REMEMBRANCE Sunday is not just about those who lost their lives during the two world wars. It is also about those killed more recently.

Royal British Legion Oxfordshire vice president Mike Henderson, who has helped organise the repatriation ceremonies in the county, has called for people to remember those who have fallen in Afghanistan on November 11.

And he also hopes the annual commemoration will encourage more people to turn out at repatriations to RAF Brize Norton to pay their respects.

Fifty-one service personnel have lost their lives since RAF Brize Norton took back the duty of repatriating personnel more than a year ago.

Since the Second World War ended, 3,525 service personnel have lost their lives, including 437 in Afghanistan.

This year’s Poppy Appeal, which raises money to support veterans, injured service personnel and the families of fallen soldiers, was launched last month.

Mr Henderson said: “This time of year always reminds us about those paying the ultimate sacrifice because everyone knows about the Poppy Appeal.

“If you are remembering the world wars you have got to remember what has happened since then, and what is happening out in Afghanistan today. There is only one year since the end of the Second World War when we have not lost a service person.”

Mr Henderson helps to organise repatriation ceremonies at the Carterton memorial garden.

Thousands of people have stood shoulder-to-shoulder there with the families and friends of fallen servicemen and women in the past year.

Mr Henderson said: “It would be nice if we could get more people to come out. It just shows the public care that service personnel are out there defending the country.”

He added: “We have got standard bearers and members of the public who come to every repatriation from miles and miles around.

“Two standard bearers come from South Wales and some of the bikers come from all over the country to pay their respects. When we have got big numbers at the memorial garden it makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.”

OTHER CHARITIES OFFERING HELP

Help for Heroes.

The British Limbless ex-Servicemen’s Association (BLESMA) supports servicemen and women who lose limbs, the use of limbs or eyes or the sight of an eye in the service of their country.

The charity’s work starts with rehabilitation and involves shared experience, life-long welfare support, and campaigning.

Jerome Church, general secretary of BLESMA, said: “We have had a long and fruitful relationship with The Royal British Legion for over 80 years.
“The legion has always worked closely with us and we with them. They have resources we don’t but we have expertise in areas such as prosthetics and the daily business of living with amputation. We are a good team.

“The Poppy Appeal is at the centre of public life of this country and as ever we will be guests of the British Legion as we march past the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday wearing the poppy that is a symbol of real meaning – for us all” .

Tel: 020 8590 1124 or go to blesma.org

The Army Benevolent Fund provides financial support and practical advice to soldiers, former soldiers and their families in times of need. Tel: 0845 241 4820 or go to soldierscharity.org

The charity Combat Stress provides a dedicated service for veterans including a 24-hour helpline, a community outreach service and a variety of rehabilitation programmes. Tel: 01372 587 000 or go to combatstress.org

The Army Families Federation (AFF) is the independent voice of Army families and works hard to improve the quality of life for Army families around the world. The charity is often pivotal in achieving improvements for Army families such as changes to Government and military policy.

For details of your regional co-ordinator visit aff.org

The Not Forgotten Association is a unique national tri-service charity which provides entertainment, leisure and recreation for the serving wounded, injured or sick and for ex-service men and women with disabilities. Tel: 0207 730 0020 or go to nfassociation.org

WHERE THE MONEY GOES

The Royal British Legion spent £90m last year on health and welfare for the Armed Forces community – £1.7m every week.

It committed £50m over 10 years to help serving men and women who are wounded, injured or sick through the Battle Back Centre, an adaptive sports facility in Shropshire, and to fund the operating costs of four Personnel Recovery Centres in the UK and a Personnel Recovery Unit in Germany.

It spent £20m last year running its care homes and break centres and helped 18,000 veterans and their families with immediate needs grants and helped more than 11,000 individuals with benefit and money advice, 25 per cent of whom were serving personnel.

Last year its Independent Inquest Advice Service supported 110 bereaved relatives through the coroner’s inquest.

The RBL’s Benefits and Money Advice made its average customer £3,000 better off. Its pioneering Be the Boss scheme has provided nearly 3,000 service leavers with the tools to expand or set up their own business.

It is investing £5m in blast-injury research at Imperial College London to combat the devastating effects of roadside bombs and IEDs.