Last Sunday was Remembrance Day and I joined many local people attending services in both Camborne and Illogan. It was good to see such a considerable turnout at both services with local Cadets, Scouts, Brownies, and other youth groups turning out in force.
The scale of sacrifice in our country is apparent through the names listed on memorial stones up and down the land and both the First and Second World Wars and all the wars since touched every community and virtually every family. I take one of my Christian names from Charles Botterell, my Great Grandfather who fought in the First World War and suffered ill health as a result of his shrapnel wounds. The recent wars that we have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan have undoubtedly increased attendance at remembrance services in recent years. The operation in Afghanistan was particularly long and hard lasting over thirteen years, more than three times as long as the Great War and there have been many casualties and soldiers suffering life-changing injuries.
This year was particularly poignant as we also marked the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War. Lasting 74 days, the Falklands War was the first military action since the Second World War that utilised all elements of the Armed Forces, with 255 British personnel losing their lives. RNAS Culdrose played an important role in the war providing 820 Naval Air Squadron and 11 Sea King anti-submarine warfare helicopters on HMS Invincible, 826 squadron embarked on HMS Hermes, 824 squadron manned Sea King HAS2s on RFA Olmeda while 825 squadron was recommissioned with ten Sea Kings as utility helicopters. It was important that we highlighted the efforts of these veterans on behalf of our country.
The Royal British Legion is best known, aside from Remembrance Day, for creating the Poppy Appeal. The red poppy was chosen as the flowers grew quickly in the war-torn region of Northern France and Belgium. The poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ refers to the poppies growing among the graves of fallen soldiers. Ever since, the flower has been a symbol of remembrance for many, showing that the individual has chosen to give a donation to the Royal British Legion and support their vital work for those that have served in our country’s armed forces. This year, following Russia’s appalling invasion of Ukraine and rising global gas prices, the charity has launched a grant scheme for veterans and their families who are struggling to pay their energy bills. The initiative will provide non-repayable emergency grants of up to £2,400 a year (£200 a month) and is available across the UK. All too often nowadays, you see homeless veterans forced to live on the streets, so I welcome the decision by the Prime Minister to reappoint a Minister of State for Veterans Affairs who attends cabinet. It is vitally important that we do not overlook those brave men and women that have given so much for our country and do them a disservice by not caring for them properly in their later life.
