Extracts from Commons debate on Remembrance, UK Armed Forces and Society - Nov 11
|
The Minister for the Armed Forces (James Heappey):...This year,
marking 75 years since the end of the second world war, has been a
great opportunity for us to reflect not only on victory in Europe
but on victory in Japan. That Pacific campaign is so often the one
that is spoken about less, yet the acts of heroism and derring-do
were no less important. Indeed, in many of the stories I have
heard, the deprivation was far greater because of the environment
in which the forces were operating....Request free trial
The Minister for the Armed Forces (James Heappey):...This
year, marking 75 years since the end of the second world war, has
been a great opportunity for us to reflect not only on victory in
Europe but on victory in Japan. That Pacific campaign is so often
the one that is spoken about less, yet the acts of heroism and
derring-do were no less important. Indeed, in many of the stories I
have heard, the deprivation was far greater because of the
environment in which the forces were operating. Since then, brave
servicemen and women from the United Kingdom have given their lives
in Korea, the Falklands Northern Ireland,
the Balkans, Sierra Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan. It is on those
last two conflicts that I have my own personal reflections...
John Healey (Wentworth and Dearne) (Lab):...I was reminded of this on Sunday, when I, like the Minister, was proud to lay a wreath alongside the president of our local British Legion branch in Rotherham. His name is Ron Moffett; he served for more than 20 years in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, and he talked to me of comrades he had lost in Northern Ireland, in the Falklands in Afghanistan, and in Germany in training. I want my relatively brief remarks in this debate to concentrate on the ordinary servicemen and women: on their extraordinary sense of duty, and on our duty, in turn, to them... Carla Lockhart (Upper Bann) (DUP):...At this time of remembrance, we do, of course, remember those who have laid down their lives in all conflicts. While my focus has been the great war, the sacrifice of those in world war two, the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Falklands and other conflicts is no less. Of course, as a representative of Northern Ireland, I also want to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in Operation Banner... Stephen Doughty (Cardiff South and Penarth) (Lab/Co-op):...I remember the work of those fantastic veterans’ charities in my constituency. I think of the work of the Royal British Legion. I have spent time with organisations such as Woody’s Lodge, which was set up in honour of Paul Woodland, a former member of the Royal Marines and the Special Boat Service who sadly lost his life on a training exercise in 2012 before he was due to be redeployed to Afghanistan. Woody’s was originally located in my constituency, but is now located in the constituency of the right hon. Member for Vale of Glamorgan (Alun Cairns). It does remarkable work in our communities, as does the Welsh Veterans Partnership. David Price, a former Welsh Guard who served in the Falklands leads the work there with other veterans to ensure pathways to housing and support in our communities. He rightly advocates powerfully on behalf of veterans, for example, on issues related to the transition from military to civilian life—he would argue that the MOD needs to look more at working with smaller veterans’ charities in that—but also the rules around housing benefit, universal credit and how our benefits and support systems often do not work for veterans. He also works on the need for more specialist attention for those who have been medically discharged and need support from the Department for Work and Pensions and others... ...I agree that it is very important to remember more recent conflicts, for example the Falklands. Will my right hon. Friend join me in recognising a very positive moment today? It is nearly 40 years since the Falklands conflict, and while we remember those who lost their lives in that conflict, we recognise the work of those who have been de-mining. Today, the Falkland Islands celebrates the fact that mines have been completely removed. The conflict lives on not only in those who suffered and died, but in its physical impact, and it is great that that has now been removed from the Falkland Islands.
Mr
Kevan
Jones (North Durham) (Lab): I agree with my hon. Friend. I
have had the privilege of visiting the Falkland
Islands on several occasions. We could ask anyone who
goes to, for example, San Carlos and sits in the cemetery there.
There is no more spiritual place in the world that I have been in
terms of the honour and dedication given to those individuals for
whom it is their last resting place... Chris Evans (Islwyn) (Lab/Co-op):...There was also hope in many of the contributions. My hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff South and Penarth (Stephen Doughty) reminded us about clearing mines on the beaches of the Falkland Islands so that families can now play where once there were bullets and mines. Let us therefore, as my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull North (Dame Diana Johnson) asked, all come together tonight at 7 pm, look to the stars and remember our fallen... To read the whole debate, CLICK HERE |