A Note of Controversy?

On occasion, there have been times when comments on this blog have suggest this site takes a pro-Welsh and possibly anti-English view…

The older I get, the more Sunday’s Remembrance Service seems to be pertinent, as you realise its worth. Younger people find it of little relevance but there comes a time when it begins to take on some significance. The white poppy movement at its height during the 1980s and early 1990s, though never really reaching Rhuthun, portrayed such ceremonies as militaristic. But that’s an oversimplification.

At Rhuthun’s memorial, as you see veterans alongside young representatives of the scouts, guides and so on, you realise the significance of one generation relating to another. Without the older generation’s sacrifice, there would be no gathering in freedom.

In a departure from the norm, we are asked to sing both Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau *and* the English national anthem. These days, this is probably the only instance where you are likely to hear both (unless it's a Wales v England international). I suppose this is because the queen is the patron of the Royal British Legion. Servicemen took a sworn oath to King & Country in the defence of freedom, and I doubt whether any of the Rhuthun fallen would ever have thought otherwise.

When faced with both anthems, it’s customary for some to refuse to sing the English one. This makes a clear and obvious statement. Many would tend to support this as wholly acceptable. But…

If I may introduce a note of controversy, is Remembrancetide the time for such a point? Should it be that we can all unite in a moment of healing and respect for *all* those who gave sacrifice, all the fallen? Did it matter whether they are Welsh, Scottish, Canadian, Australian, New Zealanders, Polish, Free French or English? Was nationality an issue in the defeat of evil? How many Englishmen once living in Rhuthun are inscribed on our local memorials, alongside Welshmen? Or how many Welshmen the descendants of English people? And how many of us know of Welsh *and* English people who died?

The words of the Kohima Epitaph used at last year's service and probably yesterday's, too, said in Welsh only but here translated:

“When you go home tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow we gave our today.”

It’s therefore sad at this poignant time that we cannot all bring ourselves to sing *both*anthems, together, as one.