Madam,

Although some say that war commemorations glorify war, Jean Miles rightly honours the sacrifice of those involved in D-day (‘Fitting that D-Day is remembered’).

With great respect I then suggest we should identify the factors that caused so very many young men to lose their lives. That enquiry, however, will be painful to some and embarrassing to others.

In 1944, when I was two years of age, an American soldier gave me some sweets as he was leaving my parents’ house to embark for Normandy. I have often wondered if he and his companions landed on Omaha, where it is reported they suffered over 90 per cent casualties.

I think of their parents and the grief they must have suffered, never for one moment aware that Prescott Bush, the father and grandfather of two American presidents, was a substantial donor to the Nazi cause.

Until we focus on these evil and malign forces we are destined to lose other young lives. How many of us dwell on the war between Iraq and Iran, which was compared to our World War One trench warfare?

And that polarity, between the ‘many and the few’, is being portrayed on our streets at this very moment. Thousands have died since 2010, due to social policy and, when approached for comment, all government departments can offer are hollow avowals of good intent, and political aspiration.

Yours etc, Roger Louvet, Porthmadog.

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