Plaid Cymru Senedd Member Lindsay Whittle has praised a local author whose book tells the story behind many of the nearly 200 names on Caerphilly’s Cenotaph.
The book, The Great War 1914 - 1918. Caerphilly's War Dead Remembered, has been put together by author Paul Williams who hopes it will be published next month.
Lindsay Whittle said: “This is an amazing, fascinating and painstaking piece of work that represents a marvellous tribute to Caerphilly’s war heroes of the past.
“It will be a must read for any ex-service personnel and for old Caerphilly families. In fact, for everyone connected to the town. It illustrates how proud we should be of those that paid the ultimate sacrifice to ensure we live freely today in a democracy.”
He said that reading an advanced section of Paul Williams’ book jogged his memory about a former teacher Don Bradfield, who served in World War Two. The teacher’s father WJ Bradfield died in World War One.
Lindsay Whittle said: “Don Bradfield was my woodwork teacher at Caerffili Boys Grammar School. He used to regale boys about his time as a rear gunner in a Lancaster bomber. We lived the Dambusters with him. He was a hero and we boys would have followed him through fire.
“I recall his funeral with hundreds of old schoolboys present and they brought the coffin into the crematorium playing the Dambusters theme. There was not a dry eye in the house.”