that, but I must admit that there's a tiny part of me which is disappointed that I never got to test my training in battle."
The confidential nature of his service has meant Mr Thomas and others like him have long been omitted from all official commemorations.The confidential nature of his service has meant Mr Thomas and others like him have long been omitted from all official commemorations.
Tom Sykes, founder of CART, said Auxiliary Unit members deserved recognition having effectively signed up for a "suicide mission".Tom Sykes, founder of CART, said Auxiliary Unit members deserved recognition having effectively signed up for a "suicide mission".
"The situation could very well be that this will be the first and the last time these veterans will get the nationwide recognition they deserve and so this Sunday will be a hugely moving and proud day for all of us involved," he said."The situation could very well be that this will be the first and the last time these veterans will get the nationwide recognition they deserve and so this Sunday will be a hugely moving and proud day for all of us involved," he said.