FRENCH PRESIDENT APOLOGISES FOR REGRETTABLE OMISSION

MONMOUTH MP David Davies has received a written apology from Nicholas Sarkozy after the French President missed Wales off a tribute to Britain's contribution to the First World War.

During France's main remembrance service at Verdun, President Sarkozy told various dignitaries, including Prince Charles, "France will never forget the English, Scottish and Irish soldiers who fought on our soil as if it was their own".

Mr Davies said: "As a former member of the Territorial Army Royal Artillery and former Assembly Government representative to the Reserve Forces Cadet Association, I was very disappointed that the President failed to mention Welsh soldiers in his tribute.

"You would have thought he would have remembered the Welsh, especially as the Prince of Wales was visiting and the French Prime Minister is married to a Welsh woman from Abergavenny.

"I was so disappointed that I wrote to him personally to point out his mistake.

"I'm pleased to say President Sarkozy replied that he understood the feelings of the Welsh public and agreed that the role of the Welsh Regiments during the two world wars should be officially recognised.

"The President went on to say that this "regrettable omission" has been corrected on the online version of his speech.  He also expressed his gratitude to the Welsh troops who fought so bravely on French soil."

Mr Davies would like to record his gratitude to Alan Breeze, former Abergavenny Councillor and French teacher at King Henry VIII Comprehensive School, for his help with translating both his letter and the President's reply.