This week marks the centenary since the First World War, known at the time as the Great War, began.
Over the ensuing four years of conflict every single community in the UK would be affected with the loss of those who fought, including the then small town of Crawley and surrounding villages such as Ifield, Worth and Three Bridges.
In March, I congratulated our modern day Crawley Borough Council on the floor of the House of Commons for its fitting tribute of planting Flanders and wild flower poppies throughout the town, in every neighbourhood and park.
It has been poignant to see local residents supporting efforts to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
We will never forget those from Crawley, The Royal Sussex Regiment as well as all British and Commonwealth citizens who fought.
When I think of the support returning servicemen received on their return from the Western Front a century ago, I am especially proud that last year Crawley Borough Council introduced the Military Covenant – one of the very best in our country – to support our brave service personnel today.
I recently attended a moving performance at The Hawth, where a local performing arts group based a production around the poignant, and often untold personal stories of those involved one hundred years ago through letters home.
I hope that people across Crawley chose to take part in the Royal British Legion’s Lights Out campaign, between 10pm and 11pm on Monday 4th August.
Lights and candles were to go out across the country, until, at 11pm, the exact time the British Empire joined the First World War, a burning oil lamp at the Grave of the Unknown Soldier was extinguished.
The reason for this initiative follows the words of Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Secretary at the start of the Great War, who said that, “the lamps are going out all over Europe, we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime.”
While we can only imagine the anxiety that must have been shared by our countrymen and women one hundred years ago, we can ensure that their sacrifices will be remembered forever.