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'It will live with me for the rest of my life' - Veterans pay respects at Field of Remembrance

Colette Humeand
Rowenna Hoskin,BBC Wales
News imageBBC The photograph is taken from a very low angle, close to the ground, looking across a large Field of Remembrance. The foreground is filled with hundreds, possibly thousands, of light-coloured wooden crosses standing upright in the grass. The background shows the ruins of a large stone castle or historic building. Both the ruins and the people are intentionally blurred, while the crosses remain sharply in focus. Overhead, thick grey clouds fill the sky, giving the scene a subdued and reflective atmosphere associated with remembrance and commemoration.BBC
The Royal British Legion's annual Field of Remembrance opened at Cardiff Castle on Wednesday

At 102, John Eskdale is one of the few surviving veterans of World War Two.

He spent hours in freezing water covered in oil when his ship was sunk by a German torpedo boat in 1943 - more than 400 people died.

Eskdale attended The Royal British Legion's annual Field of Remembrance at Cardiff Castle on Wednesday, alongside fellow veterans, to pay his respects to those who lost their lives that night.

The Field of Remembrance honours veterans serving in conflicts including both World Wars, Korea, the Falklands, the Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The castle grounds has seen 5,000 tributes planted and the public are invited to plant their own tributes to the fallen over the next two weeks.

News imageTwo military veterans wearing green berets and medal-covered blazers sit among attendees at a remembrance service beside a stone castle wall.
"I'm very pleased to be here, especially to represent my colleagues from Wales," says John Eskdale (right)

In October 1943, Eskdale's ship HMS Charybdis was attacked and sunk by a German torpedo boat off the coast of the Channel Islands.

Eskdale and his friends spent hours in freezing water, covered in oil, hoping to be rescued.

He became tearful as he recalled what happened.

"We were four-and-a-half hours in the water. Terrible. It will live with me for the rest of my life," he said.

"I'm very pleased to be here, especially to represent my colleagues from Wales."

Despite his experiences and the loss of so many friends, he said he was proud to serve in the Royal Marines, describing them as "my family".

News imageA woman in a light-coloured coat stands with a chocolate-brown assistance dog in front of a field filled with remembrance crosses. She is wearing red shoes and smiles at the camera, behind her Cardiff Castle is visible
Bronwyn Wilkinson from Neath served in the RAF as a medic for ten years, including in Afghanistan

Bronwyn Wilkinson from Neath served in the RAF as a medic for ten years, including in Afghanistan. She was medically discharged, and lives with anxiety and depression.

She has been supported by the Royal British Legion's Battle Back Centre, which works with veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan using sport to improve confidence and motivation. She is also supported by her service dog, nine-year-old chocolate Labrador, Prince.

"When you see the sea of crosses I think about the loss of life, but I look at it and see camaraderie and togetherness, even the fallen. They are not alone. They are not forgotten about, they are a part of us, they are important," she said.

The Field of Remembrance will be open at Cardiff Castle every day until November 17th.

At the opening service on Wednesday, tributes were also laid by Heledd Fychan MS, Vice Lord Lieutenant for South Glamorgan Jo Homfray, the Lord Mayor of Cardiff Councillor Michael Michael, and senior representatives from the Armed Forces in Wales.

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