Today (Sunday, May 8), South Wales police are leading a tribute to mark the anniversary of VE day, which heralded the end of the Second World War in Europe.

Between 1939 and 1945 many police officers from south Wales enlisted to fight at the war front. They joined ranks with over 30,000 men and women from Wales who, by the end of the war, found themselves in uniform serving their country.

Cardiff was the first Welsh city to be attacked by Germany when it was hit in June 1940 but it was Swansea that suffered the most intense devastation in February 1941 when it endured a raid that lasted for three nights. Half of the town centre was destroyed after a total of 30,000 bombs were dropped. The death toll reached 227 and of those dead, 37 were aged 16 or under.

Forty-three police officers died whilst serving in the armed forced while five more were killed during the enemy raids.

“Today, on VE Day, we pay tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of the officers and all those people who served alongside them at home or abroad during the War,” commented a spokesperson for South Wales Police. “Their sacrifice will never be forgotten”.