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.”

  • The repatriation of two servicemen killed in Afghanistan last week takes place tomorrow. The plane carrying the bodies of Lieutenant Edward Drummond-Baxter, 29, and Lance Corporal Siddhanta Kunwar, 28, both of 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, will land at about 1.30pm and the cortege will pass the Carterton memorial garden at about 4pm, arriving in Oxford at about 5pm. Any changes in timings will be updated online at oxfordmail.co.uk/ li/repatriation/