Remembrance Sunday is here again. I often remark on how quickly it comes round. What is shocking to realise this year however is that there are only eleven living veterans of the First World War. And just one of them,Pte Harry Patch,aged 110, from Somerset( of the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry regiment) who actually fought in the trenches.It is of course ninety years since the signing of the armistice marked the end of the First World War. But it’s a sobering thought to consider that in just a few years time there will be no one left who actually remembers first hand the price paid by a generation of young men, many of whom never returned home.
I have since boyhood taken part in our local act of remembrance. One of the names on the many bronze panels is that of my great uncle. His brother who was gassed but survived in very poor health until the late 1940s both deserve my own remembrance. And it is heartening to see attendances are growing slowly each year. But what is obvious is the dwindling band of Second World War veterans and the increasing frailness of those who remain.
I have since boyhood taken part in our local act of remembrance. One of the names on the many bronze panels is that of my great uncle. His brother who was gassed but survived in very poor health until the late 1940s both deserve my own remembrance. And it is heartening to see attendances are growing slowly each year. But what is obvious is the dwindling band of Second World War veterans and the increasing frailness of those who remain.
I would urge everyone to take an hour out of your Sunday morning and attend your local remembrance parade. I can’t sum it up any better than something I read many years ago “If you can read this, Thank a teacher. If you are reading this in English thank a soldier.” Since we can’t thank those who died for our freedom in person the least we can do is turn out for one hour on one Sunday morning annually and honour those who gave there lives in war that we may enjoy peace.
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