Josie Cuffe, of Kingsley Road, Kingsbridge, writes:

I was interested to read Steve Grey’s view in his letter, Gazette, July 1, that young people need reminding of the reasons why ‘their grand­parents and great grandparents fought two world wars’, since my own father was one such fighter.

An astute and curious man, he ‘got on his bike’ in 1938 and cycled through Germany to assess first hand what was ­happening.

On his return to England he immediately joined the Royal Navy and served as an officer for the duration of the war.

However, as a New Zealander, ‘keeping the ­country British’ was not his concern. What drove him to fight was his belief that ­individual dignity and freedom of expression, combined with respect for others, were ­universal values that must be protected.

Recent events have shown us that to assume Britain has the monopoly on these values, or that they are threatened only by those outside this country, is both inaccurate and dangerous.

My father died last year aged 101. Since June 23, several ­people have asked me what he would have made of it all.

Unlike Mr Grey, who it appears feels able to speak for two whole generations, neither of which he belongs to, I am not sure what my father’s response would have been.

However, I have a strong feeling that he would have rejected wholeheartedly the

‘us v them’ argument that so ­characterised Mr Grey’s side of the EU Referendum debate.

My guess is that he would have had more sympathy for the views expressed so effectively by Year 12 student Elinor Jones in last week’s Academy Gazette: ‘The ability to find common ground with others is what underpins Britishness.’

Perhaps, after all, it is not Elinor’s generation that needs a lecture.