PA MediaA 101-year-old D-Day veteran awarded a British Empire Medal has said Britain today is “disappointing” and that the country risked repeating mistakes made before World War Two.
Mervyn Kersh from Cockfosters, north London, said being honoured for his school talks on Holocaust remembrance and his wartime service was a “wonderful thing”.
He likened the honour to being awarded the Legion d’honneur – France’s highest military award – but said it was significant to be recognised by his own country.
Mr Kersh said he believed his service during World War Two “was worth it”, but added: “It’s disappointing what’s turned out now.”
PA MediaHe said his efforts to speak about the Holocaust “do not always work”, telling of his concerns about rising antisemitism in the UK.
“What’s disappointing is the antisemitism that I see everywhere, hear everywhere, or read,” he said.
Mr Kersh arrived in Normandy aged 19, three days after the start of the D-Day invasion in June 1944. He served as a technical clerk for the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, organising vehicle support.
He was later stationed near Bergen-Belsen when the camp was liberated by British troops in April 1945.
Mr Kersh said he told schoolchildren during his talks about how the conflict began, adding: “There’d be no need for a war now, we’ve got the wrong attitude”.
The veteran said he “absolutely” sees comparisons between now and the period just before World War Two, and that Russia was “threatening the west”.
He went on: “The top budget should be defence, there’s nothing there for anything else. That’s all there is.
“Defence must come first, second, third, fourth and fifth, because only if you’re strong, you won’t be attacked.”
Mr Kersh compared today’s Western leaders to Neville Chamberlain, whose 1930s appeasement of Hitler failed, saying: “They think they’ve just got to hope and make speeches.”
He added: “We’ve got to either have another leader who’s more aggressive – I don’t mean start a war, but aggressive – [or] we’ve got to defend. That’s the first concern.”
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) recently announced a “gap year” scheme to give school and college leavers a taste of the Army, Royal Navy or RAF.
This summer, the prime minister said the country was moving to “war-fighting readiness” as the threats the UK faces require a “new era” of defence.
The British Empire Medal is an award within the UK honours system, given for distinguished civil or military service.
Matt Cardy/Getty ImagesOther London honourees include:
Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE)
- Former NHS boss Amanda Pritchard who said she was “deeply honoured” at the news of being made a dame for services to the NHS, which she said reflected the “extraordinary achievements of so many people across the NHS past and present”
Members of the British Empire (MBE):
- Megan Jones and Sadia Kabeya, England women’s rugby players and 2025 women’s Rugby World Cup winners, for services to rugby union
- Cynthia Erivo, actress and West End and Broadway star
- Bobby Seagull (best known for appearing on University Challenge) for his services to public libraries
- Sandra Igwe, 36, from Sidcup in south-east London, for her work as the chief executive of the Motherhood group, which is dedicated to supporting the experiences of black and ethnic minority mothers. She said: “I feel so ecstatic, I feel happy, I feel joyous. It feels unbelievable but I’m so pleased and so glad to receive this honour.”
Honorary awards to London-based foreign nationals include:
Honorary CBE:
- Prof Bart De Strooper, professor at University College London, for services to dementia research
- Dr Sunshik Min, chairman and chief executive officer of creative agency YBM for services to UK/South Korea relations and UK higher education
- Christine Schwarzman, founder and president of No Guarantees Productions for services to UK arts
Honorary OBE:
- Mark Peter Beddy, former chair of English Touring Opera, for services to arts and culture
Honorary MBE:
- Miriam Patricia Brown, honorary secretary and vice-president, London Irish Amateur Rugby Football Club, for services to grassroots sport
- Geraldine Roseberry for services to foster care in the London Borough of Redbridge
- Dr Elizabeth Tissingh, orthopaedic surgeon and head of King’s College London, for services to global health
- Dr Caroline Dowsett, nurse consultant as East London NHS Foundation Trust, for services to the NHS
- Marie Reilly, shared lives co-ordinator, London Borough of Islington, for services to supporting families
