Honour heroes as the Dutch do (From Penarth Times)

Honour heroes as the Dutch do

10:44am Thursday 1st November 2012 in Letters

IN response to David Morris Jones’ letter (Penarth Times, October 25) I wholeheartedly agree with him that we should honour those who did our country proud during the Second World War. I recall attending the unveiling of a plaque in the presence of Penarth Town Mayor, Councillor Anthony Ernest which was reported in Penarth Times on Thursday, May 3, honouring an outstanding hero of Penarth, Wing Commander Guy Penrose Gibson VC DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar RAF.

While on holiday in the Netherlands recently, I stopped at the small Dutch town of Steenbergen, where Wing Commander Gibson and his navigator, Squadron Leader Warwick, are buried side by side in the local churchyard.

There is also a memorial in the local park, which is a plinth topped by a propeller from the aircraft. At the point of impact (crash site), there is a street named after Wing Commander Gibson – Gibsonstraat.

Wing Commander Guy Gibson RAF was the holder of the Victoria Cross for his leading role in the ‘Bouncing Bomb’ attack on the Roer Dams on 16 May 16, 1943. He died in a crash near this street on September 19, 1944.

I suggest that Cllr Cook shows this example to the Town Council.

She would not have to say it every time or have people constantly asking for the origin of the name. She would then not spend her life explaining.

I hope this is of interest to many people who live in Penarth.

Tich Taylor Chairman Penarth Branch Royal Air Forces Association