A RUGBY borough councillor and a prospective MP are among those saying thank you to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice during the First World War.
Coun Kathryn Lawrence has joined the Royal British Legion’s nationwide ‘Thank You’ initiative to recognise the legacy of the entire Great War generation, a century on from the end of the conflict, which claimed some 20million military and civilian lives.
‘Thank You’ honours not only the 1.1million members of the British and Commonwealth Armed Forces who killed in the service of their country, but also those who played their part on the home front, and those who returned to build a better life for the benefit of generations to come.
The Hillmorton Ward councillor said: “I was pleased to hear about the Royal British Legion’s work leading up to the centenary of the end of the First World War.
“To the farmers who gave up their horses to the war effort; to the women who kept our home fires burning; to the Sassoons and the McCraes whose work has shaped our understanding of conflict; we should indeed say ‘Thank You’.
“I am saying thank you to all servicemen and women, past and present.”
Charles Byrne, director general of The Royal British Legion, encouraged others say thank you.
“We all have a connection to the First World War, for me it is Private Ross Ryan, my grandfather, and we all have a reason to say ‘Thank You’ to this special generation.
“Whether your personal ‘Thank You’ is an event dedicated to those who made a difference in your community, a visit to a place of significance, or a simple tweet, there’s no limit to the ways people can take part.
“We are making a plea to every single person across the UK to get involved and take a moment in this very significant year to say ‘Thank You’.”
Debbie Bannigan, whose father served in the armed forces, has joined the Royal British Legion’s nationwide ‘Thank You’ initiative to recognise the legacy of the entire Great War generation.
Debbie Bannigan, whose father served in the armed forces, paid tribute to the Rugbeians who gave their lives in wartime.
Debbie, the Labour Party’s Parliamentary candidate for Rugby, said remembrance had always been a deeply personal matter to her.
She said: “My father served in the forces and my family has experienced loss, as have so many. I’ve also worked with people who live every day with physical and mental health issues as a legacy of their service.
“The Royal British Legion played an important part in my childhood. I am honoured to support their campaign and to place a wreath at Rugby’s Remembrance Sunday Service, alongside my very good friend and Rugby resident Capt Dutch Van Spall, one of a relatively small group of people who have held the Queen’s Warrant and The Queen’s Commission in the Intelligence Corps.
“To the farmers who gave up their horses to the war effort; to the women who kept our home fires burning; to the Brookes the Sassoons and the McCraes whose work has shaped our understanding of conflict; and to those in reserved occupations who, like my grandfather, a colliery worker, toiled tirelessly to support the forces on the front line, we should indeed say thank you.
“I am saying Thank You to the men and women of Rugby who gave their lives, sacrificed their health and lost family members in the First World War and in conflicts that came before and since, and to the Royal British Legion for the work they do to support our forces and veterans.”
Visit www.rbl.org.uk/thankyou for more information on how to get involved in the ‘Thank You’ movement.
