Remembered together

SIR – Gisela Stuart (Comment, September 26) writes of forgiving the next generation of Germans the atrocities of the Second World War, but never forgetting the past.

Edwin Valentine Kuhns (1899-1996) served in the German army in both world wars. For the last half century he and his English wife, Joyce Kuhns, were active members of our community in Buckhurst Hill. Joyce, who died recently aged 103, was selling poppies until she was over 100.

They are both buried inside the lych gate at St John the Baptist church in Buckhurst Hill. The local branch of the Royal British Legion lays a poppy wreath on their grave every year on Remembrance Sunday. As Edwin’s second name was Valentine, flowers – but not chocolates – appear on their grave every Valentine’s Day. Stephen Goddard

Buckhurst Hill, Essex