🎖️ Remembering a Hero: Owen Filer’s WW2 Journey 🌍
On the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, let’s take a moment to honour Owen Filer from Cwmbran, Wales’ oldest man at 105. Owen’s tales of resilience and sacrifice during World War II are nothing short of humbling.
Called up to the Army at the age of 20, Owen initially joined the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. But after falling ill with meningitis during training, he found himself in the British Military Police. From there, his destiny led him to India aboard the RM Ship Cape Town Castle, just as the European conflict neared its end.
Transported over 4,000 miles from home, Owen remembers his time in what was then called Bombay (now Mumbai) as stepping into a biblical time. The challenges were endless, from navigating the jungle without maps near the Burma border to escorting convoys in prep for the Normandy landings.
While Owen served bravely, his personal sacrifices were profound. He missed the birth of his son and waited a long nine months for their first meeting. “He was fast asleep when I got home, and I was desperate to pick him up,” Owen recalls emotionally.
As Owen joined a special service to mark this significant anniversary, he emphasised one powerful message: “We absolutely cannot forget what took place.” Reflecting on the past, it’s a reminder for all of us to cherish peace and remember those who ensured it.
Owen’s journey from the spicy air near the Strait of Gibraltar to the jungles of Burma and back home is a testament to the spirit and endurance of his generation. Let’s honour his story and the countless others who shaped our world today. 🌟
#VJDay #RememberingHeroes #HonourTheirSacrifice