MP remembers those who died for our country

4th August 2014
MP remembers those who died for our country

Local MP Gordon Henderson has visited a number of war graves in Sittingbourne and Sheppey as part of this year’s commemoration of the Centenary of the outbreak of the First World War.

Mr Henderson was escorted on his visit by Bernie Doran, who is the South East of England representative for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which cares for cemeteries and memorials at 23,000 locations, in 153 countries.

Over half the burial grounds in which Commonwealth war graves can be found are located in the United Kingdom.

Mr Henderson said:

“Visiting the war graves of those who died during the two World Wars was a humbling experience. Reading the inscriptions on the head stones really brought home how very young some of those were who sacrificed themselves for their country.

“What struck me most about the war graves was the way in which they stood out. Many of the graves in our cemeteries have become run down and unkempt because the families of the dead have themselves passed away and there is no longer anybody to maintain their graves.

“Not so the war graves. They were clean, tidy and well maintained.

“It is a credit to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and the governments that fund it, that the grave of somebody who was killed in the First World War, one hundred years ago, is still being maintained properly.

“I think it is fantastic that the sacrifice so many of our young men and women made, so long ago, continues to be recognized in this way.”