That brings us to the 90-second statements, and the first today is from David Rowlands.

On 10 January 1879, three columns of British soldiers crossed the Buffalo river into Zululand, South Africa, leaving some 1,800 soldiers of the 24th Regiment of Foot in camp at Isandlwana. On 22 January, the forces of Zulu King Cetshwayo, numbering some 20,000, encircled the British camp. The following battle resulted in one of the worst defeats ever recorded by the British army. Over 1,300 of the camp defenders were slaughtered.

On the evening of 22 January, some 3,000 Zulu warriors, fresh from the massacre at Isandlwana, descended on Rorke's Drift, defended by a force of just 140 men, which included soldiers of the 24th Regiment of Foot, the South Wales Borderers. The ensuing battle lasted through the night and into the day of 23 January. The events of that night and following day were to be one of the British army's finest moments. Against overwhelming odds, the garrison at Rorke's Drift repulsed attack after attack from some of the most ferocious and courageous native fighters in the whole of Africa.

Hostilities only came to an end when, in a demonstration of great humanity, and in acknowledgement of the bravery of fellow warriors, the Zulu prince Dabulamanzi called off his troops, saluted the garrison and withdrew. Subsequently, 11 Victoria Crosses were awarded for the gallant defence at Rorke's Drift, the highest number of Victoria Crosses ever awarded for a single action. On this day, the one hundred and fortieth anniversary of that battle, it is fitting that we remember those on both sides who showed such exceptional courage.

This week, in the lead-up to the 2019 Holocaust Memorial Day, I was privileged to join members of the community in Merthyr Tydfil who gathered to mark the completion of the Holocaust memorial garden at the rear of Merthyr Tydfil library. It's one small but important example of how a community, starting out with a grant from the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, then with the assistance of several local groups of volunteers, can be part of the international effort of remembrance, research and education about Holocaust.

This year, we will reflect on the theme of Holocaust Memorial Day, torn from home, the challenges of being torn from home in the face of war, conflict and persecution and the basic desire for a better, safer life. This year also, I can't help but add a personal note of remembrance, having just returned from a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau. We should never forget the horrors of Holocaust and we should use this time to reflect on the conditions that allowed such barbaric acts to occur—not just Nazi persecution, but genocide in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur.

My recent visit reinforced to me the value of each of our acts of remembrance, whether it's in Merthyr Tydfil, or whether it's here in the National Assembly, as we did at our vigil on the Senedd steps this lunchtime, or across our nation. In these testing times, let each of us reflect on our words, our thoughts and our actions, and let us remember those torn from home and pledge again that we will play our part in sustaining the conditions that ensure that the horrors of Holocaust are not repeated.