Modern Britain branded disappointing by WW2 veteran awarded New Year Honour

A Normandy veteran who has been awarded a British Empire Medal has said Britain today is "disappointing", citing rising antisemitism and warning the country risks repeating the mistakes that were made before the outbreak of the Second World War.

Mervyn Kersh, 101, from Cockfosters in north London, received the honour in recognition of his wartime service and for giving talks in schools about the Holocaust.

He said being recognised by his own country was a "wonderful thing", comparing the award to France's Legion d'Honneur, which he also received, having served during the liberation of France.

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Despite the honour, Mr Kersh said he was concerned about antisemitism in the UK.

"What’s disappointing is the antisemitism that I see everywhere, hear everywhere, or read," he said, adding that while his service during the war "was worth it", "it’s disappointing what’s turned out now".

He arrived in Normandy aged 19, three days after the start of the D-Day landings in June 1944, serving as a technical clerk with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, where he helped organise vehicle support for advancing forces.

Later in the war, he was stationed near Bergen-Belsen when it was liberated by British troops in April 1945. 

He has previously spoken to BFBS about meeting newly liberated prisoners in Germany in the days that followed.

During his talks in schools, Mr Kersh explains how the conflict began and why its lessons still matter,

He said he "absolutely" sees parallels between the present day and the period before the Second World War, warning that Russia is threatening the West.

"The top budget should be defence, there's nothing there for anything else. That's all there is," he said. "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 then-prime minister Neville Chamberlain, whose policy of appeasement towards Nazi Germany failed to prevent war.

"They think they've just got to hope and make speeches," he said.

"We've got to either have another leader who’s more aggressive, I don't mean start a war, but aggressive."