Never forgotten

AS the country prepares to fall silent on Armistice Day to honour all those who have sacrificed their lives for our tomorrows, the commemoration is given greater poignancy by the growing death toll of UK soldiers in foreign fields.

By The Newsroom

Published 9th Nov 2010, 21:33 BST

Updated 9th Nov 2010, 21:33 BST

This solemn period of remembrance is no longer confined to those forbears who fell in two World Wars – the contemporary nature of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars affords greater resonance to the Royal British Legion's annual appeal.

This was illustrated by the poignancy that was witnessed when Prince Harry opened the first remembrance field dedicated to those killed in Afghanistan and honoured the memory of his friend, Lance Corporal of Horse Jonathan Woodgate, who was killed in March.

It was another quiet reminder, if one was needed, of the heroism of the fallen and why the country must stand by their families, and all those courageous service personnel who have been maimed for life in recent conflicts. It is the least that they deserve as the nation remembers and salutes the ongoing resilience of the Armed Forces.