Chance to honour those who gave their lives

EACH November Britain falls silent to remember those who bravely gave their lives in service of our country.

This year, however, Remembrance Sunday will have an extra poignancy as it comes exactly one hundred years to the day since the Armistice to end WW1 at 11am on November 11, 1918.

I will have the honour to be laying wreaths at some of the ceremonies taking place throughout the constituency, including at the War Memorials in Hazel Grove, Marple, Compstall, Mellor, High Lane, Romiley and Bredbury. In ceremonies where I am not able to be present, councillor colleagues from Stockport will do so on my behalf.

Last Sunday I also attended a wreath laying ceremony in Hazel Grove to honour the memory of local war hero, Wilfred Wood VC.

Wilfred Wood was born in Hazel Grove and was a private in the 10th Battalion, the Northumberland Fusiliers. He was awarded the Victoria Cross on 28th October 1918 for his bravery and initiative at the Battle of Vittorio Veneto in Italy, just two weeks before the end of the war.

His selfless actions whilst under fire caused hundreds of enemy soldiers to surrender and was seen as a decisive victory.

Remembrance Day is always an event I pay great care and attention too, not just as someone with an interest in history, but as a proud British citizen. It is an opportunity for the whole country to show our collective gratitude for those who gave their lives, or suffered injuries protecting our way of life.

And that sacrifice is not confined to the past but still continues today, with veterans of modern conflicts including Korean War, Falklands War, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, The Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan.

This centenary is a particular opportunity to reflect on the bravery and work of all our Armed Forces, and the contribution that have made to keep our country safe over the last 100 years. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.