World War II veterans sacrificed everything to defeat Nazi tyranny.
They liberated concentration camps and watched countless brothers-in-arms fall.
And a Jewish WWII hero made one admission about Britain that left everyone speechless.
Jewish D-Day veteran Mervyn Kersh just received Britain's highest honor for his service fighting fascism across Europe.
The 101-year-old was awarded the British Empire Medal for his decades of Holocaust education work.
But when asked about modern Britain, Kersh didn't deliver the expected gratitude speech.
Veteran who witnessed Holocaust horrors delivers crushing verdict on UK
Kersh arrived in Normandy three days after the D-Day invasion began in June 1944.
He was later stationed near Bergen-Belsen when the camp was liberated by British troops in April 1945.
He has dedicated decades to Holocaust education, speaking at schools across Britain.
"What's disappointing is the antisemitism that I see everywhere, hear everywhere, or read," Kersh said.¹
He told the BBC his wartime service "was worth it" but added, "It's disappointing what's turned out now."²
His assessment grew harsher when speaking to the Daily Mail.
"I think it [the war] was a waste of time, because the benefits we got from it, the wartime camaraderie and everyone, almost everybody, mucked in [with] whatever they could do," Kersh stated. "Whatever [way] they could help somebody else they did. That wasn't just in the army. You don't get that now, no."³
The veteran delivered his crushing assessment of Britain's trajectory.
"This country has gone right downhill," Kersh declared.⁴
Rising antisemitism backs up veteran's assessment
Kersh sees what the numbers confirm.
The Community Security Trust recorded 1,521 antisemitic incidents in the first half of 2025 — more than 200 attacks every single month.⁵
That's the second-highest six-month total ever documented.
Antisemitic incidents in the UK skyrocketed 90% between 2021 and 2023, according to the J7 Task Force report on antisemitism in major Jewish communities worldwide.⁶
Since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, British Jews report being targeted at unprecedented levels.
Half of British Jews considered leaving the country in the past two years due to antisemitism, according to the Campaign Against Antisemitism.⁷
Only one-third believe they have a long-term future in Britain.⁸
Kersh liberated Bergen-Belsen to defeat this evil.
His brothers died on Normandy beaches to stop this hatred.
Now it's back — and Britain's leaders won't fight it.
Population changes drive Britain's decline
Kersh explained exactly what's destroying the country he fought for.
"I know the population is changing," Kersh said. "Some are leaving, and then others are coming who have no understanding or knowledge of what this country was like, not only just its history, but its morals."⁹
The numbers prove his point.
Channel crossings by illegal immigrants hit 41,000 in 2025 according to UK data.¹⁰
Kersh made clear he has "no objection" to genuine refugees fleeing for their lives.¹¹
But he sees mass immigration of people who refuse to adopt British values.
The veteran compared modern leaders to Neville Chamberlain, whose appeasement of Hitler in the 1930s ended in catastrophe.
"They think they've just got to hope and make speeches," Kersh said.¹²
He warned that Britain needs leaders willing to stand up to threats rather than hope problems disappear.
"We've got to either have another leader who's more aggressive, I don't mean start a war, but aggressive," Kersh added.¹³
Defense must be Britain's top priority, Kersh argued.
"Defence must come first, second, third, fourth and fifth, because only if you're strong, you won't be attacked," Kersh stated.¹⁴
Another decorated WWII veteran said the same thing
Kersh's assessment isn't unique.
Fellow WWII veteran Alec Penstone, 100, delivered nearly identical comments on Good Morning Britain in November.
Penstone served aboard HMS Campania during the D-Day invasion.
"My message is, I can see in my mind's eye those rows and rows of white stones and all the hundreds of my friends who gave their lives, for what?" Penstone asked. "The country of today. No, I'm sorry — but the sacrifice wasn't worth the result of what it is now."¹⁵
He was blunt about Britain's descent.
"What we fought for was our freedom — we fought for it," Penstone stated. "Even now, it's a darn sight worse than when I fought for it."¹⁶
Two decorated veterans who defeated fascism are watching Britain embrace the ideologies they bled to destroy.
Rising antisemitism, demographic replacement, weak leadership.
These men aren't bitter old complainers.
They're warning us because they've seen this before.
And they know how it ends.
¹ "D-Day veteran awarded British Empire Medal says Britain today is 'disappointing'," ITV News, December 30, 2025.
² Ibid.
³ "WW2 veteran labels victory over Nazis 'waste of time' and claims migrant crisis proves 'UK has gone right downhill'," GB News, December 26, 2025.
⁴ Ibid.
⁵ "Antisemitic Incidents Report January-June 2025," Community Security Trust, August 6, 2025.
⁶ "J7 Annual Report on Antisemitism 2025," J7 Large Communities' Task Force Against Antisemitism, 2025.
⁷ Alexander Hall, "Jewish WWII hero says war was a 'waste of time' as UK has gone 'downhill' amid changing population," Fox News, December 31, 2025.
⁸ Ibid.
⁹ GB News, December 26, 2025.
¹⁰ Ibid.
¹¹ Fox News, December 31, 2025.
¹² ITV News, December 30, 2025.
¹³ Ibid.
¹⁴ Ibid.
¹⁵ "WWII veteran says Britain today 'wasn't worth' his friends' sacrifice, less free than in his youth," Fox News, November 7, 2025.
¹⁶ Ibid.
